Over the last 10 or so years, I’ve become acquainted with the owners of the blueberry patch. I see them only once each summer as I bring home buckets of berries to freeze for savoring the rest of the year.
Upon paying a mere $3.50 for a pail of organic blueberries, not to mention the nurturing experience of handpicking my own, I relayed my surprise to the proprietors about seeing a Morning Glory-like flower amidst the berries. They explained that this fragile looking flower is not so innocent and is actually the Morning Glory’s destructive cousin called Bindweed.
“Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.” ― Phaedrus
Even though I saw this invasive vine laced through only a few of the bushes, it will eventually overtake the organic blueberries because Glyphosate (aka poisonous Round-up) is the only thing that controls Bindweed (and kills everything else nearby). (The flower wilted in the afternoon heat by the time I could take the photo.)
“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.” – William Arthur Ward
Well, conversing about Bindweed led the owners to asking, “Have you ever seen a passion flower?”
“Well no, I haven’t,” I responded…while combing through photos in my mind and thinking Have I ever seen one of these?
“Come on, I’ll take you down and show you.”
I followed the proprietor down the hill, past row after row of blueberry bushes to discover a flower so intricate I wasn’t sure if I was looking at the right thing. It’s perfect detailing made it appear crocheted…or even store bought.
“Smell it, ” he said. “They make perfume out of it too.”
Bending down to detect the faint scent and snap a photo of this trellised flower, I asked, “Is it invasive?”
“It does seem to pop up everywhere.”
“Well, if you ever rip some out, let me know.”
“I’ll get my shovel and you can take some home now. Just be careful where you plant it.”
“Have you ever had a boysenberry?” he then asked.
“Well, no, I don’t think so,” I responded.
We walked on, past the hickory tree, past rows and rows of squash in bloom, cucumbers, and assorted summer flowers. Soon I was tasting boysenberries, yellow raspberries, blackberries, mulberries and probably a few others I can’t recall
I thanked the proprietors for a pleasant afternoon and expressed my gratitude that the berry patch is still functioning…a small joy remaining in a politically charged, ccp/covid diminished world. I was thankful for this congenial old school experience that was informative without discussion of politics, world events or social unrest.
As I packed the car with newfound treasures, I felt lighter and grateful to live in a place in America where people are still helpful and can exchange friendly conversation. This wouldn’t have happened if I buried my nose in a device, didn’t make eye contact, or reach out with a smile and hello. It’s as simple as that.
“However, we live in turbulent times, and it’s more important than ever that we learn how to open up dialogue and connect with people who are different from us.”
― Abhishek Ratna, small wins BIG SUCCESS: A handbook for exemplary success in post Covid19 Outbreak Era
All images by Write Gardener
wRighTing My Life 
Not that I do this or recommend it (we pul our out by gloved hand where possible) but I know wild plant enthusiasts who “paint” Roundup on things like poison ivy and bindweed, etc.to avoid collateral damage.
There are places like that all over the country, and the world for that matter, but we just hear bad stories because they sell better than the good ones. Of course it is to our benefit to be aware of the less than joyful but a balance would be nice.
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