It's All About Passion

I noticed a new splash of white on the top terrace the other night when I glanced up from washing up the dishes. Sure enough, the passiflora is flowering, and what a sight. Every time I see one of these flowers I'm gobsmacked at their extravagance. And I love that they balance a bad hair day with beauty beyond belief... I so want to be a passiflora!

The pod-like passiflora bud, full of the promise of the outrageous flower inside.

This year I'm equally gobsmacked at how many buds there are. Not a great photo, but it shows the vine growing over the little metal shed on the citrus terrace, so most of the flowers (and then the fruit) will enjoy the reflected heat from the roof. A quick count revealed as many potential passion fruit as tomato plants. 50+. It's a theme. And it's a miracle. Last year we got a handful of flowers and 6 fruit.

I find it odd that a flower that goes to so much trouble over its appearance doesn't bother with perfume... but maybe with looks that good, it doesn't need a scent.

There are 50+ self sewn sweet peas in the salsa garden. They know they need perfume. And I have just discovered that flash photography isn't the stark, unimaginative evil I always thought it was. I love the centre stage ballerina look, thanks to the flash bulb.

In spite of their prudish name--pyrethrum--these little lovelies do two important jobs. They cheer me up no end, and they piss off the bugs. Total keepers.

 Blackberries in the making. They start off all hairy and blobby, the total opposite of the gorgeous passionflowers, but their fruit is so bursting and mouth-poppy, you have to forgive their average looks.

This is my first-thing-in-the-morning seat, and a prolific clump of tarragon I must figure out how to use. Any hints anyone?

 Salad beds in the shade are doing really well at the moment. I need to start mowing them, but it's tempting just to keep them for their lovely factor.

One more passion flower. Honestly, who/whatever thought this one up was the ultimate creative genius.