Chillin' GBBD

As I wander through the gardens (or is it wonder) to find a bloom for this January's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post my mind starts wondering (or is it wandering?).  Earth to Greg. It must me wandering. Winter has returned to more normalcy this past couple of weeks here in the Flint Hills of Kansas. I think the only difference this year is the lack of the wet stuff, mainly snow. I have enjoyed a few days to work on my new garden room project this winter. However, with my advancing age my stamina suddenly deteriorates at a rapid rate when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. So I haven't progressed as much as needed. Maybe some of you can understand that. And as always this "time" of the month involves sharing with gardeners from around the world your garden blooms (or your spent blooms as I have). Go and visit Carol at May Dream Gardens to link up and view other peoples gardens. Thanks Carol.

Johnny' Jumpin. My only true bloom in the garden. These plants actually made the cover of the local paper, the front page no less. Why you say. The news was that many people were commenting throughout the community that plants were "budding" and growing because of all the warmer temperatures.

Where would winter interest be without a little yarrow for tomorrow. Weak huh? I told you I was wondering or wandering?

Or is your little blue's riddle due?

Or is golden more holding to your needs?

 Or is silver more your style?

Somethings eating those Echinacea seeds.

Foreground lightning on Viburnum 'Blue Muffin'

Background lighting on same plant.

Echinancea seed head with Artemesia foliage.

And Spring is closer than you think......

 

Wildflower Wednesday-Kansas Natives

Cindy and I attended a Cowley County Native Plant tour in late June of this year. The tour took place on the 9000 acre Snyder Ranch, a tall grass prairie maintained for forage and foliage in the Flint Hills area of south-central to eastern Kansas.

According to our tour guide, this ranch is one of the only undisturbed tall grass prairies in the world. I think the word tall grass is what makes it unique. He compared it to the Amazon as a one of a kind place. Pretty strong comparisons. The owners have had the ranch passed on through generations. Native legumes are left to fix nitrogen for the grasses and native plants are left accordingly. The only herbicides applied are spot treated to eradicate some noxious forms of Lespedeza. The ranch land is only grazed from May to July 1, and never overgrazed. Controlled burning occurs every 3rd year, and less often during droughts.

 The area consists of rolling hills with stone outcrops of limestone and flint. The soil is very shallow and mixed with rock, therefore very difficult to cultivate. Most upland trees are some type of white oak. Shrubs include sumac, wild plum, and some baptisa.

Psoralidium tenuiflorum-Wild Alfafa is very prevalent on these ranchlands- a legume.

 Achillea millefolium-Western yarrow interspersed with bluestem and wild alfalfa.

Ratibida columnifera- Prairie Coneflower early

Echinacea angustifolia- Black Sampson coneflower

Amorpha canescens - Leadplant

Dalea purpurea-Purple Prairie Clover

Mimosa quadrivalvis  L.  var. nuttallii - Catclaw Sensitive Briar

Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed with Quercus

Bouquet made from native plant blooms given to my wife as a prize drawing.


Think Native! Go visit Gail @ Clay and Limestone to visit others in the world growing with Natives.