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 the heavens, and infinite rolling lands are underneath your ft. You are transported to some other global and 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 consider 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 we stand being hemmed in by hills and smothered using trees?
Not like the remark I heard on the artwork display in Yukon years in the past. Their Czech Festival commenced in 1966 and is the first Saturday in October. Hills and bushes were 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 in Oklahoma. Try to explain those places honestly existed in Oklahoma; the man checked me out 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. It seems like the horse race is now all approximately the quality jockey, no longer the pony.
But I veered off target. Each year, the Prague Kolache Festival, held, seeing that 1960, had the ever-present Kolaches, food vehicles, a carnival with the Ferris wheel, an arts and crafts display, flags, various groups, floats, vintage restored motors, and 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 throughout America. The Shriners zoomed around in their mini-vehicles as Shriner clowns interacted with the youngsters.
The extra special became the dentist and group throwing candy and telling everyone to make dental appointments and take look-at-ups! Polka Avenue dances, beer tents, and other venues are confident the revelry might maintain deep into the night.
Kolaches arrived with Czech settlers nearly two hundred years ago and are the megastar appeal at Czech galas. In the beginning, the rich sweet yeast rolls 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. Additional flavors include apricot, peach, cherry, blueberry, cream cheese, or apple crowned with a streusel topping. Before the pageant, the Prague Bakery and numerous regional church buildings spend weeks baking and assembling Kolaches. During these 12 months, Wilber, Nebraska, and their Kolaches made a look. Wilber has the fifth biggest Czech population in the united states. Their festival is in early August.
We toted Kolaches and nine recently excavated Goldenrods like Tulsa the next day for a go-to and a ‘little garden work. I said ‘little,’ which interprets back-breaking excavations euphemistically classified as 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, three crimson-leaf Cannas, and an Alstroemeria bought the day earlier. We took off to Southwood Nursery and returned with an oakleaf hydrangea, OK Proven Southern Wax Myrtle, and a Viburnum, all in five-gallon pots. The two Astilbes, Hostas, and the breathtaking 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 southern perennial shrub. When installed, it’s miles drought tolerant. Southern Wax Myrtle, a tall shrub or short tree, has waxy berries that were once used to make bayberry candles. I realize this hardy plant from the Outer Banks of North Carolina grows in homes and yards near the sea. The native range follows the Eastern shoreline around Texas or even extends into Oklahoma. Brushing towards the foliage released a mild lemony fragrance.
The local version of hydrangeas is the Viburnum. In spring, it produces balls of white to red flora (depending on the species) observed by fruit relished with the aid of wildlife. Along my avenue, develop the local Rusty Blackhaw Viburnums, except significantly pruned by 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 the dappled sun, as do the local Heuchera and Japanese Hostas, 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 the 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 may be larger than the local goldenrods in front of my house. Three companies were dug and moved to different gardens. The present continues 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 are inserted into every other to shape long tubes. What turned into this? The buried clay rows had been the best 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, cheese, chips, asparagus, and potatoes were served outside on the patio. What a super manner to spend the night before our late experience again in Shawnee.
