The moon flowers that I planted in June finally figured out what they are supposed to be doing and are now taking their responsibility very seriously. 

They now are producing 18-24 new, beautiful, fragrant blossoms every evening. Each blossom lasts less than one full day; they mostly wilt and drop off by midmorning the following day. 

Some people, like Paige and Timothy, plant them around their lampposts and train them up around the post. Mine are growing up the front of the shed and spilling over a trellis and I can see them from my bedroom window and from the back stoop and, of course, from the side yard where the lawn chairs are parked. 

The new buds begin to open, one by one, about 6 PM.

Tonight, the stretched out hose and I were out there watering them ( it has forgotten how to rain in my little corner of Virginia) and the blossoms had not yet begun to open. My attention was focused on the spray of water so as not to waste a drop. 

I glanced up at the vine and there gleamed three fully opened blooms! How did that happen ... there were none less than a couple of minutes earlier when I started the watering? 

And I stared at a oddly shaped bud which looked like a small creamy white tulip and saw that it was moving, changing it shape and unfolding its 5 perfect petals right there in front of me! It was so exciting, so amazing to observe the beautiful dance-like behavior of each consecutive bud opening. The whole opening process took less than 2 minutes for each bloom ... no wonder I've missed it all these years.

I had to stretch a tiny bit to put my face into the closest bloom and inhale the exquisite fragrance with my eyes closed. It was ambrosia! 

But something brushed against my face and startled me aside It was a hummingbird! 

It zoomed right in on 'my' blossom and its tiny wings fluttered against my face. Cheeky little rascal! 

The hummer sampled every single bloom, coming back to the original one (mine!) three times. He was less than a foot from me and seemed not a bit concerned with the proximity.

What an amazing experience that was. I am going to be out there every evening at 6 PM from now on, not only to witness the miracle of the moon flower blossoming but to see if the hummingbird returns while I'm there.

Love to all,
Aunt Maureen