Garden Flame.

Of today's purchases, I know not which brought more joy.

The pupae tucked in cups?

The puff of cassia bush?

The pentas times-two with buds like a spring promise?

Or was it the Mexican flame vine? A first-timer in the garden, this vine is a sturdy climber with intense, orange flowers, like daisies on fire. Butterflies love it, too, like moths to a bright-orange flame.

 

 

For years, I've eyeballed this vine, passing it over for  bushier bloomers, or other  climbers that caterpillars like to eat, like maypop and pipevine. So, this year, it has a home and an invitation to climb the lighthouse weathervane. With its addition, three varieties of vine will play backdrop to the garden.

And its bright orange hue complements the yellow flowers of the cassia and groundcover, and the red of the pentas. It'll be like a desert sunset in a scape of greens and browns.

All the day's planting made me hungry. How 'bout some guacamole with cilantro, diced onion and a squeeze of key lime... and a pork tenderloin with black beans and mango salsa... and sangria with apples, oranges, and lemons soaked in brandy... served on the back porch while the sun sets over the garden.

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