Today is the Multi-County Master Gardener Plant Sale. Lots of healthful plant life. Come one come all! This morning in Stillwater is the Oklahoma Master Naturalist Prairie Ecology workshop.
Today is the Multi-County Master Gardener Plant Sale. Lots of wholesome plant life. Come one come all! This morning in Stillwater is the Oklahoma Master Naturalist Prairie Ecology workshop. Central Oklahoma is a blend of rugged o.K. That hug the high ground, redcedars tucked into valleys or taking possession of pastures, riparian plants developing along waterways and the grasses and wildflowers of the prairies…And wild deer…Wild Hogs…Wild birds…Wildlife. Prairies are open, wind-swept seas of flowers. When you stand in the prairie, the unimpeded sky reaches to the heavens and infinite rolling lands stand company underneath your ft. You are transported to some other global and definitely become a soul freed in the vastness of nature.
Living day in and out at the prairie may be a venture, at the least to this Little Dixie local from the hills of southeast Oklahoma. I do take into account Ms. Jessie, a girl from Western Oklahoma who had come to teach so close to the Arkansas border. She continually had this sense of claustrophobia. How ought to we stand being hemmed in by hills and smothered by means of trees?
Not like the remark I heard on the artwork display in Yukon years in the past. Their Czech Festival, commenced in 1966, is the first Saturday in October. Hills and bushes had been nicely-represented on my artwork panels. A vintage local man walked up, stared at the snapshots, glared at me and said it changed into all make-agree with. There changed into no place like that during Oklahoma. Try as I may to give an explanation for those places honestly existed in Oklahoma, the man checked out me with disdain and stomped off.
The Prague Czech competition is the first Saturday in May (remaining Saturday), the same day as the contested Kentucky Derby. I like horses and felt sorry for the one’s thoroughbreds galloping across the muddy track with their tiny little jockeys perched on almost non-existent saddles, flailing hands, and whips. Seems like the horse race is now all approximately the quality jockey, no longer the pony.
But I veered off target. The Prague Kolache Festival, held each year seeing that 1960, had the ever-present Kolaches, food vehicles, a carnival with the Ferris wheel, arts and crafts display, flags, various groups, floats, vintage restored motors, utility and fireplace trucks, Shriners and horses. Black vivid Clydesdales pranced as they pulled the carriage loaded with people down the parade direction. Fourteen Clydesdales live in luxury on the Express Ranch in Yukon. These lovely animals make appearances all throughout America. The Shriners zoomed round in their mini-vehicles as Shriner clowns interacted with the youngsters alongside the way. Extra special became the dentist and group throwing candy and telling all to make appointments for dental take a look at-ups! Polka avenue dances, beer tents, and other venues confident the revelry might maintain deep into the night.
Kolaches arrived with Czech settlers nearly two hundred years in the past and are the megastar appeal at Czech galas. The rich sweet yeast rolls, in the beginning, had the traditional plum/prune, poppyseed or thick cheese fillings. These components could be stored and used in a pinch. Regular jams soaked into the rolls and boiled over at some point of cooking. Today additional flavors can be apricot, peach, cherry, blueberry, cream cheese or apple crowned with a streusel topping. Prior to the pageant, the Prague Bakery and numerous church buildings within the region spend weeks baking and assembling Kolaches. This 12 months Wilber Nebraska and their Kolaches made a look. Wilber has the fifth biggest Czech population inside the united states. Their festival is in early August.
We toted Kolaches and 9 recently excavated Goldenrods as much as Tulsa the next day for a go to and a ‘little’ garden work. Note I said ‘little’ which interprets to back-breaking excavations euphemistically classified gardening.
A few florae had been needed for the prolonged outside bed which undulates along the wood fence at the north and east side. The width varies from 5 to fifteen toes. Waiting to be planted sat May Night Salvias blanketed in red flower spikes, 3 crimson-leaf Cannas and an Alstroemeria bought the day earlier than. We took off to Southwood Nursery and got here returned with an oakleaf hydrangea, OK Proven Southern Wax Myrtle and a Viburnum all in five-gallon pots. The two Astilbes, Hostas and the breath-taking dark maroon Heuchera (Coral Bells) were in -gallon pots. One rose bush with multi-colored roses to be topics for an art opposition became 30% off. The Jeep——————————————– appeared like a transportable greenhouse.
The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a totally southern perennial shrub. When installed it’s miles drought tolerant. Southern Wax Myrtle, name it a tall shrub or short tree, have waxy berries once used to make bayberry candles. This hardy plant I realize from the Outer Banks of North Carolina in which it grows via homes and in yards pretty near the sea. The native range follows the Eastern shoreline around to Texas or even extends into Oklahoma. Brushing towards the foliage released a mild lemony fragrance.
The local version to hydrangeas is the Viburnum. In spring it produces balls of white to red flora (depending at the species) observed by way of fruit relished with the aid of wildlife. Along my avenue develop the local Rusty Blackhaw Viburnums except significantly pruned by way of the county. The Hydrangea, Wax Myrtle and Viburnum can be planted within the partial solar segment of the mattress.
Native to North American woodlands are the Astilbes, shrubs with fern-like leaves and striking plants. They recognize dappled sun as do the local Heuchera and Japanese Hostas, both perennials. The deepest phase of the mattress is shrouded in coloration and stays moist; ideal for those low-mild dwellers. On the other hand, the Salvias, Cannas, and Alstroemeria might be planted in the sunny part of the mattress. The South American Alstroemeria is referred to as Lily of the Incas. The spotted, trumpet-fashioned flowers are beacons for hummingbirds. This perennial produces robust wind-resistant stems. The May Night Salvia plant life had been already inundated by honey bees, unnerving one gardener.
The smug Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) have validated themselves to be competitive. Offspring from the Pottawatomie County Extension bed, they may be larger than the local goldenrods in front of my house. Three companies were dug and moved to different gardens. The present that continues on giving. Goldenrods are tremendous flora that couldn’t be beaten for attracting butterflies and local bees. These men may have plenty of room in the west-dealing with the bed to spread out with wild abandon, which they no doubt will.
The mulch turned into pulled away and we started working digging holes. Tree roots. Rocks. Slabs of sandstone. Pieces of concrete. Broken purple tiles. Vintage pink bricks. Clay pipes. Small clay pots inserted into every other to shape long tubes. What turned into this? The buried clay rows had been at the very best factor in the bed; dozens of little pots. Leftovers? Innovative drainage answer? The planting took on the surroundings of an archaeological dig which lasted plenty longer than predicted.
As the solar set, a cookout commenced. Steak, salmon, cheeses, chips, asparagus, and potatoes had been served outside on the patio. What a super manner to spend the night before our late experience again to Shawnee.