I am a coneflower fanatic. I have been growing them since I first started gardening in Iowa 20-odd years ago. They make such a "prairie" statement, especially when combined with grasses. The fancy new colors and sizes are just frosting on the cake. I do keep them sprayed with an organic caterpillar controller, though, as the leaf skeletonizing caterpillars will decimate them otherwise. This photo shows a planting of 'Cheyenne Spirit' mix.

I have collected several funny little heart-shaped faux birdcages. I sprayed them all jade-ite green and they now hang from 24" shepherd's hooks in various spots around the garden. Just for fun. The shrub behind the daylilies is a Longwood Blue caryopteris. Those are standards in my garden too. The butterflies love them.

I'm finally seeing that wild, exhuberant look I've been striving to achieve! Yay! Here: caryopteris, Russian sage, Karl Foerster feather reed grass and a Salvia gregii on the low right edge.

This is a road runner on the dove aviary. He was a welcome friend, but...

This is a very hungry red-tailed hawk. He wasn't able to get at the doves, but it was fascinating to watch him try.

P.S.  My doves are ring necked doves who have been raised in captivity. They make the most beautiful cooing and laughing sounds.

To follow up on May rainfall: My friend Dede measured 31" of rain on the west edge of Blanchard. OMG :)

 

I am enlarging and improving my dove aviary this month. After too many predator problems due to the chicken wire on the old addition, I am going to use expensive half-inch hardware cloth on the entire thing. Since I was doing the work of replacing wire, I figured I'd better go ahead and enlarge the addition.

The new addition will be 8' x 10' x 6' tall and will give the birds a lot more room for flying.

For the foundation, I used a combination of landscape timbers I had on hand, and bought several new 4" x 4" fancy treated timbers. We did cut down the ice-damaged elm tree that would be inside the footprint of the new space. The new area's top will be covered in metal sheeting for shade and rain protection.

The front and back panels of this aviary are constructed already and waiting up on the shop to be installed. I will post photos of that process next time.

Oh, so green! Joys of ample rainfall.

 

The first photo shows tall tradescantia blooming with 'Worchester Gold' caryopteris as a backdrop. Next are the lovely hydrangeas, 'Endless Summer', 'Annabelle' and 'Incrediball'. The third photo shows 'Pow Wow Wild Berry' Echinacea with perilla annual as a dark backdrop. When I walk in my garden, my eyes go to any little weed or thing out of place. I enjoy looking at my photos, because I can enjoy the garden without seeing, or being compelled to pull, any weeds! Photos also bring out the contrasts in plant foliage color and texture I might overlook in person.

Water is so powerful.

May 24th second post: County road washed out completely. In the storm last night several firefighters were killed while trying to rescue people. It breaks my heart.

May 24th, 2015 Lush garden from 16" or more of rain so far in May!

This is my front garden. It's looking like a jungle now after our record rainfall this month. This is the wettest month ever recorded in Oklahoma and we are inches over the previous record.

I pulled weeds Thursday evening, throwing them in piles in the garden to wilt. Guess what! They are all happily green and thriving in their piles because the humidity has been 100% since I pulled them up. Crazy. Rain is expected every day into the foreseeable  future too.