Friday Favorite: Scarlet Runner Beans
Today it really isn’t one of my favorite things but one of my mom’s favorite things. She always grew scarlet runner beans in her garden just for the hummingbirds. When I was back in Ohio for her memorial service, my dad gave my sister and I each a packet of seeds so we could grow them in our gardens.
They are scrambling up their trellis and blooming away. Hopefully all the local hummingbirds are enjoying them just as much as my mom’s always did.
Do you grow any plants in your garden because they were favorites of loved ones in your life?
Filed under Around the Garden | Comments (5)
I have rhubarb that came from my parents and before that from my grandparents. I don’t use it much but grow it for sentimental reasons. And I have a Christmas cactus from my maternal grandmother’s plant and an African violet from my maternal grandmother’s plant. I’m not crazy about either of these plants either but again, grow them for sentimental reasons!
I love looking at them and thinking of my grandmothers.
to Joan Ray's comment
I grow them for the birds too. I had to skip a year to deter the bean beetles. We don’t eat them, but I save the seeds and share them with our young friends (ages around 5-7) to use as magic beans! They’re so gorgeous.
to PennyAshevilleNC's comment
I grow lots of things because someone in my life grew or loved them. But the main thing I’ve done is based on a complete stranger. Our house had one owner prior to us buying it. It was build in 1921 and lived in by the same couple until her death in 2009. I have not only saved everything that was growing but I’ve propagated and made more of things. Somehow I feel like she would be happy to know that someone loves this house and its gardens as much as she must have.
to Susan's comment
My grandfather loved burgundy beans and growing them makes me think of him so I always plant a few.
to Jenn's comment
I planted them for the first time this year and the hummingbirds have been loving them. Am going to save the dried beans. Wasn’t sure if I would plant again as they took up a bit of space, but the number of hummingbirds may out vote me.
to K's comment