When I was in high school biology text referred to the Mirabilis jalapa, and how it has beautiful flowers! Years later, living in Downtown San Jose, I encountered this marvelous plant with multi-colored flowers, many of which were on the same plant! Pinks, reds, yellows, oranges and double colors abound! I had to look them up to find out this is the beautiful 4 o’clock plant or the Marvel of Peru I had read about as a child.
Year after year, I fend off landscapers, some random people crossing the street and more to keep them going! I wait in yearning for summer, when the lovely, drought-tolerant beauts just grow and grow and grow and put o this amazing show! In the past couple of years, I have also interspersed Morning Glories with their blue and purple flowers, so they contrast very well with each other. I sit here wondering what else I could throw in the mix!
Yes, they crowd the footpath in a couple of places, but enough people have said they appreciate them, and I see bees and wasps adoringly feed off the flowers! I am hoping to keep these lovely plants going for as long as I rent in this place. I also hope to post more of them.