Wildflower Wednesday

When I got on Facebook today, I saw that Gail was posting about Wildflower Wednesday.  It seems like we just had one, so the month has gone by quickly for me.  Friday will be my last day of work at my job as a special education paraeducator, because I am retiring.  I have already completed my application for subbing.  I hope to substitute a couple days a week during garden season, and four or so when it's not.  I am excited, but sad, because I really will miss the people, especially the students.

So, after I saw that it is Wildflower Wednesday, I went out and took photos under the cloudy skies.

I am pleased the rabbits have not eaten the Phlox divaricata that I brought over from the house we used to live in.  The Pussytoes that I have at various edges are blooming. The pink on the right, and back a bit is Phlox pilosa 'Echo Happy Traveler'.  After planting a few of these, I finally found some native ones.  Now, I'm not sure which is which.  I hope when both are in bloom, I'll be able to tell the difference, and maybe get rid of the cultivar.

The Zizia aurea plants are larger than last year, and full of blooms.

I am in the process of planting things on the right side of the sidewalk that are also on the other side, so it can look more like one large bed, with the sidewalk as a path.  When the Zizea aureas were small, I took some small clumps out to plant on the other side.  As you can see, the moved plants are much smaller, but are still blooming.  It just occurred to me that maybe it's because they have been focusing on growing new roots.  I hope they are more equal in size next year.

I like how the Heuchera richardsonii greet, and invite me to walk the path to the area where the tree used to be.

I've shown the Praire smoke geum several times, but am pleased that it is still looking good.

I don't remember what kind of Penstemon this is.  I wonder if it's a cultivar.  It's also shown above, and the two clumps of it are loaded with buds.

I didn't notice the Orange hawkweed blooms until I went out today to take photos.

I've shown what I think is Rose mock vervain already this season.  It will bloom most of the summer.

The Amsonias are starting to bloom.  This one is hubrichtii.  The native columbine from the front yard did not seed itself in the front, but there are a number growing here on the east side of the house now.

When I last showed the Virginia waterleaf, it had flower buds that hadn't opened yet.

I like how this plant is growing between the boards of the little fence.  I don't remember planting it.  I can't tell if it's Dame's rocket. When I looked it up, I saw that it is native to our area.  It is a noxious weed in some areas, which I think I knew.  I guess that's why I had been thinking it is not a native plant.  I had some a number of years ago, so maybe some seeds had been dormant awhile.  Do you know what this is?

This is the first Amsonia I planted.  I think it's tabernaemontana.

The Gas plant buds are cool looking to me, even when they are not yet open.

I'm thinking this is False Solomon's seal.  It is finished blooming.  I planted a few starts in a tub that a friend gave me last year, and it is competing with the weeds to fill up the space.  I need to get those pulled.

I'm trying to remember if I learned what the ID of this weed is.  Do you know?

I'm thinking this Baptisia, or False indigo may have come up from seeds from another plant I have.  There is another small one in front of it.

After such a cold spring, we had a week or so in the upper 80s, and even hit 100 one day.  Now, for the last few days, the highs have been in the 50s and 60s.  I better not complain, though, after all of the bad storms and tornadoes that have devastated Oklahoma and, I'm thinking, Kansas.  I have been praying for those affected by them.  We are supposed to have a bit of a warm up, so by Friday afternoon, when I get off of work, I should be able to get right into the garden.  I hope you are able to be out in yours.

Area Where the Tree used to be

After such a cold spring, it is now warmer than usual.  I am thankful for the rain we've had, and are continuing to have.  Some have had some pretty bad storms, though, and I'm sorry for the loss of those who've experienced tornadoes.

The plants seem to have had a growth spurt the last few days.  I am continuing to have fun seeing daily changes in the gardens.  I am pleased to do an update on the west front yard.

The pussytoes are blooming this year.  I'm pretty sure they didn't last year.  The phlox divaicata did not get eaten by the bunnies this year, and are blooming nicely next to the pussytoes.  The large leaf belongs to the cup plant, which is quite a bit larger than it was last year.

Here's the view from the front porch.  I took quite a few plants out of the area with the bicycle so I can put some of the same native plants that are on the other side of the sidewalk.  I want the two beds to become more like one, with the sidewalk as a path.

We'll head wast.  The area where the white basket is, is where I planted the Illinois bundleflower that has not come up so far, but some other seedlings have.  I haven't figured out what they are yet.

