Maypop and a Ballerina
Maypop & Ballerina
Growing up in the rural areas of Trenton, Georgia and northern Alabama, I remember, in the summertime, walking along the sandy dirt roads, dragging a stick, talking with my brother when we would see this beautiful
lacy, purple flower growing on a vine. Each of us enjoyed this flower for different reasons. I would break off a stem holding the flower, then, if you notice in the very center, it looks like many arms. I would break off all but two, then hold it up to the light and twist back and forth. The delicate flower twirling made me think of a ballerina, dancing.
Now, my brother loved picking the fruit, plopping it down on the ground and stomping on it. I always thought that's where it got the name Maypop, because the fruit may pop and it may not. Now I find it's technical name is Passiflora incarnata. A big name for such a delicate flower.
It's been years since I've seen a Maypop. I thought it was just a wild vine. If you want a Maypop, you can buy the seed and plant it to run up your mailbox or some other area in your garden. If you see one, try making it into a ballerina!