A Kansas Prairie Garden

We got RAIN this morning so the lawn didn't get mowed, and everything is a little on the wild side! The grasses are bent over onto the lawn and we spent an hour tonight just trimming things back. But I kind of like this wild and wooly look. That's the prairie for you. And speaking of the prairie, the tall grasses are heading out and looking beautiful.

Dallas Blues Grass

The False Sunflowers are just thick!
Here they bloom among the tall grasses.

Ice Plant

Indian Grass

Carpet Roses intertwined with
Fountain Grass in the front yard

Peaches galore!

Our little Bonfire Dwarf Peach tree is so loaded down with peaches this year that the branches were in danger of breaking. So tonight my husband picked about 4 gallons of them to lighten the load. The photo, believe it or not, was taken AFTER he harvested about half the peaches. These are ornamental peaches, and while edible, not really meant for that. I cooked some of the peach flesh down in sugar and spices and made a pint of peach syrup, but it's nothing to write home about, and it sure wasn't worth the time it took to peel and pit the peaches. Guess they'll have to remain for looks only. The tree bloomed mid-March this year, so I guess it's not surprising that we're harvesting peaches on August 21.

Maxfield Parrish clouds

I always think of this kind of sky as a Maxfield Parrish sky because it's the way the painter always rendered his clouds. Just gorgeous! Wouldn't mind if those clouds contained some rain!

Cool August days

We came home from a few days away to cooler temps and just enough rain that everything is growing like mad! The blue willow and purple fountain grass in the entryway garden have almost grown together. Pity the poor UPS man trying to make a delivery––he has a jungle to go through!

Loving Lantana

Lantana has become one of my favorite annuals. Even though it gets pretty droopy in these hot afternoons, a nightly watering perks it right up and it has kept the pots colorful and green when a lot of the other plants are really taking the heat (not taking the heat would be more accurate.)

Coleus takeover

The coleus are doing so amazingly well that I'm having to pinch off big hunks of it to keep the outdoor pots under control. The cuttings are too pretty to throw away, so I'm enjoying them inside, and even replanting some of the ones that root well.

Green giants still growing strong

When we planted these Thuja Green Giant arborvitae trees about 6 years ago, all 7 of them came in one little box. We were underwhelmed. Now, they are *this* close to offering the privacy, shade and windbreak we envisioned when we planted them. They've been beautiful, easy-care trees and we highly recommend them. (We put 4 on the north end of the yard, and 3 on the south. Those on the north are slightly taller, but they've all done well.)

September 2006

June 2009

May 2011

June 2011

July 2012

The Thujas on the south end of the yard are doing well, too,
providing shade and privacy and year-round green.

This year's favorite pots

Million Bells and three different varieties of Coleus

Since we started shopping the flat sales, I've loved experimenting with pot mixtures. In every case my eyes were bigger than my flowerpot and I've been transplanting some of the overgrowth into other pots. Everything has done really well and we have some beautiful pots to enjoy each morning and evening––and through the windows at the supper table. But these are my very favorites. I'm especially loving the purple and red combination. And I think Coleus and Begonias win my vote for favorite annuals this year. But the Million Bells have been gorgeous, too. And the Lobelia can't be beat for a pop of blue.