Morning Glory

I have been working extremely hard in my gardens this year. We expanded one garden to make it three times the size of its original layout.  Unfortunately, I've been so focused on the layout of this new expansion that all I have been thinking about is moving dirt and getting it ready for planting.

As always, some of my plants call to me to get my attention.  I'm able to give them short and sweet acknowledgements and then I move on.  

Yarrow waves in the breeze as I walk by, Chamomile flowers are starting to open and smile at me. My Lemon Balm and White Sage have spread so much from last year that I can't possibly walk by its beauty several times a day without telling them both how gorgeous they are and how it makes my heart feel to see they are obviously healthy and love where they are.  But there is on plant that seems to almost be like that small, jealous toddler that constantly has to be in your face to get your attention.  That plant is Moring Glory!

Morning Glory in the garden is said to bring peace and happiness.  It reminds us how fleeting life can be.  She opens her flowers to the sun in the morning and fills them  with the suns energy just to die back at night as the sun goes away.  She is what most call "INVASIVE" as wherever you plant her, she will multiply.  She graced my front porch as she grew up the porch posts and then a crossed a trellis on the side of the porch.  Not only did she open to tell me good morning each day, but she also shaded my porch from the summer sun/heat in the summer.  To me she is absolutely stunning!

In my hustle to get the addition of the garden done, I decided to relocate several wheelbarrow loads of dirt from besides my front porch to the new additional raised beds.  After just a couple days of rain and sunshine, I noticed all these tiny plants popping up everywhere. 

                                                                MORNING GLORY WILL NOT BE IGNORED!!!!!!! 

She has (by way of me moving dirt) spread herself into my new garden area.  She has brought her feeling of peace and love into this new area and in doing so, she has made me slow down and take in the process of the garden expansion as a gift, not just additional work.

In life we get so busy doing "the work" that we forget to enjoy or learn from the process of the work.  For me, Morning Glory is a pause, she is a reminder to step into each morning with gratitude, completely open to the day and energy that is all around us.  Our eyes and hearts open each morning in the same way Morning Glories flowers open.  She is a symbol of gratitude and simplicity.  Be grateful for what you have and know that simplicity can be just as beautiful as anything else.

Medicinal Uses and Warning:

Traditionally the plant has been used for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.  The seeds are known to have  the following properties:  Anthelmintic, anticholinergic, antifungal, antispasmodic, antitumor, diuretic, and laxative.  

Morning Glory is also considered to be toxic.  For this reason I do not use it medicinally but do love to have it in my gardens because it makes my heart happy and fills me with peace.