While her "Red Dirtness" was gone on vacation, we set up a little hacienda in the unmulched areas of her garden. On the left, check out her Lewis & Clark meadow that she planted last fall. She didn't mulch it because she was trying to give the prairie seeds a chance. When she wasn't looking we moved in. Now, we're poised for a complete takover. As to the other areas, we think she ran out of chopped leaves, shredded pine bark and pecan hulls just in time. Don't you? It's getting pretty crowded in here, but we always have room for another Nutsedge, Bermuda grass or other seedlings of the grassy persuasion. We'll also share space with our friend, Bindweed, who we can count on to strangle others while she covers lots of ground. However, if you're one of those fancy-pants, grasses like 'Overdam' here on the right, clear out....

Some of you may have noticed my blog was down last night and today. If you stopped by, you saw three error messages instead of my red dirt road. It was my fault. I was trying something new in my sidebar, and I accidentally inserted code where it shouldn't go. This is a photo of 'Midnight Madness' which is how I felt last night; pretty, but crazy. After I threw a hissy fit, I decided to email my friend who knows a lot more about how blogs work than I ever will. Kathy from Blogging Art and Practice, also known as the Cold Climate Gardener, worked hard today and helped me back online. She also enlisted Linda's assistance from Times to Come. (Thank you too, Linda.) Kathy is my blog coach, which is cool because not only does she help me fix my blog issues, but she also teaches me...

Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight' Good morning. Grab your coffee or tea and and please join me for a stroll through my little corner of paradise. I've always pictured heaven as a garden, and I hope that the good Lord will let me work in His; but then, I wonder . . . what would I do if every leaf and flower were perfect? What if there were no weeds? What if the roses were always in bloom and never needed deadheading? How could I relax in such a place? These are the kind of things I ponder about as I stroll. Then, I shrug my shoulders, sip my tea and leave it up to God. It's out of my hands anyway. Today is a very busy day, so we should meander in our imaginations for awhile before it begins. Not only is it Father's Day, it's also Sunday Stroll, Garden...

'Reflections in Time' (Salter 2002) Up front, I'll tell you . . . if you're already there, I can't help you. The first two years I was seriously "into" daylilies, I nearly lost my mind, and the children's inheritance, but I do know the signs: You join the local Hemerocallis club and pester everyone looking for a particular cultivar. When not hitting them up for a plant, you wander amongst the members trying to absorb all their knowledge. It is hard. You wish you could do mind meld a la Star Trek. You invite yourself to their gardens and walk around with pen and pad to write down all the names. They don't mind. They're addicted too. Hours pass, and your family wonders if you're ever coming home. 'Ivory Parasol' (Apshear 1991) You ask your new friends if they sell out of their gardens. They say "Sure," and ask you...