Passionflowers

Today, my blog reached the total of 10.000 visits. I think that's a lot! It made me smile. Apparently people like (at least some of) the stuff I write and hopefully the pictures I show. For me it's a reason for a special blog post!

I had planned to write two blog updates about my recent trips to Krakow, Poland and to Dublin, Ireland, but today the weather was very nice in the Netherlands. I decided to do something entirely different and enjoy the fine weather circumstances, they don't always last too long in my country. I will still write the blog posts, probably somewhere in the following days.

Today, I went to the 'Passiflorahoeve' a large collection of passionflowers, situated in Harskamp, the Netherlands. Next to that, they have a pretty impressive collection of Dutchman's pipes or Aristolochia sp. and many tropical butterflies.

I am growing several species of Passiflora in my room and on my balcony as well. I really like these climbing vines! Not only do they produce delicious fruits, also, while doing so, they attract pollinators by bearing the most extraordinary flowers! I'll probably write a short post about keeping and propagating them in the future. Unfortunately my plants are a bit too small to flower at the moment, but hopefully they will start flowering in the coming weeks. Some are starting to grow flower buds. At least, I think...

These beautiful flowers are just amazing to take pictures of, so of course I brought my camera. For now I'll just shut up and show you the pictures. I think they are a good way to celebrate my 10.000 visitors.

Unfortunately most of the plants didn't have a name tag. I feel sorry to say I don't know all the 500 passionflower species by heart... The flowers are still beautiful though!

Enjoy!

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Aristolochia litoralis

Aristolochia kewensis 

Passiflora membranacea - a rare and large species, I have seeds from which I hope to grow them soon!

Ipomoea sp. - Morning Glory