2021 My Mid-Summer World - July

 Prime time for gardens this month which allows me more time to enjoy the fruits of my labor and share that time with the important people in my life who make time for me.  I really appreciate all that Nature has to give back to me for the humble efforts I make.  Retirement is a blessing that allows me to receive and enjoy the world around me!

                                                          Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar 

Dutchman's Pipe Vine is a Missouri native vine that is the host plant for pipevine swallowtail butterflies

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies are the dominant butterfly in my yard and there are many!  They especially like all the blooming native plants and also many annuals like zinnias...

                                                               ...four o'clocks and sunflowers

                       Daylilies are in large beds in various sun areas throughout the yard.

Many of the exotic lilies are highly scented and attract all kinds of pollenators until September

Blue Mistflower aka wild ageratum is a Missouri Native plant that does very well in several locations in my yard

Yarrow is a Missouri Native but this is likely a cultivar that does very well and is more colorful in both yellow and pink/red

This Rose Verbena is local from the nearby woods and is a colorful, lovely scented native

Slender Mountain Mist is also a Missouri Native with a minty scent many pollenators love.  It is locater in a native garden with a large presence of astors and other natives

Blazing Star is a tall spike of a bloom that is very showy with its purple color

So many plants to enjoy close to home!  But I manage my time to enjoy the world around me and the people in my life.  We are blessed to have much more time with our granddaughter this summer especially when she visits overnight.  It is such a pleasure to share our world with her and see it through her 4-year old eyes!

Lots of time spent at the local parks enjoying the playgrounds and ponds full of ducks, geese, and swans.  There are also many other critters to see.

Always time for peaches at the local orchard!

It is with great pleasure that we show our granddaughter our service project as Master Gardeners at the Settlers Village in Wheatland!  Here is where we also share our love for gardening and native plants combined with annuals to promote pollenators. 

 It is a very good place to sit and enjoy the gardens around us and also to chase butterflies!

There's walks around our home gardens to pick flowers for the house and for mommy.  Also must check for strawberries to eat!

Local activities include ice cream breaks at Mr. Ed's Drive-in 

New this year is a nearby 'petting zoo' type attraction that has a variety of small and large animals to interact with.  Not quite ready to ride a camel but petting their nose was okay for now!

These draft horses are friendly enough to pet and also pull a wagon for rides around the farm.

Lots of petting and hugging time with this little pony who was not as intimidating as the larger animals today.  

Visited back and forth many times with the cute little goats and a calf who were very willing to take whatever you wanted to hand them for treats!

There were several days spent at a local pool where I did not take photos because I was enjoying my granddaughter and was mostly wet all the time!  This special turtle necklace was given to my granddaughter by a nice lifeguard named Riley who was especially attentive and helpful when it came time to change a bandaid.  The turtle just fell off Riley's neck and she thought that meant it to be my granddaughter's so she gave it to her; a very special moment!

On the left is an emerging 17-year Broad X cicada on the tree as observed by my granddaughter at the park.  She was so fasinated by them she wanted to pick a whole bag of the shells to take home to her mommy.  I convinced her we should just hook them back onto the tree bark...there were hundreds!  Her mother later thanked me.  

Cicada picking - hundreds of shells were picked up from the ground and hooked back on the trees...for fun!

Crossed a lot of bridges this month at the parks and in life's lessons this month!

She now knows a lot more about where vegetables come from as she helps pick from our gardens.  It still didn't make much difference in increasing her intake...sigh!  I'm sure glad we started a strawberry garden this year as she eats them before they get to the house!

2021 Spring Gardens & Gatherings - May & June

Spring gardens begin from my front patio where Bobi Kitty and I start our day at daybreak when the temps are above 50 degrees now.  I try not to miss a sunrise!  Come join me for a walk around the house to plan my day from observing the landscape.... 

                            Native Spiderwort, Lamb's Ear, Pipevine, and Ashy Sunflower

                                                                    Variety of Hostas

                                                       Nigela aka Love in a Mist

                   Planter includes petunias, salvia, and later will have huge elephant ears

                                                      Creeping Thyme and English Ivy 

                                                                         Iris Gardens

                                 Japanese Maple was here when we bought the house in 1986

      Double poppies re-seed themselves and are allowed to bloom in between my exotic lilies

                                               Native Coral Honeysuckle blooms bring the first....

                                                                          Hummingbirds!

Pink Dogwood is my favorite tree.  It has a native white dogwood behind it and a row of redbuds all along the northside of the house.

              View of growing terraced gardens on the southside of the yard from the carport

                                       My first strawberry from my newest garden!

      Chiminea Area behind the house below the carport has creeping Jenny with coleous in mostly shade

                  Native hydrangea under a row of redbuds on the northside of the yard

                                                                       Lavender Varieties

                       Prickly Pear Cactus is a Missouri Native in my succulant garden

                                                               Succulant Garden 

                                                       Yuccas, lilies, and hollyhocks

                            Cutting and drying lavender for wonderful scent inside the house

                                Variety of lettuce newly harvested from the garden

When I'm not working and enjoying our yard, I'm enjoying family and friends whenever we can get together which is frequent in May and June every year!

Me with my granddaughter and daughter for a wonderful lunch at Chili's in Springfield on Mother's Day.  Also included her boyfriend's mother and all her children.

                                        47th Wedding Anniversary lunch at Houlihan's in Springfield

      4th Birthday Party for my granddaughter at Jump Mania in Springfield included many friends and family

       Settlers Village in Wheatland; my main Master Gardener Volunteer Project since 2012

Ha Ha Tonka State Park on Lake of the Ozarks is my main volunteer project as a Master Naturalist since 2014 promoting non-motorized watercraft (kayaks) to the public regularly

Lucas Oil Speedway was the location a national bullriding competition we attended in Wheatland

Stark Family Prairie located in my county was the sight for a statewide educational field day I attended for continuing education for my Master Naturalist requirement

Memorial Day Weekend has my brother from Iowa and my granddaughter creating some new memories as they come to my home for a visit which included yearly car show in Springfield with visit to daughter's house, daytrip to Osage Beach, and lots of eating out!