Phantom Petunia
By fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29819)
Momence, Illinois
February 23, 2016 7:29am CST
Every spring my husband and I go to this amazing Garden Center in the town just north of us. It's well known in our area and is so big they give you a map when you walk in the door. We have been going here for about 15 years and we love it. We always spend at least 3 hours there and they even have a hot dog stand so you can do lunch while you are there. They have over 220,000 square feet of growing space. This includes about 20 green houses and an outdoor growing area as well.
In 2011 I took my camera along on our yearly trip there to photograph the wonderful flowers they have growing there. It seems that every year there is a flower I have never seen before. The flower I have posted here is called a Phantom Petunia and I haven't seen it since. But it's the blackest flower I have ever seen and wanted to share it here.
I love this Garden Center and am always excited to spend a day there every May.
12 people like this
13 responses
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
23 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 I am scrolling down to find the comment. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
Not common at all, many flowers come in black like tulips but they are really deep purple. This one is pretty darn black. The garden center is amazing I love it. There is a link on Abby's comments if you care to take a look. This Garden Center is 6 miles from my home.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
23 Feb 16
Oh my what a beautiful flower.
It is surely unusual and what a beautiful capture you got of it fish.
I love botanical gardens though I have not been to one in years.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
23 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 Wow that is huge fish.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
@TiarasOceanView Really huge, I end up with sore feet when we spend a day there.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
I love botanical gardens as well. This is just a Garden Center where they sell flowers and trees and all kinds of cool stuff. This Garden Center is 3 times the size of the Chicago Botanical Gardens.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Mar 16
It's pretty darn close to black. I think along the edges you can see a dark purple. I wish I would have gotten it, don't know why I didn't haven't see one since.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
28 Feb 16
I sure have not seen a black flower before - this is my first time and it's still beautiful too! I love visiting Gardens. 
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Feb 16
When I saw it I was glad I had my camera with. It's quite different in a beautiful sort of way. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Feb 16
I wish we had a garden center of any kid around here. What a cool flower!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 OH thanks, I'll check it out and dream!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
I know pretty neat aye. Oh Abby you would love this Garden Center, we spend 3 hours usually a trip, but you could easily make a day of it. And without fail we spend over 100 dollars on flowers each May. Here is the website if you care to take a look at it. It's owned by Dutch people and my husband is Dutch and some of the owners have the same last name as I do. Here is the link.
Herman and his sons soon moved into the egg business, peaking with 20,000 laying hens in the 70's. They specialized in a door-to-door delivery service throughout the southern suburbs of Chicago. Dan A. Woldhuis and his wife Janis bought out the egg
@DeborahDiane (40850)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Feb 16
What a gorgeous flower. I'm so glad that you took a photo of it!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
24 Feb 16
I am too, it's unusual to say the least. Thanks so much glad you like it.
@GardenGerty (169568)
• United States
24 Feb 16
My favorite garden center is not that big, but I would love to go to this one you describe. This is definitely a very black blossom.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
24 Feb 16
It's huge Heather, and it's one of my favorite days to go spend there.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
23 Feb 16
What a gorgeous flower. I would want to buy it for sure, did you? I love petunias, they are almost isabelle proof!!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
Sadly we didn't. That was the only time I had ever seen one. I do regret my decision not to buy one now.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
That Garden Center is the most amazing place. We have such fun there.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Feb 16
I love the look of the black flower but I've not seen it ever. Some that I like that are new seem to be one year wonders.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
24 Feb 16
I'm thinking that's what this was as I haven't seen it since, and this was 2011 I saw this.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
23 Feb 16
I have never seen such an unusual petunia before. What a great photo. I love going to large garden centers, too. I enjoy looking, even if I'm not buying. I have white petunias on my lanai right now. I don't think the black would look good with my decor, but I love the color anyway.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
I was shocked when I saw it, and my camera was out quickly. It's pretty unusual.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
I agree it's really black. Very unusual and I haven't seen it there since.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
23 Feb 16
Unusual indeed. It is all black but still beautiful...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
It is beautiful and so unusual.
1 person likes this
