Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS? I don’t think so. Here, the sun is shining, the drought is over, and the first morning glory has unfurled its celestial saucer. Does this old-fashioned Ipomoea violacea ‘Heavenly Blue’ dwell in your garden, too?
I like to start my Ipomoeas from seeds, which are first soaked overnight in order to soften their rock-hard coats. Planted out in late May the vine is slow to move. But by July it explodes, sending forth long stems that twist and twine (with no assistance from me) around the wire fence that frames my Herb Garden. By August that fence becomes a solid, and very lavish, wall of blue.
Because the creamy-eyed disks close tightly when touched by afternoon heat, flower arrangers rarely consider morning glories for cut flowers. But snipped in the early morning, and placed in a shallow bowl of cool water, the blossoms remain open all day. I can assure that Heavenly Blue, when floated in a low crystal bowl, and with lit, floating set among the blossoms, makes a gorgeous and unusual centerpiece for the dining table.
In the garden, never fertilize heavenly blue or you’ll have all forest and no sky. Full sun and deep, weekly watering are the vine’s only requests.
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Carol says
Oh, I love morning glories, especially the Heavenly Blue variety! I plant one on each side of my arbor every summer, and it stays beautiful until October.
In the picture, is that a honey bee lounging in the blossom?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Carol – yes, that's a honey bee who is enjoying the first flower as much as I am.
Gregory says
To me, morning glories personify “the country life.” Wish I could have them in my NYC digs.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Gregory – Aah, but you CAN have morning glories in your city perch. Plant the seeds on January 1, give them all the sun your south or east window will afford, and they will bloom for you exactly 8 weeks later. (I speak from experience!)
Sheila says
Kevin, I didn't plant morning glories this summer, because a friend of mine (soon to be ex-friend) assured me last year's vine would reseed itself. Well, it did not. What a bummer.
Adele says
Kevin, I can just imagine how beautiful the blossoms and candles would be floating in a crystal bowl. I'll have to try that once my morning glories bloom!
Thanks for the tip!
Robin Chapman Tucker says
I do love Morning Glories–but my goodness, how is it that you do not have them running out your EARS? I planted a few around my wooden fence and they did reseed, and reseed AND reseed. It became a family project to go and pull DOWN the Morning Glory vines before they took down the fence! We were using weed killer, shovels..you name it.! Perhaps our locale, in Virginia was just ideal for their prolific growth! I just don’t know–but I am now terrified of ever planting them again!