A Broad Bloom Day View

It's the 15th day of the month and that means it's time to share blooms from the garden. I've decided to share a larger view of the garden this month.

This image was taken from the front entry sidewalk into the morning sun. This is a raised circular stone herb garden hidden by Ocimum × citriodorum-Lemon Basil, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'karl foerster'- Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Cedrus atlantica-Blue Atlas Cedar, Echinacea purpurea seedheads in the foreground, Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' - Purple Dome Aster and Rosa -Flower Carpet Red Rose to the far right.

 A view of the same bed from the south looking north.

Prairie garden in front of my residence. A Silver Maple once stood where the tall grass is now, Panicum virgatum -Dallas Blues switchgrass and Panicum amarum- Dewey Blue switchgrass. The tall vegetation about to bloom is Helianthus maximiliani-Maximillian Sunflower which stands at about 8 foot. The bed is elevated as I added soil around the maple tree stump.

Near the stop sign Panicum virgatum -Dallas Blues switchgrass as background,
Helianthus maximiliani-Maximillian Sunflower in middleground, and Euphorbia marginata- Snow on the Mountain in the foreground.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Nasella 'Walkers Low', and Euphorbia marginata.

 Dallas Blues seedheads along with a seedhead from Indian Grass-Sorghastrum nitans and Agastache 'Blue Fortune'.

Join Carol at May Dream Gardens for more blooms from around the world.

 

Dark Bottom Star

How does that grab you? Nymphaea 'Alaska' hardy waterlily.

When I was attending Oklahoma State University our faculty would often bring in guest speakers on a wide variety of subjects. One speaker was a well known Oklahoma City Landscape Architect: Tommy Roberts. If my memory serves me correctly (this was in 1978), Mr. Roberts had a few trademarks he generally used in all his designs. The one trademark I remember the most was that all his pools were designed with dark bottoms. This created much visual depth and surface reflection. Night lighting was exceptional. The image above was taken over my stock tank pool which I painted black before installation.

Liatris ligulistylis

Rocky Mountain Blazing Star or Meadow Blazing Star-Liatris ligulistylis is starring in the garden this month. As those of you whom grow this unique plant in the native garden ,it is an exceptional attractant to butterflies. This particular plant is dear to me as I raised it from seed purchased from Prairie Moon Nursery. It resembles many of the local prairie Liatris blooming at peak throughout Kansas. Native Kansas Liatris include L.aspera, L.punctata,L. pycnostachya Michx., and Liatris squarrosa,.

  This particular day the Monarch and the Buckeye butterflies were jousting for the best perching spot and its sweet nectar.

Even honey bees like getting into the act.

I've noticed Liatris in many different planting combinations recently which provide a nice contrast to plants such as Nasella tenuissima(Mexican Feather Grass). Get some!
For those wanting to see other native plants in focus go to the Wildflower Wednesday meme hosted by Gail.