Race to Racemosa

I was running the first ever Ragnar Colorado, a 189 mile foot race from Breckenridge to Snowmass with my 11 teammates this weekend. Before I left, I noticed that I'd almost certainly miss the first bloom of Passiflora racemosa. Sure, enough, when I returned I found an obviously post-bloomed bud wilted on the ground. But, true to its name there were plenty of other buds on the raceme. So, my first day back I was rewarded with a new flower opening to the Southern sun.

I purchased this beauty from Logee's. It was listed as P. racemosa 'Pink', but in discussing this name with a fellow passi-lover, I've since determined that the name little more than a description and not a true registered name. So, now I go to the Passiflora society to determine this one's proper name! More to come!

The results are in, and not much to my surprise the consensus seems to be P. racemosa 'buzios', which isn't a hybrid of course. Instead it's a cultivar with pink flowers instead of red. Case closed, and bud dropped.

Skipping and Sipping

I've always liked these little butterflies. Only recently did I try to figure out what they are. They have distinct triangular wings that the fold when they land. They actually buzz around when the fly in their darting patterns. I think they're Pelopidas (aka Skipper) butterflies. This one is tonguing my 'Blue-eyed Susan'.

Fade to Black

Absent August

So, worked called me away from home for a little over three weeks. I rigged up the pots in Pergolatory so that they'd get their water. Still, I worried that the heat of August (though not the same heat as I was experiencing in the desert) would slaughter my plants; especially my tacsonia passiflora, which are heat sensitive. However, much to my delight, they were all thriving upon my return. In fact, my new trisecta was clambering over its own trellis and on to the adjacent trellises. The thing smelled of tomato plants when i pried it's tendrilled grip free, but despite that fact, it's a keeper. I also noticed that it had bloomed (at night) during my leave, so hopefully it has a few more buds in it for me to witness opening for the bats. Trisecta was so overgrown that I was concerned that it had choked out antioquensis, but it was in there and obviously seeing sunlight. 

Parritae was my largest concern during the heat of the summer. But, it too is doing well. It's not so overgrown to the extent of trisecta, but it and it's pot-mate 'Mission Dolores' are winding their way upwards without any signs of distress. I've heard rumors that parritae will suddenly drop dead for no apparent cause, but to date she is spiraling toward the sky.

Even my decolobas are doing well. Holosericea, 'Manta', and 'Sunburst' are all doing well. And 'Jennifer Grace', co-potted with the former two, is wanting to bloom soon. I'm excited to see that for the first time. Racemosa has a few pink buds on it, and x belotii (the replacement plant) is doing just fine. The only plant having a hard time appears to be nephrodes. She's in a corner with exoniensis and 'Warmlands', and I think the pests from the neighbors' yard have been sapping her strength. I'll have to talk to them and request that they do something about their infestation on their night blooming jasmine.

All the fruits are still maturing much to my surprise. They sure do take a long time to ripen, but I'm hoping the wait will be worth the taste. Time will tell!

Sunny and Smelly

P. 'Sunburst' opened for the first time this morning. I grabbed my camera promptly and snapped a few photos, not knowing what I would find when I returned from work. After that, I dipped my nose down to take a whiff of the notoriously "stinky" hybrid. Verdict? Yeah, it's not a sweet smell, but I don't mind it. I also somewhat enjoy the distant smell of skunks...so take that for what it's worth.

That's No Moon...

Once the pergola is covered over with vines, this should be a fun night time scene.

I also performed some major surgery today. I grew sick and tired of 'Blue Bouquet' looking pitiful despite it's prolific blooms. The leaves yellowed and wrinkled and there was not a mite in sight. The conclusion was that it had contracted a virus, probably when there were white flies, thrips, or mites chewing on it. Sadly too, it had still managed to choke out 'Star of Surbiton' and 'Monika Fischer' so they all had to go. They were sharing a pot with P. racemosa  which was doing fine. So, I pulled the former three, added some fresh soil and gave racemosa a friend in 'x belotii'. It's a sad day, but Pergolatory will be better for it in time.

Summer of Buds

I enjoy seeing the passiflora flower buds almost as much as the flowers...almost. They're alien-esque and with a little color showing through the outside of the sepals it's a proper little tease. Here are some that are flirting with opening today!