Mary Claire Rowe

The late afternoon sun filtered through the oak branches overhead, making shadows on the flagstone walk.

An occasional brown leaf filtered down, landing gently on the Lariope border, where late-season, lilac-colored flower stalks jutted upward. One leaf seemed to fall so slowly, it was suspended in air, defying gravity.

Strangely, it kept floating, until I realized that the leaf was a beautiful Giant Swallowtail, which was hovering over a particularly juicy morsel. Usually, butterflies flee the minute you see them it seems. This one was floating about in anticipation of a food-fest.

It flapped its wings so much, that my young puppy saw it also, and ran pell mell over to get it; only to bite the air, as it took flight.

The scientific name of the butterfly is Heraclides cresphontes seems an appropriate name, calling up visions of the giant man of Greek legend.

For me, butterflies are the insect version of flowers. Their color and form are just so amazing, and their gentle nature endears them to us. We want to encourage and protect them, so planting flowers and plants, that they love, hopefully, will help them survive in this rapidly changing atmosphere we are all experiencing.

Pictured today is the sweetly perfumed Passiflora incarnate crossed with cinnicata "Incense,'' commonly called Passion flower. It is a member of the Passifloraceae family. Wikipedia, the wonderful Internet encyclopedia, informs us that 15th century Spanish missionaries discovered the flower and named it after the Passion of Christ on the cross.

They decided that the 72 radial filaments represent the Crown of Thorns. The 10 petals and sepals represent the 10 faithful apostles. The three stigmata on the top represent three nails, and the five wounds on his body are represented by the lower five anthers. In fact the flower is called Christ's Thorn in Spain.

No matter what it is called, Passion flower is a strangely beautiful flower. It needs large bees, hummingbirds, and wasps to pollinate it. Some caterpillars and moth larva use it as a food plant. There are nine native species of Passion Flower in the United States, and they are called several different names such as Maypop, water lemon, or wild apricot - because of the fruit.

Native Americans used the plant to make a tea to treat insomnia, hysteria, and epilepsy. It is said to have pain killing and anti-depressant properties, but user beware. Ignorance about the proper use of plants can be very dangerous.

It is a fast growing vine that will grow from 10 to 20 feet or more. Passion flowers will survive below freezing temperatures by dying back to the roots, from which it will re-grow the next spring. It flowers in spring and summer, attracting lovely pollinators to your garden. It will produce 1-to-3 inch yellow fruits, which are edible. It can withstand our summers, and likes full sun or part shade, if kept watered throughout the growing season. It can be propagated by seeds or by rooting softwood cuttings.

My mother had a Passion flower vine, which had been planted by the previous owner some 30 years before.

Every year, in early spring, it would peek out from under the more recently added front porch, and twine its way up the trellis. It was always such a lovely part of her garden. Its delicate fragrance would fill the air, making sitting there on the porch such a pleasant occasion.

We spent many hours together there, watching the butterflies, birds, and bees, catching up on the events of the day, and enjoying the moments together. Just the gentle aroma of a flower can bring back so many fond memories. How lucky we are to grow lovely flowers.

"What's Blooming In Our Garden'' is a regular feature of the Tyler Morning Telegraph Garden Page. It is written by Mary Claire Rowe, a Master Gardener with the Texas Cooperative Extension, and focuses on flowers and plant life around East Texas. To share your comments on gardening, write her in care of the Morning Telegraph.

Mary Claire Rowe
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