Purple Pairing of Mexican Petunias

Dreading Mondays? Perhaps a purple pair of Mexican Petunia flowers is sure to ease the feeling of mayhem associated with Monday Madness! (Or any day for that matter.)

Pair Up To Face the Day

Linking up with a friend or loved one makes for a perfect pairing through which to double the pleasure held in the gift of another day, come what may.

As usual, I paired up with my dog Valentino to discover this Mexican Petunia plant in bloom. A neighbor has a row of these as the sidewalk border in one of her flower gardens.

Purple Mexican Petunia Flowers Postcard by abitosunshine
See other Purple Postcards at zazzle

It is always a pleasure to see these purple pretties on my morning walk with my dog. It makes for a perfect way to face the start of my day!

Butterfly and Hummingbird Attraction

If you enjoy planting flowering perennials to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, the Mexican Petunias are a great choice. The plant is available in several colors but I do love the striking pop of color of the Maya Purple. There is even a dwarf version, known as "Katie."

Researching the Mexican Petunia (Ruellia Brittoniana), I discovered it is considered an invasive plant here in Florida. I can not imagine being invaded by anything more perfect — Bring on the invasion!

      

Do tell ... Who might you pair up with for sharing the pleasure of Mexican Petunias blooming the color of purple?

Since I am publishing this article on Monday, I choose to link up with the Monday Madness post over on the Challenge Your Writing blog.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon and of Zazzle and may earn via purchases made through links in this article.

Partridge Pea Plant Plea

Most people are well aware of the environmental expression "turn trash into treasure." In my view of the Partridge Pea plant I saw the flip side — nature's treasure trashed by mankind.

When nature calls, my dog abruptly brings our walk to a halt. While he takes care of his sprinkling of nature business I busy myself with observing our natural surroundings. I am always on the lookout for sprinkles of sunshine to share with my readers.

Partridge Pea Wildflower

My eyes immediately rest upon a tiny treasure of a sunny flower growing out of fern-like leafage. I capture its beauty on my cell phone camera with intentions of spreading a bit of sunshine your way today.

Arriving home from our neighborhood walk, my dog settles in for a nap while I begin searching the internet in hopes of identifying this beauty of a blossoming plant. My research results in the discovery that this is a Partridge Pea plant, a native Florida wildflower, and is of the legume family.

Interestingly, I learn that the doves which perch on overhead wires in my neighborhood (as well as many other birds and wildlife) feed upon the seeds of the Partridge Pea in fall and winter. In downloading my pictures to my computer for viewing, I was certainly given food for thought!

Read and Heed the Partridge Pea Plea

Partridge Pea Wildflower Trash Postcard by abitosunshine
Make your own custom postcards at Zazzle

Taking a closer look at my images, I came to realize that my observational skills were seriously lacking. While my focus was on the beautiful wildflower treasure I did not even see that its beauty grew out of a pile of trash left behind by mankind — cigarette butts!

I can now see and hear the plea of the Partridge Pea plant. Smoker or non-smoker, I hope that you can too...

Do not trash the treasure of Mother Nature!

Please don't litter nature with your cigarette butts!

Shop Now for Do Not Litter Signs

Birds, butterflies, and bees will love you for planting Partridge Peas!

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon and of Zazzle and may earn via purchases made through links in this article.