Petunias in this magnificent shade of shocking pink (Schiaparelli pink?) were blooming in profusion in the rural Québec town of Charette in mid-July.

According to Wikipedia, Petunia is genus in the family Solanaceae of 35 species of flowering plants of South American origin, closely related to tobacco, cape gooseberries, tomatoes, deadly nightshades, potatoes and chili peppers. The popular flower derived its name via French, which took the word petun, meaning “tobacco,” from a Tupi–Guarani language. Most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrids.

Almost as hot pink as hex triplet #FF69B4, these petunias were resplendent on a sunny summer’s day in Canada.

(Photo ©2012 by Susan McKee)