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.

Chasing Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Black Swallowtail butterflies aplenty have flown across my path this past week. A few finally landed upon honeysuckle long enough to be captured on camera. Sweetness!

While walking my dog Valentino yesterday I was delighted to find a half dozen of the Black Swallowtails fluttering wildly around a honeysuckle bush in full bloom. Now to keep my dog still so that one or more might land in front of the eye of my cell phone camera. (Valentino was a good boy and stood still!)

First to land was one of the Eastern Black Swallowtails, with "tails" pretty much hidden behind the leaves, unfortunately. Still, you can see it is a black beauty.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly Porcelain Plates by abitosunshine

Best of all was being able to capture the Giant Swallowtail butterfly, which I have been chasing for two years now. I finally caught it in a shot worthy of sharing!

Black Swallowtail on Honeysuckle Throw Pillows by abitosunshine

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

I am linking this article up with Writer's Unite over at Marsha's Spot. If you're a writer, check out her weekly post and add the links to a couple of your published articles.


I so enjoy chasing butterflies while walking my dog in the north Florida sunshine! Are you a butterfly chaser too?

Common Buckeye Butterfly Capture

I so enjoy chasing butterflies while walking with my dog here in the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico.

My catch of today? The Common Buckeye Butterfly — lying on the ground right in front of my coonhound's nose!

This butterfly blended into its surroundings so well that had it not been for my dog Valentino I doubt I would have seen it. I tugged gently at the dog's lead, just enough to move his head, so I could click that picture before the Buckeye fluttered away. And onto a decorative porcelain plate it went!

Common Buckeye Butterfly by abitosunshine
More Butterflies Porcelain Plate

The Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia Coenia Hübner) is found throughout the state of Florida throughout the entire year. These butterflies make their way as far north as Canada and south into Mexico. It generally winters along the Gulf Coast. Lucky for me!

Disclosure: As a Zazzle associate I may earn income through purchases made via links in this article.