by Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

Purple Ruellia

Purple Ruellia, Photo by Cheryl Batavia

Purple Ruellia

Ruellia flowers open

with the sunrise,

bringing joy…

and vivid butterflies!

Ruellia mingles with stick-tights,

so you think it’s a weed?

You must be joking, friend…

a weed? No, indeed!

Mexican petunia

is its other name.

Even if it were a weed,

I’d love it just the same!

The garden book warns

it’s invasive; don’t be surprised

if you hear me describe ruellia…

as “naturalized!”

Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia

41 Comments

    1. Angela, thank you for sharing your kind thoughts. I can’t garden any more due to soil mold allergies, so flowers that can look out for themselves are just right for me! 🙂 I hope all is well with you. What is the situation with your classes? All the best! ❤ Cheryl

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  6. Such a beautiful poem Cheryl, so simple and flowing, so easy to read and appreciate! And the flowers too – Very beautiful, it must bring such pleasure to see them every morning!

    Being invasive or called a weed can never demean the beauty of such beautiful flowers, and many often I found invasive flowers to be very beautiful – maybe something to do with the inherent strength which allows them to grow and spread, don’t know – botany is not my strength. Talking of invasive, we have a species called Lantana ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantana ) – which is supposed to have come from Africa I think. They are taking over many of the forests here, and are being termed parasitic. But the flowers – so many colours, such beauty! Nature might be oppressive and strong, but is never not beautiful.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Deb, thank you so much for the information! I used to plant multicolored lantana in my butterfly garden when I lived on the east coast of Florida. The butterflies love it! I have noticed this lantana growing in one of the many empty wooded lots in our SW Florida neighborhood. It was much lankier than the cultivated version, but otherwise looked much the same! I thought maybe someone had planted it there, but Wikipedia says it’s native here! Now I know, thanks to you. ❤

      I am collecting wildflower seeds on my walks and spreading them at the edge of the wooded lots behind and beside us here…hoping some may grow. 🙂

      Thank you, Deb, for your kind comments on my poem. I am so happy you enjoyed the poem. 🙂 Stay safe and be happy! Cheryl

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Of course I loved it! Pleasure is mine. 😊
        My little firebolt toddler actually doesn’t allow me to read much stuff out there, but whenever I buy a little time from him I do read and luckily I happened to pass by your wonderful writings.❤️
        Wishing for you the same Cheryl
        Samreen🤗

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment