Autumn Arrives in the Kansas Country Garden

Sumac has beautiful red leaves in the fall.

Welcome, Autumn! We're so glad you're here. Please make yourself at home. There's no reason to hurry off. In fact, we kind of wish you'd never go. 

Two Honey Locust trees were planted from seed by two of our sons in 2nd Grade.

Spontaneous Combustion Fries Dad's Farm Truck

No tires, no windows, no door handles--the fire consumed it all.

It went out in a ball of fire. At least that's what the evidence suggests. There was no one there to actually see it go. 

Encouragement for the Passive

Indispensable Perennial: Autumn Joy Sedum

Kansas Country Garden 

You can tell fall is approaching. Even when the weather is warm and summery, as the calendar reaches September there are unmistakable signs in the garden. The Autumn Joy Sedum have erupted in magnificent rosy hues. The insects notice immediately.  Soon the weather complies with the calendar and a brisk coolness reinvigorates the weary. Facing the inevitable the leaves on the trees begin reveal bits of their fall colors. Walking anywhere in the garden involves wading through intricate spider webs. They are everywhere and yet there is still an element of surprise when you turn a corner and find yourself enveloped in wisps with an annoyed garden spider scurrying to the heights for safety. Autumn is finally here! 

A Kansas Country Garden: Drama in the Garden

This simple cosmos is home to some garden drama.

A self-sown sunflowers lifts its head to the sun.

There's always a bit of drama going on in the garden. Among the insects, birds (including the again absent Martha, our guinea who is setting on a nest), squirrels and bunny rabbits that inhabit our acreage life is happening. I'm oblivious to most of it. Take the photo above for instance. Yes, I knew there was a spider on the bloom. But the small bee who appears to be an intended victim? I had no idea it was there until I looked at the photo so I can't give you a "rest of the story" update. Did the bee escape or did the spider prevail? The answer is unknown to any human.