As I walk into the yard on a rather gloomy and overcast Mother's Day Sunday morning, I am greeted by a truly appropriate site. The first of hopefully many blooms tops a datura plant growing in the back.
An all white flower with four very delicate little curls on the corners of the bloom, the deep horn shape is open for only one night and they wilt as soon as the sun shines on them. The foliage is an olive green which is a nice enough ground cover but when the white blooms appear the plant just comes alive.
The first time I noticed one of the drought hardy plants was on my first visit to the Grand Canyon where they grow in the ravines and washes, taking advantage of the little moisture that flows thru periodically.
I was told a story by a kayaking buddy, that the anasazi indians used the blooms as dream enhancers by placing them over their nose as they drifted off to sleep. By inhaling the pollen their dreams became vivid and surreal. With the fear of having to kayak down some crazy rapid in a semi-comatose state the next morning, I never tried the stunt but apparently some others have with rather mixed results.
Just looking at the gorgeous shape of the flower makes one wonder if the Adam and the apple temptation is not at work here. Some day maybe, but for the moment I can just view the beauty and create dreams on my own, they seem weird enough as they are.
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