Sunday Morning Bliss

Echinacea purpurea, Schizachyrium scoparium 'the Blues', Helianthus maximiliani, Clamagrostis acutifolia 'Karl Foerster' and Rhus typhina 'Balitiger'.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail', Eupatorium purpurea, and Rudbeckia hirta.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low', Ruellia humilis, Salvia azurea, Symphyotrichum ericoides, and Salvia farinacea.

Little Blue and Turkeyfoot

Name for a dynamic duo? Super hero's? Cartoon characters, or Indian tribe names? Nope. Super prairie grasses. Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem and Andropogon geradii-Big Bluestem or Turkeyfoot.

Schizachyrium scoparium 'the Blues' - Little Bluestem

Last year the Kansas legislature named Little Blue the state grass. During this time the Native Plant Society of Kansas, which was instrumental in achieving this goal, provided funds for educational material to be used for speakers and also for schools. The school materials are being used to inform children of the importance of these prairie grassed in the ecosystem and history of Kansas. 

Andropogon geradii Vitam - Big Bluestem, Turkeyfoot

Turkey foot got its nickname from the native Americans. Most people know it as Big Bluestem. This particular plant is well over 7' tall and was rescued from a vacant industrial lot. It is located on my corner hell strip. Right plant in wrong plant, so after this image was taken I cut it down to three foot along with everything else in the bed. There will be movement this winter. This grass populates a large part of the Kansas Flint Hills and is outstanding forage for grazing cattle as well as seed for wildlife.

 The shape of the seedheads resembles a turkey foot.

 

As you can see the seed heads even dwarfed the Calamagrostis seedheads.

Or they did in this photo.

 Little Blue and Purple Leaf Coneflower

In the Winter Doldrums

Much like the sparrow above I'm peeking out of my winter doldrums, but alas I still feel like going back into my hole. I suppose I have been in some form of spring denial, but I know those who are more positive than I have informed me that this too shall pass. And....I know it will.

As you can see snow has been the latest weather event in Kansas, received about 6" over the past 3 days. I have been working hard in my spare time to complete a "Texas" garden room. One of the accents is this bird house designed for finches. It seems the finches could care less but I did notice a chickadee check it out. It will probably become a home for sparrows.

A rusty tulip I received from my late sisters garden.

Bounty of Basil seeds.

A little spiky love in the snow. Yucca gloriosa 'variegata' grouped with Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem. Farewell from Kansas.

GBBD 10.12

It's that time again ladies and gentlemen, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. As many of you know Carol at May Dream Gardens sponsors this popular meme every month. Be there are be square.
Fall is here in south central Kansas which is still recovering from a drought. I've had to squeeze my irrigation amount, do to economics. However, we received 1.5 inches of nitrogen fixed rainfall (that means rain with lighting), and this will be a plus before winter sets in. So lets begin with my garden.

Welcome to Kansas-Rudebeckia hirta, Salvia farinacea and Nasella tenuissiama.

Rosa 'Noare'

Rosa 'Noare' and Aster novi-belgii 'Wood's Blue'

 Linaria purpurea and Aster laevis

Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues' and Salvia 'Indigo Spires'

Artichoke

 Rudebeckia hirts 'Denver'.

Front walk-kind of hard to walk but it sure does smell good. Mostly globe basil (volunteer) and Salvia.

 Front Hell Strip-Yucca rigida, Panicum amarum 'Dewey Blue', Andropogon gerardii, Agastache
foeniculum, Vicea, Nasella tenuisiuma, and Nepeta.

View from other direction.

Ascelepias incarnata. A few seed head before I make like a tree and leaf.

Datura.

Cool and Crisp - Winter Version

As I was leaving to visit relatives on Christmas Eve morning, I couldn't resist snapping a few cool temperature photos.

Miscanthus and Rudebeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum'

Panicum Dewey Blue background, Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem and Achillea 'Coronation Gold'.

Same combination as previous photo with morning light

Achillea Terra Cotta.

Panicum 'Dewey Blue' switchgrass

Solidago and Achillea

Sedum 'dragons blood'

Happy Holidays to all!- Greggo

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day-July Heat

It's that time of the month again. Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, where gardeners from all over the world share what's blooming in their garden. Go to May Dream Gardens, and join Gail and links to gardens sharing their treasures! 

While your here, enjoy my Hot July Garden Photos.

Alcea rosea 'Summer Carnival'

First year in the cottage gardens for Hollyhocks. Planted these from seed this winter in jiffy pots under lights. Always like the hocks in my grandmothers and mothers garden. I respect their height and large leaf texture contrast. The Summer Carnival variety pictured above is a frilled double bloom variety I purchased at a big box last winter. Along with the pink variety, a few old fashioned single bloom yellow varieties came along for the ride.

I prefer the single bloom. How about you?

Street Entry Garden-Gladiolus, Achillea Terra Cotta, Echinacea purpurea, and Salvia farinacea.

Hell Strip 2

Gallardia in Hell Strip

Hell Strip 1 and end of Meadow Garden

Meadow Garden fillers, Little Bluestem, Prairie Splendor Coneflower and annual fanflower.