Summer Blooms

It's gotten cooler the last couple of days and we've been delighted to turn-off the AC, open some windows and spend time outdoors for fresh air, exercise and chores.

From our walk yesterday morning there is stiff goldenrod, wild bergamot (bee balm), black-eyed Susans and flowering turkey foot (big bluestem)….

 

Wildflower Blooms

From our morning walk the other day there were these showy, native flowers.

Bee Balm

Black-Eyed Susan

Blue Vervain

Compass Plant

Gray-Headed Coneflower

Joe Pye Weed

Obedient Plant

Prairie Blazing Star

Purple Coneflower 

Purple Prairie Clover

Morning Stroll

From our walk this morning there were yellow (grey-headed) coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and a second batch of eastern bluebirds.

 

Wildflower Blooms

Several years ago we reduced the size of our turf grass in the yard and seeded a bunch of native plants. It takes several years for these plants to establish themselves and we just noticed, yesterday afternoon, that the ‘upland’ location (where the ancient farmhouse foundation is buried) is putting-on its own fireworks display. 

 

I figure as summer progresses more are going to pop. 

 

Here's what we got blooming so-far.  

 

Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot), Black-Eyed Susan, False Sunflower (Ox Eye), Motherwort, Pale Purple Coneflower and Feverfew (Wild Quinine).

 

 

 

Wildflower Walk

From our walk yesterday we were greeted with cooler temps and a nice breeze.

And the flowers in the pollinator patch have exploded in both variety and numbers.  In order of appearance are, Ox Eye. Bee Balm, Boneset, Compass Plant, Milkweed, Yellow Coneflower, Showy Tick-Trefoil, Black-Eyed Susan along with a dog.

 

Wildflower Walk

From our walk the other day the flowers of late summer and early autumn were showing-off.

Bergamot (bee balm)

Stiff goldenrod

Big bluestem (turkey foot)

And compass plant (as high as an elephant's eye)

Black-Eyed Susans

 

Wildflower Walk

Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan - another member of the vast family of Asters (Asteraceae).  Sometimes called the Brown-eyed Susan it is a native perennial that is now found just about everywhere from fields to yard gardens.  There are also a bazillion varieties of cultivars that people plant in their household gardens.

With the official arrival of summer these plentiful yellow flowers are adding more color and variety to the prairie planting.  

And the finches go absolutely nuts over the seeds they produce.

Nobody seems to know how Susan became associated with this native plant.

 

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan - another member of the vast family of Asters (Asteraceae).  Sometimes called the Brown-eyed Susan it is a native perennial that is now found just about everywhere from fields to yard gardens.  There are also a bazillion varieties of cultivars that people plant in their household gardens.

Finches value the seeds they produce but I value their blooming this time of year.  With the official arrival of summer these plentiful yellow flowers are adding more color and variety to the prairie planting.  

Nobody seems to know how Susan became associated with this native plant. 

Native Plant

 

Rudbeckia hirta.  Yup.  Another member of the aster family.  We actually have asters here but they're not blooming yet.  Wait for fall.

Also commonly called the Brown-eyed Susan they are found all over the place.  In the native planting, along the trails and scattered in forest openings with plenty of sunlight.

The local goldfinches are crazy for the seeds.
 

Walking the Dog

From our walk this morning there was this.

We observed the six-month anniversary of the prescribed burn that was conducted earlier this spring.

The tall grass prairie planting is now three to seven feet in height and you cannot see the house from this location anymore.  Moreover, you cannot see the deer when they are sneaking thru or bedding-down in this native cover.  

It is spectacular!

Yet, someone needs to inform this late-blooming Black-eyed Susan that it is autumn.

Native Blooms

On May 4 of this year we conducted a prescribed burn on the prairie planting out back behind the house. Yup, we set the entire backyard on fire.

Today marks ten weeks of green-up since the burn. And I am tickled to report that not only is it greening-up it is greening-up more vigorously than imagined.Here are some before and after photos for comparison.       

Panoramic view - Left (north) to right (east)          

View south with the house in the background       

And a few examples of nature's handiwork that are thriving post-burn .....     

Black-eyed Susan        

Boneset       

Pale Purple Coneflower       

Milkweed       

Gray-Headed Coneflower