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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The Passionfruit Cookbook


In the beautiful Cottagewood garden memory care unit, where Mrs. T. now resides, nearby the gazebo where we were recently sitting, I found an unknown to me flowering vine. The flowers color  & structure were both stunning and unique. Take a look. (Photograph by  my friend at Cottagewood Autumn Kunz)

 

A bit later I met the lady who had originally  planted the passion vine as she began to water it.

In Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley book, The Passionfruit Cookbook, he writes, “Early explorers Spanish explorers  felt that the passion flower had a special purpose to promote the spiritual life among the people where it grew”
Then he goes on to explain the beautiful meaning of each part of the plant:

 “The spiraled tendons of the plant, he notes, were taken as symbols of the lashes Christ endured, and the central flower column as the pillar of the scourging. The 72 radial filaments of the flower were seen as the crown of thorns; the three stigmas as symbols of the nails used in the crucifixion, as well as the holy Trinity; the five anthers, as the five wounds of Christ; and the style as the sponge doused in vinegar used to moisten Christ’s lips. Taken together, the five petals and five sepals were used to refer to the ten apostles who did not either betray or deny Christ. The fragrance of the flower, continued Pons-Worley, helped recall the spices used to embalm the body of Christ. Finally, its globular egg-size fruit was taken as a symbol of the world that Christ saved through his suffering.”
The vine had been planted along the garden fence in memory of her mother.  All she knew of it was the name and after some discussion I  said I would try to find out more about it to determine whether it was winter hardy Minnesota. The answer was mostly doubtful on the subject of winter survival, although with over 500 species of it worldwide, most of which are tropical plants, there might be a few exceptions. Thus volunteering, I apparently inherited the plant in the attempt to keep it alive  in our basement. I’ve managed  that in the past with orchid cactuses. Hopefully. next spring it will be returned to it present location in the memory care garden  to thrive and bloom once again bringing joy to all the memory care residence residents…
   In summing up this perhaps quaint review the passion I had developed immediately upon first sight of a flowering vine, led me to a cookbook which was the first one I had ever purchased. Gardening, flowers, history, cooking (a new venture for me), religion etc. A good book for me. Perhaps you as we depending on you interests!
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@Barrie Summy

16 comments:

Joanne Noragon said...

It is a beautiful flower.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

My daughter always has one of these Passion Flowers in her garden in CA. I never asked her if it was a perennial but I assumed it was. Here, in Pennsylvania, I think they are annuals.

Linda said...

Pretty! I think (if I recall correctly) I grew one years ago but it did not survive the winter.

LC said...

A former neighbor had a passion vine that eventually found our fence and covered it. It was a welcomed addition to the view from our sliding glass doors. Alas, the family moved to a more rural area and the next owner cleared the former owner's jungle. I missed it because of the variety of blooms and the privacy it provided. Best wishes in your adventures with new activities.

Far Side of Fifty said...

It might re seed itself...I am not certain. It is a lovely flower. Your cook book sounds like an interesting read. Did you get yourself an air fryer? We bought one it makes awesome french fries...homemade one with a bit of olive oil and you are all set in 20 minutes:)

Arkansas Patti said...

I have seen passion flowers before but never knew the meaning. Good luck with it as it is truly a beautiful and complex flower.

NCmountainwoman said...

We never thought of eating passion fruit but the blossoms and the pods gave up plenty of fun. We pinched off some of the blossoms so there were two remaining "arms" and pretemded they were ballerinas. We cut open and carved the pods into doll carriages, boats, and all sorts of things. And there was great fun stomping on them to hear them pop. They grow wild all along the roadsides in NC. I had never heard the religious meanings, although that would not likely have encouraged us to treat them with more respect.

Barrie said...

My neighbor planted passionfruit along the fence between our properties. It's very hardy, here in Southern California, and winds its way up onto my roof even! It took me a while to figure out this plant was. My neighbor didn't know either. The flower is beautiful. I'm not a fan of the fruit. Although I do know people who love it. Now I'm curious to try a recipe from this book. Have you tried any of the recipes yet? Thank you for reviewing!

Lucy said...

It sounds like you came to find this book in a unique and unexpected way. Glad you're enjoying this little find. Thanks for reviewing.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I don't think I have ever seen one much less tried the fruit. Thanks.

Cynthia said...

What a gorgeous flower! I’ve never seen one or tasted the fruit. Will you be doing some cooking from the cookbook? I hope it does well under your care and returns to the memory care home raring to go next spring.

Phyllis Wheeler said...

Lovely!!!

Powell River Books said...

It's a beautiful flower, so lovely for a memory garden for people to experience. Thanks for you taking it under your wing for the winter. - Margy

Dee said...

Dear Troutbirder, I've never seen or heard of this flower. And I'm amazed that the Spanish gardeners saw so much of the crucifixion in it. It became a read mediation didn't it--on life and death. Peace.

Naomi (Culver) McCollough said...

Fascinating! A very unique-looking flower indeed! I find it fascinating to learn of the symbolism behind the parts of the plant, and its name now gives me a new understanding of the term "passion." It makes sense! LOVED this!
By the way - it was great seeing you and visiting with you! :) Naomi (Culver) McCollough

Sarah Laurence said...

I ate so much passion fruit while doing field biology in Kenya that I got sick of it. I didn't know it had such a beautiful flower or odd history. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your gardening!