It's Maypop Season

Maypop, Passiflora incarnata, is a native Missouri vine that is lush, vigorous, and looks oh so tropical.

It's a slow starter in my garden, not even emerging until the first week of June, but by mid-to-late August it's pretty much threatening to take the place over.

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There's almost no space to walk through here now...

...but those sweet-smelling blooms are just irreplaceable!

Did I mention it was vigorous? It's becoming a nuisance in some areas.

I have to duck a little walking through here now. Maybe a touch of pruning is needed?

Back in August 2014 it looked like this:

2014 for comparison

Let's just say that it has filled out a little bit in the last four years, okay? It spreads from its roots so now comes up on both sides of the pergola. Also in most parts of the garden surrounding the stream area for 20' (6m) or so. I pull so much of this out every year!


The bees love it of course...

...with dozens of blooms opening every day now.

Not too bad for a no-look arms-length iPhone shot, right?

I got stung walking past here a week or so ago. I never saw the culprit but whew, I felt it! I've always had a garden full of bees of all kinds, and so very rarely get stung that this was a surprise.

Still I'm not giving up the maypop!

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