Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.- A.A. Milne
Good morning and welcome to the High Plains of Kansas. As most of you probably know, we've had quite a bit of rain out here (over 6 months' worth in 3 weeks!), and when that happens just as spring has arrived with warmth and sun, the prairie throws a wild party.
Stretching from western Texas and eastern New Mexico up through Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and into Canada, the vast western plains often appear sparse and dry to the casual observer. But a closer look, especially after spring rains, uncovers flowers of all colors, sizes, shapes, and fragrances.
I've seen flowers blooming that I've never seen before, so let's jump over the tangled hose and explore the High Plains!
The blue flowers in the picture above are called prairie spiderwort. These are bright blue, but according to the KState site, these wildflowers can also be found in rose and magenta! It's the first time I've seen these flowers blooming.
This next pic is one of my favorite sights in spring (though we haven't had a bloom like this in a few years)- a field of blanket flowers in full bloom:
This one is a beauty! Western Spotted Bee Balm (I'm fairly sure!)
A closer look at the unusual flowers:
Here's the very common goats beard. I love these flowers as they produce giant puffballs when they go to seed:
The ever popular thistle comes in many shapes and forms and are a favorite for wild bees, cattle, horses and pronghorn antelope:
And finally, two of the stalwarts of the western plains, wild (also known as "common") sunflowers and yucca.
So that's what going on in my "garden", what's happening in yours?