On this August 15th, we've had rain showers for two straight days with more rain headed our way. As Oklahoma gardeners, it seems our fate to always have too much of everything. August usually brings that in the form of too much heat and sun, but after Pam's lovely visit, she took the heat with her, and we've had unseasonably, cool (for Oklahoma) weather ever since; not that I'm complaining. Now, we're also getting rain. If the plants don't drown, we should have a beautiful September. My latest blooming daylily is H. 'Autumn Minaret' (Stout 1951;) an oldie, but one I truly admire for its height. At six feet tall, it towers over me. 'Autumn Minaret' resides at the very end of the garden where its height commands attention. It is also fragrant. At right, is 'Mardi Gras' a Floribunda rose and an AARS 2008 winner. The bloom is a...

You probably think it's good I have a husband in the paving industry when I need a new pathway, and it is. However, I'm sure you've heard the old saw about the cobbler's children having no shoes. Well, it's the same here. When it's nice outside, all of the men and equipment are working on jobs that pay. When it rains, not much paving can be done anywhere. Seven years ago, we had a brick walkway laid from the driveway to the front door. We needed a connecting path to the side gate, but, for some reason, the brick mason didn't lay it at the time. Our log cabin is built on the side of a hill. This makes for great drainage in the back garden. However, when it rains, soil runs down the hill and into my front entry (not indoors, but out.) Last weekend, in anticipation of getting...

I love the kind of Sunday where, after church, all I need to think about is what we're going to eat for lunch. Then, it's out to the garden to pull a few weeds, take a photo or two, and gaze about at the fruitfulness of late summer. The insects aren't sleeping though. They are as busy as, well . . . bees. Bumblebees anoint Gaillardias. Orange and yellow butterflies cover the Zinnias and the Phlox paniculata. Does anyone know which butterfly this orange one is? I have them everywhere right now. The most popular flowers by far are the Zinnias, Z. elegans. Of course, with Zinnias, you get powdery mildew. If it gets bothersome, spray it with a natural fungicide like copper. I think it's a small price to pay for butterfly visits. This afternoon, Bear and I saw a hummingbird too. The one missing winged player is the...

All week, I've been afflicted with Garden Visit Anxiety Disorder, otherwise known as GVAD. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: Hives, and I don't mean the ones filled with honeybees. Wild hair caused by fists pulling it in dismay. Furious weeding, watering and feeding. No response to family members encouraging the sufferer to come in out of the heat. Stumbling around the paths muttering "Oh no!" Traveling to garden centers to purchase fresh plants. Garden fluffing then ensues. One cause for GVAD is a visit by Someone of Garden Importance. A SOGI (pronounced so-jee) is a lot like a VIP, but better. When a SOGI visits, the gardener knows she'll get more than "Oh, that's pretty," as said by the normal visitor or family member roped into looking at the garden yet again. Only a SOGI knows that after fifteen minutes of wading under overgrown climbing roses, you're only...