See the Beauty in the Ordinary: A Kansas Country Garden-Second Week in April

Columbine, Aquilegia, like a shady area to grow and bloom.

The second week in April ended in a fury. Tornadoes sprang up around the state. They missed us, but we were sorry that some in our area are recovering from major building damage. In our garden the wind howled and for all that, there was very little rain. Still, there are new flowers joyfully blooming.

Two old-fashioned spirea bloom in our mixed bush hedge.

Spirea have a lacy, delicate bloom

In our mixed bush hedge, there is often something blooming while new bushes are added and dead bushes are removed.

I would love to know what these flowers are called. I got a start from a friend who lived in a very old house who believed these flowers had been growing and returning with little care for decades. They are best enjoyed down low for the leaves cover the lovely blooms from above.

I believe this shrub is Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry) purchased from High Country Gardens.

The first of our tall iris are whipped by the wind near the barn.

I believe these are an allium, but am unsure of the variety.

The branch of the blooming Golden Rain tree makes a natural arch.

New in the Garden

I purchased this large section of hosta at the MCC sale (Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale) for $20. This is guilt-free buying because all money raised at the sale is used for relief efforts around the world.

Still Blooming

White tulips are nearly done blooming. In the background you can see the nodding blooms of the columbine and the mixed bush hedge with blooming spirea.

The soil that was used for fill next to the road when it was resurfaced a few years ago was evidently full of Star of Bethlehem bulbs. They have multiplied over the years. Mowing waits until the bloom stops.

Our female guinea, Edna, is a bug-eating machine (we hope). She seems to appreciate the miniature purple iris.

A butterfly visits the candytuft (iberis) now in its third week of bloom.

Catmint continues to bloom.

In the Vegetable Garden

These beautiful onions are actually last years plants that overwintered. While it is not a good idea to leave onions in the ground all winter, these have put on new growth and actually taste quite sweet. I used all of these in Baked BBQ Chicken.