u/russiablows

I need help with an id for this spreading weed. Seems rhizomatous. Saskatchewan.

Princess Victoria Louise' Oriental poppy. Sunniest and hottest spot in the yard.

I have one spiderwort that is next to a downspout and it is one major unit. It's about 3 ft by 3 ft and 2 and 1/2 ft tall. Full sun with water to spare makes it about three times as big as the other two I planted at the same time.

Edit: Eastern Kansas

Edit: Zwanenburg Blue, Chicago botanic Garden spiderwort trial, https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no34_tradescantia.pdf

This plant was tagging along with a Rudbeckia from the nursery and I was just wondering if it is probably Phlox pillosa? I have tons of native stuff so this seems most likely. This is in Kansas BTW.

Milkweed, phlox, salvia, and geranium all contributing to a nice mix as they continue to fill in.

Dakota Burgandy Beardtongue is crushing it this year!

Appears to be a Prairie Phlox, Phlox pillosa, and not what it was labeled as. Oh well, still a native that I don't have. Come on butterflies!

Any idea what bee this is on my Beardtongue. So hard to get a decent shot. Kansas

A Sweat bee partaking in a Mesa Verde Ice plant flower.

The first butterfly weed is starting to bloom. I really miss the orange when it's not around in the yard. It's really vibrant. Kansas

Fifth loaf and it's actually edible. My 22 year old son actually said it was good to eat.

Recipe:

464 g bread flour

68 g whole wheat flour

31 g rye flour

392 g spring water

11 g non iodized salt

114 g starter

Autolyse

In a medium mixing bowl, mix the flour, dissolve salt in 392 grams of water. Cover and let rest for 1 hour.

Mix

To the mixing bowl holding your dough, add the ripe starter. Mix by hand. Transfer your dough to a bulk fermentation container and cover.

Bulk Fermentation

Give the dough 3 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals, where the first set starts 30 minutes after the start of bulk fermentation. Raise 75%.

Divide and Preshape

Lightly flour your work surface and scrape out your dough. Lightly shape into a round shape. Let the dough rest for 25 minutes, uncovered.

Shape

Shape the dough into a round (boule) or oval (batard)—place in proofing baskets.

Rest and Proof

Cover proofing baskets with reusable plastic and seal shut. Let the dough sit out on the counter for 20 minutes. Then, place both baskets into the refrigerator and proof overnight.

Bake

Preheat your oven with Dutch oven inside to 450°F (230°C). When the oven is preheated, remove your dough from the fridge, score it, and transfer to the preheated pot. Place in the oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 20 minutes. After this time, remove the lid (you can keep it in the oven or remove it) and continue to bake for 20 to 30 minutes longer.

Helianthus salicifolius, willowleaf sunflower.

Symphyotrichum laeve, smooth aster.

Agastache foeniculum, giant blue hyssop.

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, slender mountain mint.

Each of these replaced a Russian sage so I'm thrilled. Kansas BTW.

https://www.instagram.com/kansasyardener?igsh=NmJvM2E3OGZxbG95

Rose Marvel Salvia has a great flower structure and color. Planted it last fall and it's doing well.

Thrilled to find this perennial at a local Garden Center. Jeana Garden phlox doesn't get powdery mildew. Top performer of 96 entries in the Mt. Cuba Center phlox trials in Delaware. The favorite of butterflies in the trial. Picture O4-24-26

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXhtATFj21f/?igsh=d3FzcGV5em92ZHg4

I guess I am a glutton for punishment. I got four new swamp milkweeds last fall in an attempt to defeat the deer. So far so good but I've been spraying them once a week with deer repellent.

I was excited to see some Culver's root at a local nursery. It's the straight species, but I'm thrilled to add it to my perennial inventory.

Bumble visitor to my spiderwort. 05-01-26 Eastern Kansas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXzV3s3jnRT/?igsh=ejB0czdnamFjYzR4

Does anyone else have an opinion of this product? I have not been pleased with its performance. It seems under decomposed and does not look like a mature potting soil. I have it in containers that have pansies planted in them and they seem to just languish. I've dug them up and their rooting is unimpressive.

I have violas and two other containers using a combination of last year's container soil and Menards brand potting soil mixed together and they are doing wonderfully.