Monarch

Monarch, Sept, 2022 The Monarch Butterflies are plentiful this year, more than I can ever remember. They seem to love the stand of Mexican Sunflowers in my wild flower garden, although the Monarchs aren't bashful about raiding the zinnias either. This was such a welcome sight after many years of just onesy-twosies. I hope this …

Spring Planting

First Planting March came in like a lamb with several warm days in the high 60's, tempting all the gardeners to put something (anything) in the ground. As usual, March has a little something for everyone, and it went out roaring like a lion, ending with several blustery days in the 30's. Oh well, it …

Lavender

Lavender - San Juan Island In temperate climates all over the world, you will find Lavender. Its history dates back to the Romans who used it in bathwater. Its versatility comes from 47 different varieties used in flower gardens, cooking, cosmentics and therapeutic oils. There are lavender fields within a short drive of my home …

New Flower

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant This strange plant showed up in my new wildflower garden. I contacted the source where I bought the "Pollinator Mix" to identify it, and was informed it is a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. Hmmm, I thought the mix was native Nebraskan wildflowers. (Who cares!?) The wildflowers I planted this spring to …

Gaillardia

Gaillardia This flower has been blooming in my pollinator garden for about three weeks now. I believe this is some variety of Gaillardia, but it's totally different in color and size from the "Blanket Flower" I have. This reaches 2' in height, where the Blanket Flower is only about 6". Coloring on the Blanket Flower …

Hollyhocks

Garden Path Somewhat rare today, Hollyhocks were common during the Victorian era, symbolizing ambition and vigor. Hopefully, they will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They are doing very well this year on both sides of our garden path. Thought for the Day: All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.Indian Proverb

Color

Monet's Garden - 2019 To counter the boredom of winter, the sameness of every day and the totally white mind-numbing landscape, I look for color. I mean COLOR! and lots of it, as many different shades, hues and tones as possible. Thought for the Day: Color in a picture is like enthusiasm in life.Vincent Van …

Friendship Patio

Reminders The Friendship Patio is a roofless three-wall "shelter" near the flower garden in Comstock, Nebraska. It is what's left of the original electric generation plant built in the 1930's. A few donated chairs, some scattered toys and the remains of a stove and refrigerator is what welcomes visitors to the patio today. Thought for …

Comstock City Park

Comstock City Park The city park of Comstock, NE does not look like the typical small town city park. It's about the same size, one city block, with large shade trees, but that's where the similarity ends. There are no picnic tables, no swimming pool, no bandstand or anything else to accommodate large gatherings. With …

Spider Flower

Cleome I found this beauty among the hundreds of colored plants in my wife's flower garden(s). The unusual structure of the flower head caught my eye: beautiful shades of lavender petals standing on spider legs surrounding the deep purple stamen at the top of a 5' tall stem. And a funny name to boot: Cleome …

Butterfly Garden

Butterfly Rest Stop First of July and the butterfly garden looks to be in good shape. In full bloom are Gaillardia (yellow), miniature Cone Flower (pink) and Soapwort (white), commonly called "Bouncing Betty". Behind these colorful perennials are Common Milkweed, where Monarch Butterfly lay their eggs. Also, Goldenrod, Nebraska's state flower, and giant Sunflower. I'm …

Monet’s House & Garden

Monet's House and Garden Two surprises awaited me when I visited Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, France. One, his house was much bigger than I thought it would be -- a mansion for the times he lived, and two, his gardens were less formal than imagined. Mid summer was the perfect time to …

Solitude

Solitude A boy's version of a man cave is a tree house. When I was a kid, a neighbor and I used some scrap lumber and built a tree house in his elm tree. It was more like a platform spread across two sturdy limbs with no walls or any cover. Nothing fancy, but it …

Opportunity

A seven foot high brick wall surrounded the property.  No roof or evidence of any building rose above the wall, only a few trees.  A curved brick walkway led to a gate, the only break in the brick wall.  Entry was denied by a heavy solid wooden door, locked with a sturdy gate latch.  The …

Odd Ball

Have you ever felt like a fifth wheel?  ... or odd man out?  ... or the last one picked when sides are chosen on the playground?   ... or you were swimming upstream?   ... or you were the only kid not sitting at the lunchroom "cool table"?   ... or you were sittting in the back seat …

Master Gardener

Annually, there is a charity fundraising event that allows you to walk through the gardens of several local gardeners, serious gardeners.  These are a few shots taken at a local medical doctor's residence -- five acres of gorgeous plantings, tasteful yard art, and just plain relaxing beauty. Yes, this piece of Americana is the doctor's …