Photo by Nancy Wilder

It’s hard to believe it’s actually July already. Wasn’t it just snowing? Oh, I guess it was. In June. Well nevertheless, it is now officially summer, and officially hot. So I propose a fun project which everyone can participate in, and which will reap rewards of cool, quiet privacy all summer long – and not just during daylight hours. The Moonflower teepee actually shows its truest, most beautiful colors – and scents – after the sun sets. In fact, it seems fragrance is the color of night. When evening comes in the Moonflower teepee, pale flowers that look bedraggled and tired during the day lift their heads, open, and release their potent perfumes. In the cool night air you might spy giant, fairy-like moths flitting about, following invisible pathways of fragrance through the moonlight. Or you may see bats as they careen wildly about in search of insects. Toads and frogs may offer you a moonlight serenade. Any way you slice it, summer nights offer us a rare and precious look into a lively nocturnal world usually beyond our daylight-accustomed senses.  

Making the teepee is a fairly straightforward venture. To get started, you’ll need two people and just three ingredients:
~ Five, 6-foot bamboo poles (available at The Natural Abode or other local garden supply store)
~ Heavy hemp twine or other sturdy rope
~ Six moonflower seedlings (or start from seed a few weeks prior)

First, lay the five 6-foot poles on the ground. Tie the rope around them about 1 foot from an end. Hold the poles together, tied end up, and raise them into an upright position in the center of a clear patch of ground. Spread the bottom of the poles apart to make a 4-foot-wide circle. As you do this, the rope at the top tightens and stabilizes the teepee. Make a doorway on the south side by widening the gap between two legs to form an entrance. To support the Moonflower vines as they grow, tie a rope to the bottom of one doorway pole and weave it back and forth around the tent (kids of all ages seem to love this task). As you pass each pole wrap the rope once around it. Spiral from bottom to top, keeping the rows of rope about 8 inches apart. Turn back when you come to the doorway and continue weaving in the opposite direction.

To plant the Moonflower teepee, dig a hole twice the width and depth of the Moonflowers’ root balls. Tuck in the Moonflower seedlings, add soil, and water gently.  Moonflowers are often thirsty, so they usually need water daily. As the vines grow, gently guide them onto the poles and ropes of the tent. Your Moonflower teepee is now ready to grow and thrive with your care and patience.

So, if you thought nothing happened in your yard after dark, now you’re in for a big surprise. In my experience, kids and grownups alike absolutely love both the process and product of this endeavor. You’ll see magic happen and miracles unfold when you plant a garden with night-blooming flowers. Under a full moon, your garden looks enchanted, glowing luminously in the night. Critters you never see in daylight stop for snacks; some stay to raise families. And you’ll be able to watch it all happening from behind the leafy walls of your vine-covered tent.  Spread out your flowery welcome mat and wait for darkness to fall. And remember: its summer, the kids can sleep in.
 
Nancy hopes to sneak out of the house on a midsummer’s night to bask in the Moonflower moonlight all by herself. Life is short (and hey, grownups get to use this teepee too).