Scott thinks this may be a rudbeckia or echinacea of some kind, but whatever it is, there is a nice row of them, like someone planted them there.

The next two photos were taken closer to the fence.  Do you know what they are?

We'll continue west.

We're still facing west, but heading back closer to the house.

The raised planter is filling in nicely.

These Peonies and the Lily of the valley right next to the raised planter were planted by my mother-in-law when she was alive and lived here.  Larry and I were just talking about what we think his parents would say about the yard.  We decided his mom would like it, but think it a little busy, and his dad would not care one way or the other.

I have someone who wants the lamium that I need to dig out so the strawberries under the bench can spread some more.

I hope your spring is going well.  I'm glad the severe weather watches and warnings are over for our area.

May Flowers

I decided to join in on Carol's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day this month, even though I am a day late.  I was thinking yesterday, when I started the post, was the 14th.  I am so exited seeing all the new growth.  There is something new to see every day.  Many of the flowers are a few weeks behind last year.  We seem to be going from winter right into summer, but I am not going to complain too much.  I am so pleased to be finished with winter!  I have lots of photos to post, and the name of some may not come to my brain, so I'll label the ones I remember right away.

I thinned out the irises last year, and am pleased to see the ones left are starting to bloom.

The perennial geraniums are dependable bloomers, and handle being at the curb well.

I'm thinking this is rose mock vervain, a native to Nebraska.  A friend of mine who lives in the country gave me a clump, and it has spread some, but not too aggressively to manage.  It is low growing, and blooms most of the summer.

We've reached the time of spring when some blooms, such as tulips and daffodils are finished already.  I am always a bit sad about that, but the anticipation of what's next keeps me looking ahead.

The hellebores are still looking fine, but one of them was pretty wilted the day last week that was 100 degrees.

I have a few money plants, a biennial, in the yard, but across the street, there is a patch about 3 by 4 feet full of them.

Zizea aurea is a native to Nebraska.  I took a couple clumps out to plant in the area across the sidewalk a few weeks ago.  The plants are not growing as quickly as the ones left in the ground, but all of them are about to bloom.

I'm putting two photos of the pussytoes, one showing more of the foliage, and one of some blooms.  These things love our yard, and I am pleased they are native.

This is the phlox divarucata that I brought over from our previous yard in a wash tub 15 years ago.  I have some in several spots in the yard, and some are still in the tub in full sun, even though they say they prefer some shade.

I am loving heuchera richardsonii, another native!  The foliage looks wonderful all season, even in the winter.

The Praire smoke geums are also native, and one of my favorite plants with good looking foliage, and fluffy seedheads.

Native columbines:

I'm not sure what kind of strawberries these are, but they sure all full of blooms!

I saw a couple flies on the blooms of this Euphorbia of some kind.

Grace, I'm forgetting what this is again.  I was thinking it was a Soapwort, but the images I found online don't quite look like it.  I'll have to search on my blog to find out later.

I gave away clumps of moss phlox to make more room for the Pussytoes and other natives in this area, but was not ready get rid of all of them. 

I think someone helped identify this plant on Facebook.  I'll have to go check.  I just have a few minutes left of my lunch break, and want to get this posted.  :o)

This is another Euphorbia of some kind.

The Pasque flowers are finished blooming, and have puffed up their seed heads nicely.

This is Dwarf Comfrey.  The non-dwarf Comfrey is not blooming yet.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' and Bleeding hearts bloom next to the dwarf comfrey.  I like how they look together.

Virginia Waterleaf, a native to our area is about to bloom.  I deadhead them so they don't seed themselves.  The foliage is the best part.

The Virginia bluebells will soon be going dormant.  I sure enjoyed their blooms this spring!

This is Lovage.  It looks a lot like Zizea aurea.  Both are in the carrot family.

I mentioned there is something new to see each day.  Some of these Amsonia blooms opened up today, and I am expecting to see more tomorrow.

I'm not remembering what this little plant is that is waiting for the foliage of a daffodil to die back.

I think this is an Alysum.

The kale blooms are hard to photograph, but I sure like them.

I think this is False Solomon's seal.  A friend gave it to me last year, and it is filling up the wash tub I planted it in quite well.  It's a native plant to the U.S. and I think to Nebraska as well.

May Dreams Gardens has lots of links to others participating in Garden Blogger's Bloom Day.  It looks like I am about to be number 150!  I hope your spring is going well, and you are making new discoveries each day!