I tend to see courtyards and landscapes while driving. I inherited it from my father. About 10 miles from our home, we visit our grandparents on Sunday. As Father turned to look at the crop on the other side of the aisle, my mother often said, “Willis, look at the road.” My daughter took that role for me.
If you are looking for something new to add to your backyard or perhaps to plant next spring, it might be a good time to look at the landscape while walking or while someone else is driving.
I was thrilled to see the use of sweet potato grapes at the entrance to the SMM Health Doctor building. In the past, Lyriop had large stones around them and they still exist. The addition of Chartreys and dark green ornamental sweet potato grapes added a colorful touch to the entrance that lasted until the frost. It is difficult to find enough space in the landscape for this plant. Many years ago we used them in large pots on Bell Street and soon they were growing up on the street and advising people to pick up pieces. If you find it difficult to cut them frequently, next spring will be a colorful addition to your backyard or balcony, especially if you plant them in the backyard.
Recently, I saw a house on the steps of the compound leading to the street on W Federal. Many large containers are periodically placed on steps with purple spring grass. Eye-catching red beggar plants are celebrated around the lawn. They are very interesting. In a large pot with a red bean plant in the pot next to it, I have purple spring grass, but they don’t plan to plant it with them. I’ll try it next year.
Some of us are fortunate to have received the “amazing flowers” that began to bloom this week. The flowers last for about 10 days, after which the leaves sprout again the following spring. They can be dug up and some of them can be shared with friends. In his book, The Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide, Steve Dobbs talks about the former pastor, who has never gathered so many naked women in front of him. According to Steve, the pastor soon learned the names of the plants for these flowers.
The Pottawatomie County Free Exhibition is scheduled for September 8-11. The garden exhibitions will be located in the southern part of the exhibition building, where they have been for many years. Horticultural submissions were accepted on Wednesday, September 8, beginning at 3 p.m., and must be 6 p.m. The submissions will take place on September 9 and the submissions may be taken on Saturday evening or Sunday at 11:00 am. Information on exhibitions and entries can be found online at the Pottawatomie County Free Fair. Scroll down to the fair book and search for plant science and then other plant entries will follow.