evolution of a cup & saucer bloom

Every time I take a little break from blogging, I feel like I need a "jump start" to get going again. Not sure why I felt I needed to start my post with that, but now I've put it out there so I can move on to something actually interesting.   Hallelujah.  Luckily, it's only the blogging I've been negligent about, I'm still outside with my camera every single day.  It's a good thing too as the new blooms are something not to miss out on.  The 'Cup and Saucer' Vine, (Cobaea scandens) started from seed this spring, is finally beginning to bloom.  A short disclaimer here:  For those of you familiar with this vine, the sequence I'm about to show you will be "nothing to write home about."  If you're not familiar with it, it's pretty darn fascinating.  The buds begin sort of nondescript (remember this photo?):

and sort of remain in that state for what seems like an excruciating amount of time (most likely because you're on pins & needles waiting for them to open) until finally one day you go outside and the bud has cracked.  The start of something gorgeous is protruding from what ends up being the "saucer:"

 

My Mom was here when this first bud opened and it was something good we shared together.  She said she hadn't seen one bloom in quite a number of years.  Here's to you Mom, the first flower, opening a greenish/white color then slowly shading to lavender:

 

until it reaches full maturation with a rich purple bloom:

A touch past it's prime but still, aren't you glad you didn't miss that?  There will be more photos to come as it begins its most floriferous time in my garden ~ from now until frost.  Something else started from seed, but new to my garden, is Amberboa muricata.  It's been blooming almost continuously all summer but I keep forgetting to share it:

 

Dainty little mauvey/purple flowers dot this 2' high annual (from the Aster family).  I purchased seed from the Thompson & Morgan seed catalog in case anyone is interested.  I personally am not sure I will start seeds again or not.  Nothing against it, just didn't "wow" me enough to pass up an opportunity to try something else new next season.  Switching gears, away from flowers, I am proud to say I've finally had a chance to capture a dragonfly image:

We all know this is a dragonfly now because it's resting with it's wings out, right?!!!  Something I won't ever forget as an identifier (thanks to all of you.)  Here's another look:

 

He's resting quite comfortably on a prong from my tomato cage which incidentally, the plant this very cage helps support, has produced its first nearly ripe tomato of the season:

 

Hip hip hooray.  Now my foray into the world of vegetable gardening cannot be considered a complete disaster.  It took a looooonnnggg time for anything to be harvested but it happened.  It's enough to keep me happy and maybe motivated to try again next year???

Comments

[Robin]

The cup and saucer bloom is pretty. Great dragonfly pictures!

[tina]

Ah yes, you have to do veggie gardening again next year. Even one tomato is worth it. The cup and saucer is nice. I've not seen it before so I enjoyed the sequence.

[Janet]

I am in awe of the bloom as it darkens to that gorgeous shade of purple! Very nice. It is one I have seen in the catalogs, not in person, nor sequence.

[Shady Gardener]

Kathleen, I've never seen this cup and saucer (Cobaea scandens). I've got to look this up. You have such an interesting array of items. Congratulations on the photo of the dragonfly! It's gorgeous. I think I like the second one best... not that it matters. :-) Happy Day!
(My filipendula is not huge this year... perhaps it will do Very Well next year! It's not in a Lot of sunshine...)

[Tyra in Vaxholm]

You are a true master with the camera Kathleen!
Funny name on that first flower 'cup and saucer', love it.

Have a great weekend

I'm jumping on board to go out to an island for a Crayfish party :-)
xoxo Tyra

[Joy]

Katleen girl those dragonflies are picture perfect !
I have never done that vine .. it looks beautiful though : )
I am so disappointed that the moonflower vine NEVER happened for me .. but since I have had good luck with the passionflower one I will try not to complain ? LOL
How is yours doing ? any more growth ? ... this is going to be interesting seeing what happens next Spring : )
Joy

[Racquel]

That's a beautiful color on that Cup & Saucer Vine. Congrats on your first ripening tomato! I hope it keeps you inspired to keep trying the veggies. I've been very pleased with my first season & I can't wait till next year now. :)

[Meems]

Hip hip hooray is appropriate for any tomato you grow yourself!... and it is pretty to boot! Next year you will remember the magnificent taste of it and won't want to live without it... that should inspire to plant again.

Your cup and saucer is quite unique and an intense purple. Very nice photos as always, Kathleen. I never tire of seeing dragon flies... give them anything vertical to land on and they will surely oblige.

Have a great labor day weekend.
Meems

[Sweet Bay]

Beautiful transformation of the Cobaea flower!

[Hilary Kanwischer]

Beautiful photos. I've never seen those colors, the purples are just gorgeous. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend Kathleen. :)

[Gail]

Kathleen, How do you talk the dragonflies into standing still for their perfect photos! ...and speaking of delightful photos! Love the Cup and Saucer flower...it was perfectly entertaining! I hope you had a good weekend. gail

[Catherine/gardenerprogress]

What a pretty bloom it has! I wanted to try Cup and saucer vine this year, but never did for some reason.
Congrats on the tomato! I'm not a huge vegetable gardener, but I always grow a few tomatoes. They are so good fresh from the garden.

[Wildlife Gardener]

I love your cup and saucer vine...it is a revelation to me...such magnificence!

I love your dragon flies too...excellent shots...I am truly impressed :)

As for growing your own tomatoes, well that's great too :)

Come and see my little butterfly videos :)

http://ourlittlecornerofparadise.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post.html