Tag Archives: Kansas

Happy Arbor Day!

Posted on by Laurie

When I realized that today is Arbor Day, I just had to take some pictures of one of my favorite trees – Japanese Maple, “Garnet”. Garnet has lacy leaves that are bright red when they first emerge in the Spring and then again in the Fall. In between they are green with red stems. I’ve been shaping the specimen tree that we have for 12 years. It is about 4′ tall and 6′ across. I think that it will be a while before I see it at its mature height of 10′.  Garnet’s delicate countenance brings me pleasure whenever I work in the shade garden and I enjoy imagining its future size and shape every time I snip a little here and there. You know what they say, “to garden is to have hope for the future.”Japanese Maple Leaves Close Up

Return of the Lions

Posted on by Laurie

The fountain is back on and its lions are spewing water. One of our guests’ favorite things to do while staying with us is to sit on the porch and listen the fountain burble. Ok, so it’s one of our favorite things to do to! Hooray for the return of the lions! The Lions are Back

Irises in Morning Light

Posted on by Laurie

Anyone who visits us around this time of year is sure to observe that I am a big fan of irises.  This morning before breakfast the morning light on the garden was so beautiful, I had to run outside and take a few pictures.  As chance would have it, I happened upon what I think was a male Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly – any lepidopterists out there, please correct me if I am wrong – enjoying the flowers as well.

Beverly Sills Iris, top photo

Thornbird Iris, bottom photo

The First Rose of Spring

Posted on by Laurie

“Won’t you come into my garden? I would like my roses to see you.” – Richard Brinsley Sheridan

What a delight this morning to go out to the garden after breakfast and discover the buds on my Mr. Lincoln rose wide open. Mr. Lincoln is a sturdy tea rose bush with fragrant deep red roses, regarded by many as one of the best roses of all time.  It’s truly lovely!

Iris Season

Posted on by Laurie

Our irises started blooming about a week ago in back and a few days ago in front. They’re almost a month early this year. Usually they are at they’re peak in mid-May, right around time for K-State graduation and Mother’s Day.  This year, they will probably be at their peak in about a week. There are lots of buds ready to pop open. These white irises really glow planted in front of sand cherry bushes! I just love them whenever they bloom. Expect more pictures in the weeks to come. Image

Petunia Whimsy

Posted on by Laurie

Some plants just invite whimsical accents. Here a pot of flouncy petunias, nestled by a pixie statue, adorns our side porch. The key to not going overboard is to place just a few pieces of garden art here and there by informal plantings. On the other hand, if you want to go overboard … enjoy!Image

We’ve Been Flocked

Posted on by Laurie

As a fundraiser for the Audubon Society, Gaia Salon is flocking local yards with pink flamingos. Someone flocked us. Hmm. We have a who done it on our hands. The front yard, even the fountain is full of these joyful pieces of yard art. Don’t expect them to stay, though. Tomorrow they’ll be moved to the yard of some other unsuspecting souls.ImageImage

Lovely Walks

Posted on by Laurie

A theme to which I am apt to return time and again is lovely walks in the neighborhood. One thing that I enjoy is looking at all of the historic architecture, especially the churches. Here is a photo that I took of St. Paul’s constructed 1859-1867. It’s a lovely morning for a walk … 

The Virtuous Bleeding Heart

Posted on by Laurie

“There are many things that catch your eye, but only a few that catch your heart …”

Twelve years ago, I planted two bleeding hearts (dicentra spectabilis) by the front steps, pink to one side, white to the other. The pink was the showier of the two but disappeared a few years ago for some unknown reason. The white, more petite and less showy, keeps returning.  Though it goes dormant as soon as summer’s heat sets in, I appreciate the subtle beauty of my white bleeding hearts while in bloom. Image

Stop and Smell the Lilacs

Posted on by Laurie

One of my favorite lilacs is Charles Jolie. The one that we have is currently blooming and smells so delightful from the front porch. It has quite a history too. I originally planted it at our old house in 1997. Then when we moved here in 2000, I dug it up and brought it with us. About five years later, it developed lilac borers and we cut it down to the ground leaving only sucker shoots. It took a few years, but the shrub rejuvenated and has been replete with blossoms the last few Aprils. Oh, yes, and you really should smell it.