Morning Glory

“Springtime flowers bloom like colorful arrows piercing their way to the sun.” ~Terri Guillemets

Introducing you to these blooms which are befittingly called the “Morning Glory”. I first met them on a hike in Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India. It was just one sole blue flower blooming on the path I was walking on. It was really early in the morning on a dark forest trail and the center of the this tiny flower was gleaming like a bright light! Illuminated like nothing else out there! I cannot get over spellbound I was at this blooming, shining thing I was seeing!

Since then, I have seen this flower grow in the city & got to know of its huge family. One of the biggest gifts I have got through photography is learning about Nature & what surrounds us. It has been a magical process to get acquainted with the wonder of it all! We have a pink one growing at home and recently I learnt what a vast family it belongs to! Sharing some of my beautiful encounters & hues below.

Also, sharing some amazing facts about this flowering vine –

Morning glory, any of several herbaceous twining vines or shrubs in the genus Ipomoea (family Convolvulaceae). Ipomoea comes from the combined Greek words ips and homois which means “worm” and “like,” respectively. Several species of morning glories are cultivated for their showy trumpet-shaped flowers and attractive leaves. With its heart-shaped leaves and delicate trumpet-shaped blooms, this is one of the most stunning vines in one’s garden! Ipomoea nil, a species of morning glory, was first known in China for its medicinal uses, due to the laxative properties of its seeds. Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the morning glory species Ipomoea alba to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree and also the guayule plant to produce bouncing rubber balls. The sulfur in the morning glory’s juice served to vulcanize the rubber, a process antedating Charles Goodyear’s discovery by at least 3,000 years. Aztec priests in Mexico were also known to use the plant’s hallucinogenic properties! source: Wikipedia

Behold the magic ~

Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

Growing at home, these Pink beauties colour our mornings in exceptional ways! Sharing their beauty ~

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Heavenly Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)

Came across these ‘Heavenly’ beauties on a visit to a friend’s farm! Please see their magnificence for yourself ~

Cairo morning glory (Ipomoea cairica)

These mauve blooms are lining my morning walk route and they are just so delicious, I literally feel like plucking them and having them for dessert!

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Blooming along with a Frangipani!

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#FOTD #Nature #Naturephotography #Photography #Flowers #Joy #Bloom #Flower #Photochallenge