I’m happy to announce my first native passionflower (Passiflora) ever!  This is a big deal for me, having despaired of my one plant coming back, but did it ever!  Vines took over half the sun perennial garden, and buds are forming all over.  I just can’t get over how such a hardy native can look so exotic and striking.  Or how I was able to grow it.  I mean, look at it.  I even posted two shots, just because.  Nature is such an artist.

The native orange butterfly weed (a milkweed) is starting to bloom, another plant I thought hadn’t made it back.  Other natives and perennials are starting to do their stuff, too.  It’s bittersweet, because I had hoped to stick around and get to see them all come up and spread, but I’m happy to know they’re getting established.  Maybe the next buyer will appreciate them as well.

Speaking of which, our real estate agent just did her first preliminary visit to get an idea what we’ve got and advise us on how to proceed.  She’s not sure how long this seller’s boom will last, but she’s confident we’ll make a little money off it.  It was nice to see a familiar face after all this time, though the circumstances aren’t the happiest.