Hello From the Gardens!

Wow! Summer is two weeks plus, along, and much has happened here. I have been a little AWOL because of my work and also, I took a real once in a lifetime trip to Canada with my mom. I saw a true "destination garden" while I was there, and I plan to post some photos soon.

Meantime, I want to show what's going on in my garden now. I will have a wonderful vegetable garden, it appears. I had that watered while I was away. But, my flowers, while still heart lifting and a joy to me, are not as spectacular this time. I knew I was going to be gone and didn't want to have projects that couldn't make it for ten days without me.....

Here is what I harvested/saw this morning. I'm particularly proud of the beans, that's only about a twenty five foot row of bush beans and I wanted just enough to eat and enjoy seasonally. I discovered a new sunflower variety called Bright Kids. I'm doing containers of those next year. They are tiny, two feet tall, and absolutely miniature perfection! :)

And I planted twenty four tomato plants. This morning I noticed white flies/mites. I'll have to work on that today after work.

I took a few shots and for your viewing pleasure, here they are all in one.

I hope your day and week is going well and that your garden grows abundantly! ~JB was here.

Destination Garden: Springfield, MO Botanical Center/Nathaniel Greene Park

I went to the Botanical Gardens in Springfield, Missouri yesterday. I attended the Butterfly Festival. It is an event focused around of course, butterflies. They have a small “Butterfly House” on the grounds and were conducting tours. There was a long waiting line and it was 100 plus degrees so I didn't actually get to go in. Another time for that, I hope. But they had a silent auction inside the Center, live music, and many vendors, and lots of activities for Butterfly lovers of all ages. I was happy that 1) I got to go and 2) that Springfield has such a wonderful Botanical Garden now.

Here is a view of the path that leads around to the Butterfly House. They have a number of “Feature Gardens” and “Themed Gardens” that grace the grounds here. The gardens, despite the withering heat, looked wonderful.

One of the themed gardens was centered around the kitchen and edible plantings. It was as beautiful as it was practical and, well, edible. It is a Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden.

There was a lily garden. Lilies of every height, color, and variety. These were in bloom.

And an Iris Garden! These of course, had long since bloomed, so there were other plantings to highlight the area. These are just a couple of the dozens of different area designations and features there are there. I was very impressed.

These are a type of sunflower. I think they are called “Teddy Bear”. At the very lease they are that type….I always thought they were sort of odd and never did plant any. However, I found their effect in a mass planting to be attractive and inspirational! Is it a sign that I'm obsessed that I'm already thinking about next year?

Just one more of the absolutely wonderful plantings. Someday I want to go back with my “fancy camera” and take some more. I am so glad this is now in Springfield. What a wonderful thing. Have a great week! ~JB was here.

American Goldfinch

I have these garden guests. I've been planting an annual buffet every year for them for several years now. I look forward to being their hostess. I'm referring of course to the gorgeous, vibrant American Goldfinch.

A packet of Autumn Beauty Sunflowers will keep them happy and let me enjoy their beauty and chatty songs all summer. Additionally, I have noticed they stay around pretty much all year here now. In my field guide it says their migration is partial or doesn't occur at all depending on their food source. So in the winter, I feed in my feeders in the yard, and they stay then too.

I really love to see them. They make me happy.  

~JB was here.

Sunflower Before the Storm

The other night, we got a little shower. We are in the middle of a real serious drought here. There is talk of a pattern break this week. Let us hope that is the case.

Here you can see the dark brooding sky behind, but the light is nice on this sunflower that must be a record tall one for me at some twelve feet tall! The row in front is zinnias just preparing for bloom.

Hope with me, please that our 100 degree early heat wave is moderated in the week to come.  ~JB was here.

Of Rain and Butterflies

Just popping in-on Sunday I went a little crazy. At least I looked crazy in 93 degree heat with garden seeds in hand, planting them in……nothing but dust!  I just had this feeling I should plant them, and after all, they can't do you any good in the packets in your cabinets, you know.

Well, good news to share! We have had the most wonderful rain the last couple of days and it has cooled off. This after it was getting truly scary around here with the 90 plus degree heat and dryness….so early after all. We're thrilled!

Here is a photo/storyboard of something I have seen hundreds and thousands of lately-butterflies! I have never seen so many I don't think, and definitely not this early.

Painted Ladies, Fritillaries, Swallowtails, Skippers, and others!  I think I'm getting a guide book, I have field guides for wildflowers and birds, but not butterflies.

These were seen on the roadside on a bunch of “something” that is blooming now and smells really wonderful. I'm not sure what that is, either……it's kind of shrubby in nature and has clusters of white flowers on it.

And as you can see it's quite popular with “the jewels of the air.”

Have a wonderful rest of your week! ~JB was here.