Mystery In the Garden

It popped up one day, unplanned and unannounced.

growing from a narrow opening in pavement

Emerging from nooks and crannies it lodged itself in,

with little regard to the condition therein.

growing from un-official compost heap!

A true 'survivor' and intrepid traveller, it made the

journey from the Parent some fences away.

With vining green stems and shiny broad thick leaves, 

it grows into a low shrub or climbs up with help from fences.

Stems turn brown, woody and thick with age while light green
heart-shaped flower pods are borne in clusters or racemes.

Maturing pods open to reveal pinkish red buds, 
which in turn 'hides' curled-up white filaments.

 red petals unfurl proudly to reveal long white filaments,
leaving behind a spent maroon-tinged pod.

 The flowers wave and nod in the wind for weeks 
providing refuge and sustenance for insects and birds.



Until at last, it dries up, turns brown and wither away
- flowers, pods, stems and all.

"Do you know my name?"- it seems to be asking.
 "I think I look somewhat like Bleeding Heart when young,
but more like Fetterbush in growth habit".


With nary a berry nor seed to be seen with the naked eye,
its a wonder to discover seedlings growing all over unexpectedly.

 Yes indeed, there is a mystery going on in the garden.

Update: Thanks to Autumn Belle, it's been identified as a Red Bleeding Heart Vine (also known as Java Glory Vine, Heart Vine) [Clerodendrum x speciosum] :)