


Keto. Flowers. Goldens in the garden. Welcome!
They look like they have a little light down inside that is glowing. Amazing. I forget how beautiful they are when they are growing rampant all over everything in August. I yanked a bunch of them out of several places. And the little light blue guy was a volunteer right in front of the shed. A nice surprise.
Most of the stems in this arrangement came from the garden at Richland, as well as the squash. I'm definitely saving the cockscomb seeds for next year!
This is the cake that Lee Ann made for Lisa's wedding reception. And here's Vern and the kids--they are all so pretty and handsome. Ellen's toes were dressed for the occasion too!

It's so pretty out there this morning--a much-needed rain is falling. Here's a little sign that I found at the Prairie Art House a few weeks ago. The green/pink plant is another iresine. Mama has a bright green one, and it also comes in red. They grow into wonderful big plants, even in containers. Definitely ones to grow again next year.
I just got one quick shot while I was there last week. They have all of the AAS flowers and vegetables, so it will be a great garden to photograph.
goes to great-grandma Peggy. (Photo by PJ) 
I started some seed for love-lies-bleeding--one plant came up and it grew to 7 feet tall! Taller than my one lone sunflower. Sometimes that's my rate--one plant for a whole packet of seeds. Anyway, this one turned out to be all plant, with just a few little blooms like this. Next year, I'll be going to The Farm to get a seedling. They have a great variety. And I just read about another variety called Velvet Curtains. That sounds nice too.
There was a post on the Garden Rant a couple of weeks ago about having the courage to show people the ugliest spot in the garden. Well, I took a few shots, but most were so pitiful that I didn't have the heart to post them. I could go back and find those pictures of this spot when it was at its peak. Remember those irises? the penstemon? the phlox? But there is a certain satisfaction in yanking out and cutting back and filling up the wheelbarrow again and again . . . 
We've just about given up on the roses. I have cut lots of blooms off rather than let those disgusting japanese beetles feast any longer. But there seems to be fewer beetles now--guess their season is winding down. The September roses are always the prettiest. Maybe that's the way to have roses now--just keep them cut back until the beetles are gone again. 
I had a picture of them a week or so ago, but it was almost dark in that shot. I've been cutting them, but will let the rest go to seed so we will have more next year.
This is the best sunflower we've ever grown. Usually I get spindly little nothing plants with no blooms. But this one is great.
Yesterday was Karen's birthday, so the sunflower went to her. The little orange blooms are mexican sunflowers that I found as seedlings at the Farm. And the second shot is the mess I left on the back porch. When the sun hits the table, I know it's time to go in to get ready to go to work.
and it's steamy out there! The pee gee hydrangea tree is beautiful, the zebra grass is impressive, the verbena is everywhere.
It's really hot out there, so Mark and I went out late tonight. He cut the daisies back for me, and I chopped out some of the daylily scapes that are finished. 