Wildflower Wednesday May 2012

 The third Wednesday of the month brings us the Wildflower Wednesday meme. Gail at Clay and Limestone shares this day on her blogsite. Go there and share you natives with others who strive to bring more natives into our gardens.

 Callirhoe alcaeoides - Pale Poppy Mallow. I scavenged these beauties above in  a vacant industrial lot next to my work, a former Kansas prairie. Initially they were just a small rosette such as the photo below.

 Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger'-Tiger Eyes Sumac. This variety was originally found as a mutation in a cultivated nursery from R. typhina ‘Laciniata’. Although not native to Kansas this variety grows under the same growing conditions as the native varieties seen throughout our native areas. This plant was added to my hell strip last fall.

 Rumex crispus  L-Curly Dock. Ok, most people would classify it as a weed. (especially one of my neighbors), its the tall plant in the back ground. I wrestling with this one because it really likes this fertile area and has reached 5'. My original reasoning was to use the maroon seed heads as winter interest against the tawny foliage of the tall switchgrass.One probably would have done the trick, but like a glutton I dug three. ha. Found in the same lot.

Future gladness. Present gladness. Delphinium carolinianum  Walt.  subsp. virescens  (Nutt. ) Brooks-Prairie Larkspur. I wrote a blog post about this one last spring. Recovery and Recovery II. And yes I will try to recover some seed. Can't wait for this one to flower. And last but not least....the Milkweed!

Ascelpias incarnta-Swamp Milkweed

Wildflower Wednesday August of 12

Gail at the Clay and Limestone blog provides a wildflower forum every third Wednesday. Go there and share your natives with her and others from the gardening world. I'm sharing a few bloomers that are popping up right now.

Liatris ligustylis 

Asclepias incarnata

Asclepias tuberosa, Achillea millefolium

Echinacea purpuera

Recovery II

Mollie the wonder dog and I returned to our land of treasure to search for the elusive Prairie Larkspur seed. Some of my fellow garden bloggers have requested seed and so our work begins. Read about the previous treasure hunt linked here: Recovery.

In a matter of days the vacant lot had changed from a lush cool season grass prairie(vacant lot) of brome grass to a more refined warm season prairie with summer flowering forbs and grasses. The brome grass seed heads have turned to a golden brown with the grey and green foliage of the summer forbs and sub-shrubs. 

Catclaw sensitive plant-Mimosa quadrivalvis and Downy Bromegrass-Bromus tectorum.

Amorpha canescens-Leadplant and Downy Bromegrass-Bromus tectorum.

Asclepias syriaca-Common Milkweed(best guess)?Apocynum cannabinum-Dogbane/Indian Hemp

Common milkweed seed.

Foxtail Barley-Hordeum jubatum

Waxy Leave Thistle-Cirsium undulatum

Whoolly Verbena-Verbena stricta(I think)

Whoops! Got a little sidetracked. I found the Prairie Larkspar! I had to review the photos from the previous post to locate the exact location. Original Photos:

There's the plants previously near the brush pile.

 A few days later......see it?

 It's the dead stick on the left side. ha ha. Nothing, no blooms, and no seedpods. While I was there I noticed a caterpillar. Need to get a photo of that.

 

Cool, but what's that next to it? A seedpod! I only got one seed. Bummer. Looks like my treasure hunt came up a little short. Guess I'll have to place closer attention next spring. Sorry folks.

 

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder-GBBD 11/11

Asclepias tuberosa-Butterly Weed

As preparations for the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post for November began, I began to reflect about the past year. These reflections had been influenced recently by my loss of internet technology, and how I've responded to this drought. Or more importantly how do we as bloggers make this blogging world take precedent over our daily lifestyle. I suppose everyone has their own answer to that question.

 Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem with Salvia 'Mystic Spires

Initially my thoughts were focused on comparisons of a year ago, and how this blogosphere has influenced my everyday life since then. When my shoulder was injured in January along with the subsequent surgery, all my time was spent indoors or at physical therapy. Blogging became a real passion for me. Enjoyment was spending days reading, blogging, and pickin' on blotanical. (Does that mean I get a star now,since I mentioned it on my blog?).

Salvia fairnacea, Artemesia 'Powis Castle', and Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem

Along the way I met many garden blogging "friends" which are very encouraging and provide great fellowship. It's been great. My artistic side has resurfaced, knowledge gleaned, and have had a renewed interest in photography. Thank you all!

 Last of the Gallardia.

However, after getting over the withdrawals after a week, (my video memory in my laptop was gone, my warranty was up along with my soul after dealing with Tech Support in India), I became "used" to being in the "real" world. More time spent outside, more time with family, and of course more time with my wife. She mentioned a few times she thought I was spending too much time online, and she was probably correct. It's kind of like food. Food is alright but too much of it can cause problems. Anyway, the biggest time constraint occurred when I went back to work in August. Seven months not working, what an adjustment. So, it's good to "see" all of you again! In conclusion the loss of technology has brought perspective for this blogger, gardener, husband, dad, follower of Christ and last but not least "grandpa". And I'm pleased to be back in a more limited role. Greg.

Salvia leucanthus-Mexican Bush Sage, Miscanthus 'Dixieland', and Salvia guaranitica 'black and blue' before the great freeze two weeks ago. Mex.Bush is smoked bush now.

Taken yesterday "Grandpa Fred" - Red Admiral. Last of the butterflies. Noticed a Monarch flying three days ago. Didn't quite understand that one.

Volunteer Alyssum "Golf" seedlings

Panicum "Heavy Metal"

Kalamagrostis "Karl", Achillea. and Annual Salvia.

Achillea, Artemisia "powis"

Mums

Basil seeds

Salvia fairnacea and Panicum Dewey Blue
I have linked to Carol(May Dreams Gardens) @ GBBD, Donna(Garden Walk, Garden Talk) W4W which is texture and Foliage Follow up with Pam @ Digging

Cool and Crisp - GBBD October 2011

Cool and Crisp.  I suppose that would be a good description of my garden.

Salvia fairnacea-Mealy Blue Sage and Colias eurytheme? Orange sulphur

Cool and Crisp. As there is a definite drop in temperature. Cool and Crisp. As the blues in the garden lower the color temperatures of summer.

 Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Cool and Crisp. As the newly arisen Monarch stretches her wings to dry in the cool fall days of a Kansas afternoon.

 

Asclepias-Milkweed with Danaus plexippus-Monarch. Can anyone identify this species of milkweed?
Cool and Crispy. As the Goldenrod begins to mature and dry to seedling stage.
 

Solidago rugosa-Goldenrod 'fireworks' ? with Strymon-Hairstreak

Cool and Aromatic. Globe Basil-Ocimum with Gray Hairstreak-Strymon melinus

(above)

Cool and Blue. Nepeta faasseni-'Walkers Low' Catmint with Sulphur (above)

Cool and Blue(stem) hellstrip

Get Cool this Fall @ May Dreams Garden - Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
Visit all the other cool dudes and their fabulous fall blooms worldwide.