Comparing Glory's and Potatoes

By Skeeter

I have Morning Glory vines in my Georgia Garden for the first time this year. My dad gave me the seeds from his Tennessee Garden and I had luck with them with the assistance of adequate spring rains. See how the bugs like to nibble on the leaves of the vine?
During my last Tennessee visit, my dad gave me this Morning Glory Vine which popped up voluntary for him in this pot.
I really do like the color of the Blue and Purple Morning Glory blooms.
After posting on the Potato Vine on Tuesday, many commenter's, me included noticed similarities to Morning Glory blooms. The foliage of the Morning Glory and my Potato Vine (maybe "Blackie") above are not similar at all. I started to poke some keys on the computer and found out a few things. The Morning Glory's are 1 of over 1,000 Convolvulaceae Species and in the Genera, Ipomoea. Yep, the same family as the Potato Vine! Lets now look closer shall we...
To the left is the Potato Vine and on the right is the Morning Glory. Similar in size and shape. It was after noon time when I snapped this picture so the morning glory was already starting to curl in shape as they only live one morning then die.
The Morning Glory has a star in the center,
As does the Potato Vine.
Morning Glory's glow in the center when the sun is shining on them. It looks as though I have put a light behind this bloom but I promise, I did not.
The Center of the Potato Vine glows with the sun as well. I am not sure if the potato vine dies after one day or not but did notice today when I snapped these pictures, that some blooms were missing on the potato vine from Tuesdays picture snapping. I did not find much about blooms with research but plenty of images of them. I must observe the potato blooms more closely to see if they die after one day. I bet they do.
More interesting facts on the Morning Glory are medicinal purposes such as Laxative and a Hallucinogenic. Latex for rubber balls and the sulfur was vulcanized in rubber long before Charles Goodrich and his tires. Click HERE to find out more interesting facts.

I put this Volunteer Morning Glory in front of my Volunteer Periwinkle Plants as I think the colors go so well together.

Thanks to all commenter's for your chat as it had me COMPARING GLORY'S AND POTATOES, In the Garden...

Note: Tina has grown a climbing Moonflower that is also in this family....

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Potato Vine

By Skeeter
I have planted Potato Vine in this planter in my Georgia Garden for the past few years. I have never had much luck with them as the bugs destroy it each year. I have never had one to bloom for me. However, this year, is a different story. I paid close attention to the leaves and at the first sign of bugs, I sprayed it with Sevin. I refrain from using pesticides if possible but this year I was determined to have success with a potato vine.
And success I have! I have lots of blooms on the vine and am enjoying them very much. I did a quick search on Potato Vines only to find there are tons of different types out there. I just know this one to be a Potato Vine as that is all the tag told me.
A tiny Purple Queen (purple heart) Bloom accompanies a Potato Bloom!
Blue Salvia is also in this planter,
along with Red Salvia. I never have much luck with the Red Salvia but this bloom was standing out today!
A closer look into the center of the flower shows the vibrant purple color.
Some may consider the Potato Vine a pest as they can become invasive, but for now, I am enjoying this POTATO VINE, and its blooms In the Garden...