Flower for the Day Phlox 4-17-25

My first introduction to phlox (Phlox sublet) was at Stulicks on Ogden Avenue near my home in La Grange, Illinois where I grew up. Mr. Stulick was a wonderful friendly old Eastern European man who spoke 'broken English. In his store he had a beautiful rock garden with cascading phlox. Stulicks was also the source of our turtles and gold fish - a wondrous place. 

My phlox are a poor substitution but they do flow over time worn rocks. It is also called creeping phlox, moss pink and mountain phlox. As a native it thrives during the growing season and winters well.

Phlox is from the Greek word for flame. According to legend, Odysseus and the sailors, descending into the underworld of Hades, held flickering torches in their hands, which illuminated their path. When they got out of the dungeon, they threw the torches on the ground. They sprouted and turned into phlox flowers in memory of the brave Odysseus.

These blooms have lasted more than a month.

Their beauty increases exponentially when you  see them up close.

Influx
it is the nature
of the phlox to spread throughout
any flowerbed
those who bemoan humanity
act like only humans takeover

 Symmantha Renn