My new 'white ballerina' moonflower was given to me as a small plant about 3 weeks ago. I transplanted it to my sidewalk garden by the curbside and front walk the very same day. Two buds appeared a few days later. Last weekend I saw one bud starting to open up. The blooming progress was just remarkable, with a tinge of purple on the edge of the fused petals.

The next morning the flower was fully opened and became all white. (Yes, the moonflower must have opened sometime in the night). It attracted many small flies. The bloom only lasted 2 days, and is now replaced by the second bloom.

I made the trip to Carpenter's Farm in Wakefield last Sunday and purchased several smaller daturas - each has 2 or 3 buds. This group of daturas, called 'white ballerina,' looks more like the angel's trumpet (brugmansia) I had last year, with a pendulous appearance, and a lovely fragrance. Some even have the yellow tinge to the petals, similar to brugmansia flowers.

Both datura and brugmansia belong in the Solanaceae family which "contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin word Solanum = nightshade, according to Wikipedia.

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Datura prefers full sun and well-drained, evenly moist soil.