A Kansas Prairie Garden

Spring 2018

Such a late spring we had, but now, on June 1, it feels like summer already. Here are a few views of the deck and backyard:

The checkerboard patio continues to look great and offers a nice "landing" at the bottom of the deck stairs.

The Coke crate sedum

I'm starting to bring some of the plants inside in preparation for winter. Love how this pretty little sedum planter turned out.

This is where the sedum came from. We had fun planting this back in April.

The plants quickly filled out the box.

Mid-June, we added a perfect hen and chick, and some pink blooming sedum from a farmer's market.

In late July, the creeping thyme bloomed!

Now, in mid-October, the thyme has almost covered up the Coke box.

We'll be planting most of this in the ground, but it was a huge success in this spot and we hope to recreate it next spring.

Meanwhile, I'm thoroughly enjoying having some of it inside to brighten the coming winter days.

The other day, someone said their favorite color was "October." If that means the colors of these pansies and mums, I think I agree! Even though October marks several sad anniversaries (the deaths of my sister, my sister-in-law, and last year, my mom) it is still such a beautiful time of year and very symbolic of the beauty of death when you have God's gift of eternal life.

Tomato, tamahtoh...delish any way you slice 'em

Came home from a trip at the end of September to this lovely bounty of tomatoes from our Fourth-of-July variety we planted this spring. It wasn't a super harvest, but enough to keep me happy.

Garage sale season...score!

Garage sale season is in full swing now that school has started. We found these great chairs for only $5 each (to replace the fast-wearing-out ones that were here.) Plus 50 cents each for the striped pillows. That's my idea of a great bargain! And the chairs are super comfy too!

Mid-September...favorite time of year

We've had such a pretty fall! Plenty of rain, not too hot, just perfect. I've been able to work at my laptop out on the deck many days. Makes for pleasant work.

Discovered a new vantage point for the back yard, though it involves hanging precariously out our bedroom window.

After squirrels ate half a dozen strings of lights, we decided to give these rope lights a chance. So far, so good (though I do wish we'd gotten the soft yellow option instead of the "blue light special"!

August Rain

Rain in August in Kansas is fairly rare, so we were delighted to get over an inch of the stuff last night, with more in the forecast in the coming week. This is only about the second time we've seen the creek in the back out of its banks like this. It looks like we live at the river's edge!

Shasta Daisies...a new favorite!

Ken wanted Shasta Daisies in the worst way. I wasn't a fan of the idea, but I must say I'm coming around! Especially now that it's mid-June and these are tall enough to be seen right outside my office window. So cheery and bright. I've definitely become a fan!

A week in June

It's been a beautiful early June and these were the views throughout this past week:

The clematis is going nuts this year! It came to life before we had a chance to prune it this spring, and I'm thinking that was a good thing!

The pink roses are blooming along with the orange butterfly weed. I love the color combination!

It won't be long...

...before we have Shasta daisies galore!

We so enjoyed watching this little clutch of robins hatch and grow up. Alas, today two of them met a tragic end at the paws of a squirrel! I'm still in shock and grief. (Didn't know squirrels would do such a thing! My opinion of squirrels has taken a nosedive. :( )

This hot little bunny cooling under the chair brightened our hearts after the robin tragedy.

Though the days have been warm, the evenings are lovely, and I've sat out here many a night until after dark enjoying the sounds of our neighborhood. It feels completely like home these days.

A collection of succulents

The head gardener (that would be Ken) has been wanting to plant a succulent box so yesterday we got everything we needed for that and put it all together in an old Coca-Cola box our oldest daughter gave me a few years ago. It turned out so pretty and I think it will do very well in this sunny spot on the back deck.

Magic Mulch

Mid-April, and we're so enjoying an early spring. We had six yards of mulch delivered and spent the next three hours hauling and spreading it on every flowerbed, tree, and shrub. Amazing how "finished" and polished it makes everything look (and how sore our backs are after a mere three hours of work!) Can't wait to go buy our flowers for the pots now. But the hardest parts of gardening are over and the pleasantest parts will remain all summer.

The jaunty tulips have given me joy all spring long! They were a gift from my Club Deb group in memory of my mom, who passed away last October. I didn't get these planted until mid-November and was afraid it might have been too late, but no!

Full-on Spring

The first week of spring and today, March 25, we're getting some much-needed rain. Our little redbud tree we rescued from the front entry flower bed a few years ago is thriving in the backyard. And the pansies I planted in a strawberry pot are loving the rain.

A gaggle of geese...or one gagged goose?

This goose got brave (or he was really hungry?) and came up under the deck to filch some bird seed from the cage we have set up there. Kind of cute, but not sure we really want the geese getting too cozy in our back yard.

The last of the leaves...we hope

It's a new year! 2017! The middle of January already, and I think we've finally gotten all the leaves raked up. It was a rather pleasant job with the wonderfully warm weather we've had. That can't be all the winter we're getting though. Still, the days are growing longer, so spring can't be too far away.