More on Asters and Grasses I can’t help myself. All last week, whenever I would step outside my front door, whether to get the mail or pick up the newspaper, I would run back into the house for my camera and take more photographs of all the asters. Aromatic Aster and Prairie [...]
Tag Archives: Prairie Baby’s Breath
Late Summer Bloom
My traditional gardening friends complain that they have no flowers in bloom in August. They obviously don’t grow Black-eyed Susan. (Rudbeckia speciosa var. sullivantii) View out my front door. This week a Great Spangled Fritillary landed on my front porch stair post–alas, I didn’t get a photo. Great Spangled Fritillary are [...]
Drought? What drought? Part 2
Drought? What drought? Part 2 July 26, 2012 If ever there was a summer to convince people to plant prairie flowers and grasses instead of lawns and exotic flowers, this is it. I began to plant my prairie garden in 1998, starting with the front foundation, entry walk, and along the front walk, adding [...]
Drought
DROUGHT The current drought situation has been aided by an overall persistence of unusually warm, dry weather. June of 2012 officially ranked as the 6th warmest on record in Chicago, while it was also the 5th driest. WGN Meteorologist Paul Merzlock We are, indeed, in a drought. Trees are stressed; lawns are brown. Prairies [...]
Garden Walk Report
GARDEN WALK REPORT He who plants a garden, plants happiness. Chinese Proverb The day was perfect–part sun, not too hot. The Butterfly Weed was still in bloom, joined by Prairie Coreopsis and Wild Quinine, mentioned last week. The Purple Prairie Clover, also mentioned last week, was a big hit. Visitors were fascinated [...]
Romantic Gardens
The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of. Blaise Pascal Give all to love, Obey thy heart, Friends, kindred, days, Estate, good-fame, Plans, credit and the Muse,— Nothing refuse. Ralph Waldo Emerson Romantic Gardens The Romantic Period was an intellectual and artistic movement that originated in the late 18th century and stressed [...]
Through the Year 2011 in My Garden
THROUGH THE YEAR 2011 IN MY GARDEN JANUARY I neglected to take any pictures at my house last January, so I’m showing you a photograph of June’s stone stairway that I did take. Last year, in February, I featured the grass, stone, and snow of the Geneva Riverwalk, but if you have a [...]
Asters
Asters Last Week in September “Asters, like prophets, are without honor in their own country.” said Louise Wilder Beebe. Known as “Michaelmas Daisies” because they bloom around St. Michaelmas Day on September 29, asters are held in high esteem by English and other European gardeners, while we in the United States distain them [...]
Monarch Butterflies and Milkweed
MORE ON BUTTERFLIES Everyone knows that Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on members of the milkweed genus and their caterpillars only eat milkweed leaves. There are, however, several species of milkweed that are more suited to gardens than the common roadside milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). If any of you have seen [...]
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Wild Ones: Northern Kane County Chapter
Through the Year 2012 at my House
January 1, 2013 • Categories: Pat's Comments, Through the Year • by PatHill
Through the Year 2012 at My House January 12, 2012 My front sidewalk edged with snow-covered Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) *The lowest temperature of the year was 5 degrees above (recorded on Jan. 15th, 19th and 20th) February 9, 2012 My front street corner. February 23, 2012 Patio through my studio [...]
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