“4 O’clock Stroll”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Walking around the garden this evening after work, I was struck by the scent of the 4 O’clocks. Even though it was very windy from Hurricane Ike which is churning in the Gulf, the sweet smell of these flowers was prevalent. Now that the evenings are getting a little cooler, they open earlier. It is the cooler temperatures of the late afternoon that causes the flowers to open, not the time of day. These old-fashioned flowers add color and fragrance to the late evening and remind me of my grandmother.
The flowers produce black seeds and readily reseed. They make a shrubby plant about three feet tall and almost as wide. With the first frost, the leaves and stems die back, but, here, the tuber survives to re-sprout in the spring.
Dear hubby mowed the lawn today, and everything looks so nice. I couldn’t help but think as I strolled around the yard that only a week ago everything was a mess with branches and limbs everywhere. My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Texas who are in Hurricane Ike’s path. I know how scary it can be with a big storm bearing down on you. I just hope they can come out of this with no damage. Please keep everyone who will be affected by this storm in your thoughts.
Always Growing 
Sheila said,
September 11, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Isn’t the walk through the garden at the end of the day such a wonderful experience?
nancybond said,
September 11, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Amen to that. I hope that Ike fizzles out before he can do any serious damage. I’m glad your yard is neat and tidy again — your plants look great!
tina said,
September 11, 2008 at 8:19 pm
My absolutely favorite smelling flower in the world.
Jan said,
September 12, 2008 at 4:27 am
Shelia, walking the garden at the end of the day or very early in the morning is one of my favorite activities – so calming and peaceful.
Nancy, I am keeping an eye on Ike and praying for the Houston area where it looks like it is going to land. Hopefully, it will stay a weaker storm.
Tina, they do smell wonderful, don’t they. I have tried to place fragrant plants throughout the garden – gardenias, butterfly ginger – because it adds that extra dimension.
rstair said,
September 12, 2008 at 7:36 am
What a lovely scent these blooms add to the garden in the evening. That’s why I’ve never had the heart to completely erradicate them from the garden. I do have to keep them in check however or they will take over. 😉
Jan said,
September 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Thanks for stopping by, rstair. I feel the same way. I have pulled out many a little seedling because I already have enough. Four o’clocks do make good fillers to a garden bed that is just starting out and needs a little something with size.
Brenda Kula said,
September 12, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I’m sure what I have out on either side of my gate arbor are four o’clocks. But they have no scent!
Brenda
Jan said,
September 12, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Brenda, I find these really don’t have a fragrance until dusk or after. I guess it is because they are pollinated by night moths. You might try going out at night to see if you can smell them.