Little Bluestem
The prairie grasses are starting to put out fresh leaves, responding to the heat and rain. This is one of Lorna’s favorite grasses because it doesn’t grow so tall that … Continued
Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflowers are the iconic prairie wildflower. They are continuing to put on a show. The blue flowers just behind the coneflower is skullcap. There is a large patch of … Continued
Prairie Blazing Star
The prairies are dense with wildflowers this year. They appreciate all the rain we’ve had. In this picture you can see the purple spikes of Prairie Blazing Star, the yellow … Continued
Giant Swallowtail
This butterfly is so large that it’s hard to miss. Its wingspan can be up to 7-inches across. I saw some this weekend feeding on the Purple Coneflowers along the … Continued
Ashy Sunflower
Colonies of this yellow wildflower have just started to bloom in the prairies. We are getting to the time of year when there are so many different kinds of yellow … Continued
Lotus
The American Lotus is still looking great. Hundreds of them are blooming at the Lotus Ponds at the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT).
Cardinal Flower
I noticed a patch of this showy wildflower blooming on the northern edge of Beaver Lake yesterday. Hummingbirds love it! It’s a wonderful native perennial for your garden, but it … Continued
Chinkapin Oak
Majestic old oaks are my favorite trees. Over the past couple decades, we’ve planted about a thousand oaks. This summer I’m spending an hour or two each day inspecting the … Continued