Hops Vine and Petunias - Today's Flowers

Last week I posted pictures of the hops flowers, and this week I thought I would show you the plant.

Window Box Petunias

Every spring I buy red petunias to plant in my window boxes. They are still doing well, even at this late date. This picture was taken one morning while I was sitting on a bench watching the birds at the feeders.

Ornamental Hops* Vine - Today's Flowers

*Hops - from the Anglo-Saxon "hoppen" meaning "to climb"

The hops plant has an impressive history and can be traced all the way back to Pliny the Elder (AD23-AD79), who makes reference to it in his Naturalis Historia.

Papery female flowers (bracts)

The stems have scratchy, little spines, and care must be taken in handling them as they can cause a skin irritation. Otherwise, it is a very nice cold hardy, perennial plant that has grown in my garden for many years.

To view more wonderful pictures be sure to visit Luiz at Today's Flowers.