More spring views

Lots of color out here sandwiched between the farm fields!

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Early flowerings

Two weeks of warm weather have done their bit…so many blossoms!

First snow

The snow was late arriving this year (Dec 27) and only lasted a few hours but it was pretty!

October off the prairie

Click on this link to download a Powerpoint of our two week vacation in October: Germany2011

After spending two weeks in a kennel at the vets, Sam and Mr. seem to have melded into one another

Finally breaking free, Sam takes his rightful place on my lap. His snoozy eyes still see all!

Prairie grasses

The last few weeks have brought out the best in the prairie grasses we planted last year. All but three of the 120 4-inch pots we planted survived and most rise well above the established plants and bushes around them.

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Mister found a nice clean rug to nap on one day!

Moxie showing a very nice off-leash sit during a morning’s photo tour.

Sam as the scene stealer no matter the setting.

This is a mix of volunteer Black-eyed Susans with prairie drop seed, Russian sage, and a monster annual fountain grass Janis tried out this year that’s more of a presence than we planned on!

Here there be Rattlesnake master, Compass plant and Big Bluestem.

This Big Bluestem shows nicely against the side of the B’ouse.

The back patio bed sprouted some volunteer Spider plants in odd places. They’re completely blocking our established path to the prairie!

In our town bed these Joe Pyeweeds were over six feet tall and spread like crazy. This is their fourth year in our prairie and they’re barely able to reach five feet and this is their showiest year out here!

The bed we established with some of the new grasses around the yard-art wagon last year did nicely. In the spring we added heliopsis and it took off right away. We also put in yarrow and hope it will gain strength next year.

Our Tulip tree named Leah is the anchor for this photo. She’s got Sideoats Gramma grasses around her and Big Blustem and Indianhead grasses nearby.

The clump birch we call KAMP and Tom, the birch to the right are seen behind the field grasses. In the foreground is the grouping of six Indianhead grasses we planted late last summer.

And here’s the same group of Indianheads from the other angle, looking towards the B’ouse.

Early July

What better thing to do during the summer doldrums than to spend some time admiring the prairie from inside…all the heat and humidity sure make the blossoms happy, though.

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Click on the gallery pix below for larger versions.

View from the North of the Wagon bed to a Serviceberry called Amelie. Flowers are from Heliopsis and Compass Plant.

Sam like to think he’s a jungle cat.

This is an early sunflower towering above the rest.

The front bed ready to take off!

From the South path, the prairie meadow looks like a yellow-flecked carpet leading to the B’ouse.

As always, the South-facing back bed is full of color and insect life.

Patio bed looking West.

The path between the patio bed and the front part of the prairie meadow.

Our attempt to tame the wild east border with shrubs and grasses.

Late June

These pix are from the last week of June (click for larger image):