Archway starting to look how I imagined with Rangoon Creeper

This old archway belonged to my grandparents. My brother Al, aka "The Dragon" and I rescued it from the old homestead a couple years ago when the house was being moved. I tried a couple of different vines but nothing really did well right there. Last year I found a vine called Rangoon Creeper and planted it there. I think it likes it!



Rangoon on archway ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

It's such a fun plant to watch. The blooms start off white or very pale pink.






Rangoon - beginning ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


And about 4 hours later, it turns even pinker.




Rangoon - getting pinker ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )






Rangoon - started off pink ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


And in about another 4 hours, they turn a very pretty red.




Rangoon - turning red ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

And once it turns red, they hang downwards.




Rangoon - done ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

The flowers last for days... and have a nice fragrance.
One of the common names for this vine is "drunken sailor". After watching it, I've come to the conclusion of why it's called that. I base this on first hand knowledge of my brother, "The Dragon" who is a sailor AND enjoys his rum.
He starts of the day all bright and upright and by the end of the day he's red-faced and drooping!
So... in honor of my brother, I call this plant "Al".

 

Very nice! I honestly love it when something from the grandparents era is put to good use! Not only it is using everything we have efficiently, (instead of chucking in the trash and foolishly buy something new) - But to me at least, it gives a sense of family loyalty. Like like maintaining their efforts, to honor them.

Sure, this is something very small, but it's the thought that counts - isn't it? So a 10 out of 10 for Cherylad!

 

We also salvaged both gates which are being used as "gates"



gates ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

 

Also, I myself very strongly believe in what people say about old stuff: They now don't make it the way they used to... So I'll bet that this arch and those gates will easily outlast anything of today, (which no doubt will be made of plastic)... Actually, come to think of it, they already have outlasted a lot of stuff - And still seem to be going strong!

 

Gates and archway have to easily be 60 years old. They hold very fond memories for the entire family. Just the other day when I was showing "Al" to one of my cousins, he said... "I love that old thing." :-D

 

The way I see it, memories are what make a house into a home - Otherwise it's just a structure used for shelter... So with a little maintenance here and there once in a while, those gates and arch will last forever! And so too will the memories, as these things will maintain the memory in return (as well as create new ones).

 

Wow ... I love the arch, and the gates, and 'Al' too. I've never seen a plant like it

 

Thanks Netty and Eileen... and S-H.
I'd never seen one either. I went to this neat not-so-little but tricky-to-get-to nursery not far from my office. I told the guy what I was looking for and he pointed out their own Rangoon that was huge and full of blooms. I had to have it. I was so thrilled to see it come back this spring. Now, if it would just learn to crawl all over that fence.

 

Very nice cherylad.

Makes me think I need something like that although it will be mine from the beginning and not my moms or grandmas. It's ok for I have lots of things from my mom and grandma and daughter. They just aren't in the gardens.

 

Cheryl--I love that plant. It is pretty as well as being interesting.

 

Hi Cheryl,..that creeper is a beauty its all the more interesting with the colour changes of the blooms,..makes me want to dispose of my old Honeysuckle creeper.

Great description of the resemblance between the creeper and "Al",..lol.

Those gates were well worth saving as was the creeper,..great to carry on the family ties,..well done you.

 

Thanks all. It's neat to see it in the morning with the white, pink and red at the same time.
Funny though... I haven't noticed any butterflies or bees being attracted to it. But then again, the butterfly population is down this year.

 

Love it! "Al" looks great on your grandparents archway.

 

You know what guys? Seeing and reading all this, I too am now inspired to get my grandfather's old office desk out of storage - And start using it again! Even though my new office desk has all the modern goodies, (like extra USB ports, inbuilt power outlets, and a cooling fan for the computer too, as well as small LED lights to illuminate the keyboard in the dark) - But there is still something in an old traditional solidly built wooden desk of the 1940s, that a new one will just not be able to match... Really.

Besides, grandfather's old desk has secret compartments (which took years for me to figure out how they operated), as well as a small inbuilt solid steel safe - None of which, a modern desk will ever have... Besides, why is modern furniture getting smaller and smaller? Anybody ever wonder why???

Doesn't matter anyway, all that's now left for me to do is get some good quality furniture polish, and a buyer for my new desk, (so I can get rid of that to make space for the old desk).

Thanks indeed for inspiring me Cherylad!