Design Your Perfect Pathway
My granddaughter and I were playing in the backyard the other day. One minute she was chasing me and laughing and the next she was frozen in one spot with huge tears streaming down her cheeks. I figured her brother had something to do with it (not unusual), but it turned out that I was …
Fall Migration Is Around the Corner -- and Monarchs Need Our Help
Yesterday my Monarch Waystation certification and sign came in the mail; I now officially manage the 25,045th registered stopping point for Monarchs. When we get it mounted, it will be the fourth waystation sign in our larger neighborhood and the first one on our street. I’m hoping that some of my neighbors, especially the synthetic …
The Mid-Summer Garden
My flower gardens are at their peak. They’ve had plenty of spring rain to push lush growth and now the warmth of consistent sunny days is producing bloom after bloom. My hibiscus blossoms are as big as dinner plates, my bright red pentas are the delight of the local hummingbirds and butterflies are flocking to …
What's In Bloom Today?
Native to Missouri, Rose Mallows are beginning to bloom right now. Rose mallows, like their cousins swamp mallows, are easily gown in average, moist to wet soils and are ideal rain garden plants. They bloom profusely in full sun, but can tolerate a very lightly shaded environment. Good air circulation is also …
Patience Is the Key To A Successful Butterfly Garden
One of my favorite things to do this summer is to quietly sit on my deck, watching dozens of butterflies floating through the yard enjoying the nectar buffet I’ve planted. This is the first year that I’ve had a steady stream of visitors and it feels like the time, effort and money I’ve put into …
What's In Bloom Today?
The Golden Rain Tree is in bloom across Kansas City right now. Introduced from Japan in 1763, the Golden Rain Tree has been a gorgeous addition to the landscape for decades. This smaller, rounded head tree, usually 30 to 40 feet tall, can withstand air pollution, heavy clay soils and drought. In June …
Nightlife
I have a new favorite time of day. For years, the early morning hours, just as the sun was beginning to rise, was my magic hour. Everyone else was tucked in bed fast asleep; I could wander the yard at my own pace without feeling guilty that someone needed something from me RIGHT NOW. Those …
Intimate Spaces in Large Places
Our eldest daughter is a textbook type A personality. She finds it difficult to just sit and relax because there is always another task to be completed. Her ability to keep going and going and going is truly amazing and somewhat exhausting. The other day, while she was at our home, she …
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