Celebrating the ordinary
White ash trees (Fraxinus americana) are now at peak color in Lexington. They are easy to spot with their striking and subtle shades of greens, golds, purples, and reds. I’m enjoying them all immensely. However, my favorite one is in our front yard. The best view is from the upstairs computer room, and sights like this have been a great way to start the day.
I was recently asked to bring a bouquet to our 37th annual neighborhood picnic. I enjoyed exploring the backyard and collecting several different grasses, flowers, and berries. On a whim, I decided to use my Canon G12 point-and-shoot camera to photograph them on a black velvet background.
After a scarcity of butterflies during much of the summer, I’ve appreciated seeing several in the backyard lately. Our Golden Asters (Chrysopsis villosa) are in full bloom and have attracted several visitors.
After six years, our native passion flower vines (Passiflora incarnata) needed a more substantial trellis. The area where they’re growing wasn’t being used, and I wanted a “hideout” for the neighborhood kids. Our friend Carmen found a creative solution for both. He installed two cattle panels that arch from the base of the passion flower plants to the bottom of our nearby fence. Bales of straw provide seating or a table area.
This was how the hideout looked in June when our neighbors Nicolas and Ben were giving it a try.
Continue reading “Backyard hideout with passion flower vines”
Royal catchfly (Silene regia) is another native perennial that has done well in spite of our prolonged hot, dry weather. It’s been blooming for over a month and continues to provide a much-appreciated bright spot in the backyard. It’s especially striking when backlit by the morning sun.
Continue reading “Royal catchfly – another drought-resistant native”