Gail at Clay and Limestone hosts the Wildflower Wednesday meme the fourth Wednesday of the month. Gail always has something special to share and I enjoy reading her detailed post as well as the great photography.
Image above is Geum triflorum 'Prairie Smoke'. This new transplant Geum was added to the 'prairie garden' in October via a bare root plant purchased from Prairie Moon Nursery.
Cercis canadensis, the Eastern Redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma and is native here in Kansas. This understory tree is a harbinger of spring.
Verbascum thapsus, the common mullein. Although this is not native to Kansas this introduced species has been around long enough to grandfather in I believe. Most people call it a weed as it is commonly found in open disturbed soils in ditch banks and poor soils. I especially like the foliage.
Please join Gail and other native wildflower aficionados and plant natives!
Please join Gail and other native wildflower aficionados and plant natives!
It has been a spectacular year for Cercis here in Va. Maybe the mild winter has been a big benefit.
ReplyDeleteI believe your right. Maybe there like pecans and only fruit heavy every other year. They are spectacular however.
DeleteThe redbud is beautiful. Pink against a clear blue sky. I also have mullein. I enjoy them in their early phase but try to pull them before they set seed.
ReplyDeleteYes I let mine seed out last year, so I would have some volunteers. Got 5. I did a little research and come to find out in a fertile are with the seed near the surface this plant can be a real nuisance. I mean were talking 1000's of seed. You must of had experience with this one?
DeleteReally nice selection. Redbuds are a favorite!
ReplyDeleteMe too, even though that particular shade isn't my favorite.
DeleteWe mostly have the darker purple or magenta Oklahoma Redbud here, and they are at peak bloom. But all your wildflowers are nice, and it is nice to see spring is moving along, now. (hoping for nothing more than a few light frosts, from now on)
ReplyDeleteDavid, agreed just light frost if any. What I like about the "oklahoma" variety is its glossy leaves. I'm not as hip on the bloom color. Like avondales shape and the Texas redbuds glossy leaves and multi-trunk shrubby shape. And lets not forget about the white buds, man they are special too.
DeleteBeautiful photos Greggo.
ReplyDeleteI will mark this meme down for next month, we should have some great wildflowers and natives all spring. My native plants are beginning to take off too.
awesome can't wait.
DeleteVery nice...I saw the mullein on a garden tour last spring and have been curious since. I see Jenny's comment about pulling it before going to seed. May be too much effort for my garden but I do love its size, color and texture.
ReplyDeleteyes the wooly leaves are great. It contrasts well with my grasses. It must have full sun, and yes after doing research I've found it is an extremely prolific seed producer. It's a biannual, however mine bloomed last year the first year and the seeds were viable as I have 5 plants this winter/spring. It doesn't compete well with other plants either. Other substitutes would be the big gray leafed sage(salvia argentea)and other more refined Verbascums which take excellent drainage.
DeletePretty blooms, but when you have a Redbud in bloom on a page it's hard to see anything else past it's beauty. :)
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
agreed.
Deletegreat blooms. the red buds can't be beat!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the Verbascum...I used to be captivated by the ones growing along the sides of roads when I was a kid...and wouldn't you know it, I still love them! I've been wanting to try 'Prairie Smoke' for the past year or so...I hope you post pics of it later in the season...would love to see what it looks like post-blooming to see if it's worth moving some things around in my garden for ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'll keep you posted. Especially when they flower out. They seem to be quite dainty in size.
DeleteGorgeous redbud. I don't have one, but I love this tree. It's such a beautiful sight to see in spring.
ReplyDeleteYou should try the Texas Redbud.
DeleteNot once but twice I've managed to kill this particular Geum. So sad. The verbascum looks wonderful and the Cercis is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm more successful here with the Geum.
DeleteWonderful natives Greggo...love seeing the wildflowers in different states.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Donna.
DeleteYour redbud photo is a stunner! Have a great wknd!
ReplyDeleteBeth
Gorgeous pics Greggo, the Cercis is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the Meme, I'll be sure to join in next month...Cheers Julia
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by julia
DeleteI had a tiny Western/California redbud once-- it died but I am determined to start over with another one. Thanks for the reminder Greggo.
ReplyDeleteThe mullein looks like a foxglove plant wearing a sweater.
Not familiar with that one. Maybe the stick people got em.
DeleteLove your Cercis Greggo. We were just checking it out yesterday. Seems like they may not be fully hardy over here and would be safer to plant in a container and then over Winter in the unheated greenhouse. Helluva price though, 45 pounds for a 2ft specimen, something like 80 dollars.
ReplyDeleteI'll send you some seed. Hardy to -10 f.
ReplyDeleteI love Prairie Moon!! I buy all my bare root plants from them. 'Prairie Smoke' is on my wish list. A native plant that does well for me that you might like is Bowmans's Root (porterantus). It's not very manly but it has great spring flowers and wonderful foliage. Plus, it's easy to grow. :o)
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos and the cercis sky shot is heart stopping. gail
ReplyDelete