Four O’Clocks: Hidden Miracles in the Earth

In the mornings, at my little ranch where I was born and raised, we would wake up to the fresh breeze and the sweet aroma of unique flowers. This flower is called Four O’Clocks (in Spanish, Maravilla), and its name truly fits, because to me it is miraculous and wonderful—a marvelous gift full of goodness and properties that heal both body and soul.

Its flowers are a remedy for tired eyes, when you can no longer see clearly in the distance and everything appears blurry. We would pick the little flowers, let them sit in water, and use that water as drops for our eyes. Instantly, our vision would clear. My father used it because he suffered from pterygium, and it always brought him relief. I went through the same, and for a time, I used it too; thanks to Four O’Clocks, my eyes are clear today.

And it’s not only the flower that holds secrets: its root is another miracle. It resembles a sweet potato, and when ground or mashed, it becomes a paste that can be applied directly to accessible tumors. With consistency, it dissolves them and restores health.

That’s why every day I fall more in love with every plant I know. Each one carries a hidden miracle in its leaves, flowers, or roots. The Four O’Clocks, remind me that nature is a divine gift—a living medicine that God placed on Earth for our good.

Written with love, 

Mama Katy