I grew up surrounded by lawns, pastures, and garden beds.  Many flowering trees, bushes, and flowers had names I knew not.  I knew what lilacs were, but not the little purple flowers that dotted evergreen vines.  The large bed that housed two towering fir trees was covered in them.  Those little, bitty, purple flowers were my favorite back then.  They still remind me of my first home and hold a special place in my heart.

So now, in a home all my own, I grow Vinca.  I grow it on purpose.  I plant it and let it spread despite the arguments I have fielded in online gardening forums.  Invasive some say.  A scourge.  Cheerful, carefree, and low maintenance I say!

It is also a reminder of my childhood.  Of running through the yard and stopping to pluck purple flowers from the vines.  Of a time when things were more simplistic.  And purple flowers made me smile.

I planted purple vinca in the first flower bed I made in my yard.  I look forward to it blooming every year.  The kid inside me still grins when it does.  I don’t care if it is invasive.  I want More.  Purple.  Flowers!!!

A few years ago, I discovered that there are also white vinca flowers.  I purchased a few plants and introduced them into one of my most shaded flower beds.  It’s been just a few years since planting.  They have proven to be prolific ground covers.  It’s only invasive if you don’t want it, right? 

This time of year, plentiful white blooms light up the shaded garden bed.  They peek out from the evergreen vines and leaves.  The white reflects any light, even in the darker hours, and brightens things up.  They even catch the moonlight.

As a bonus, those vines help choke out the weeds.  Its downside is that it can also choke out plants you want to thrive.  It’s not perfect.  It is definitely not a rule follower, and it doesn’t like to share resources.  I get that, but I can work with it. 

Is it constantly pushing boundaries?  Yes.  Is it guilty of coloring outside of the lines?  Is it lucky it’s cute? Definitely. I have to keep an eye on it.  Sometimes I have to remind it who’s boss.  I don’t care.  I still love it.