Balloon Flowers Burst into Bloom

I love balloon flowers. I had never seen them before last summer, when I noticed them growing in the garden of the Ames Florida Stork House in Rockford, MN. Aren't they beautiful?

Purple Balloon Flower

So why are they called balloon flowers? Observe what the bud looks like before it blooms.

Closed Balloon Flower

Neat huh? I love the lavender hue of these flowers. This white variation is also delicate and bright, almost like a star!

White Balloon Flower