equine expressions

8.12.2026

land of wonders ~ july 2026

I figured I best get this July post done, before August floats past. I started over a week ago, then poof! life got busier. Mostly with grand kids, grand dogs and grand gardening.

July seems like such a long time ago. Part of the reason I am committing to loosely documenting a wee bit of in-between life. Starting off with my favorite Trumpet Lily!! I am super happy it finally settled in, after transplanting from our old home.

Black Dragon
July 3

smells heavenly

I continue discovering new (to me) wild plants and critters on our property. I've seen the wildflower below before, but never really stopped to look at it. There is so much nature to discover, if one takes the time.

American Germander (aka Wood Sage/Wild Basil)
July 7

Garden harvesting season has ramped up. I filled all my dehydrator trays up with Basil. So much better than store bought! Most of my Basil gets frozen into cubes, and of course enjoyed fresh.

I like trying new things to harvest each year. This year I went with the herbs Thyme and Sage. My roasted root veggies have officially been elevated! This brings me up to four herbs to harvest. Including one of my longtime fav's, Rosemary. I tried Oregano years ago, twice. Meh.

A few weeks ago, my neighbor gave me some of her Tarragon to try. It wasn't for me. Not a licorice/anise fan. I will also be trying Mint (for tea) from my daughters garden. I am afraid to plant invasive herbs. Even in pots.

My mom always grew Parsley. In her later years, I would bring her a plant annually to enjoy indoors. Some folks like growing Cilantro, but I rarely use it. What herbs do you love growing & using?

drying Basil

Back to our land, or in this case sky. The views from our land were spectacular in July! The light is ever changing. Some evenings, color surrounds us in all directions.

cloud formations are my fav
July 9

taken from our deck
July 10 (21 secs)

still shot

colorful reflections

colorful hues

When we moved here, I cut back on gardening. Especially tender plants/tubers that need over-wintering indoors. Really, I did. A lot. However, there are a couple I won't give up. If I had to pick only one bulb/tuber to over winter, it would be the one below. It has a spectacular delicate fragrance! So easy to grow and bulbs overwinter well. Very reliable.

Hymenocallis 'Sulphur Queen'

By July, the Wave petunias I start from seed each year are in full bloom.

barn pots July 16

Many evenings our sky colors are much softer.

July 16

Crescent Moon & Venus
same evening, right of above frame

this is how we celebrate Christmas in July

July 19 (my confused Amaryllis)

I wonder what shifted in nature, to make butterflies less prevalent this year.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (by house, on coneflower)
July 20

Brad helped me pull over our head weeds, out of the butterfly garden. I couldn't stand it anymore! Shorter grassy/weedy looking plants remain. I wonder how many desirable plants and seeds came out with the heavy sandy dirt clumps.

July 23

our daughter tried fly tape with her pasture traps this year
July 24

eek! a keep walking moment (yes, it is harmless)

cukes & beans & pea pods, oh my!
July 25

I use tomato cages and repurposed orange bale twine in-between. Not pretty, but functional. No one see's it anyways. Well, until now :)

beetle art on a huge old perishing oak
July 26

a present from Ms. Hope
July 27

Below is a special-to-me pot. I have been re-planting it the past five years. It has an overwintered Geranium and two Coleus. Each Fall, I save cuttings from the two different Coleus. I used to buy a Mother's Day pot for my mom and a similar one for me. Now I replant with memory plants from the last one/s. Both my daughters are also re-growing the Coleus :)

July 31

Closing this post with silliness. There were a lot more Nemo antics. Sorry in advance for my loud cackling. I blame it on the phone speaker.

stranger danger (22 secs)

Yes, I was walking in the rain. I love walking in light rain!

checking out the aliens (17 secs)

July 31 (22 secs)

7.19.2026

butterfly garden update

As you may recall, early this Spring we did our first controlled burn in our struggling Butterfly Garden. Pulling Weeds, over seeding, and a whole lot of over thinking, were not enough to make butterfly garden dreams come true.

We inherited an area of sky high piled yunk wood in 2016. The garden started with weeds much taller than us humans. Wide open areas are a haven for ruthless weeds.

Growing anything in sandy loam besides invasive weeds is slow and challenging. I have been learning the hard way. By trial and error. Seeds don't take as easy and purchased perennials seem to wither beyond their first year. One can only assume from a lack of nutrients and consistent moisture. Adapting to growing anything in sandy soil is a work in progress.

There are times I have to remind myself of my gardening motto: Grow what Grows for You.

The garden was planted in 2022. The butterfly garden dream was: One half (wing) would be perennials and the other mostly bfly loving annuals. Keeping a curvy path down the middle would allow immersion. Silly homemade deelly bobber antennas would be added to one end. Fostering wonder and smiles. Among other things, we talked about also possibly adding a bench.

2023 was our most active butterfly year. Only one year after the initial planting. Not the typical 3-5 years for plants and gardens to establish. Thanks to annuals. Despite my best efforts, annuals do not grow well anymore. No clue why. They were self & reseeding so nicely. This leaves me not so patiently waiting for native perennials to do their thing.

The butterfly garden was suppose to be low maintenance. Before we moved here, I decided to retire from gardening in the ground. Wellll, that didn't work. Guess I can't help myself. Growing plants is in my blood!! Both indoor and outdoor. I am a good candidate for PAA (Plant-Aholics Anonymous).

The Butterfly Garden was initially Brad's idea. Many of my past gardens evolved from less desirable mowing spots. Our agreement was: If we could not get the big garden to be lower maintenance, it would get plowed under. It would not bother me a bit. Been there. Done that. It wouldn't be my first time saying good-bye to a butterfly garden. The first was (with permission) in a public park as a Girl Scout leader. Watering (and accountability) became an issue. That year turned out to be a tough drought year.

Seeing weeds spread and choke out flowering plants that I am trying to nurture bothers me. I was ready to stop fighting the weeds and fire up the mower. Instead, we decided to try Plan C. A controlled burn. I think it worked? Kinda. Sorta. It has been very interesting to see what survived the burn, and what did not. Control burning a flowering garden/prairie area is a first for me. Each week or so, another plant reveals itself. Often not where it was originally planted.

6.26.26

Plants returning to date: One purchased Native Coneflower returned. One. I see no sign of other native coneflowers started/seeded plants that grew. The fancier garden varieties that had previously returned, apparently perished.

Orange Butterfly Weed not only survived, but spread!! One plant was purchased, others started from seed. I also spread chilled seeds, that take years to even begin to grow.

Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed not only survived, but also spread!! I started these indoors from seed. The seeds are harder to find than the standard orange variety.

I am watching for Liatris blooms. Some of the plants did return after the burn. They usually bloom later in Summer for me.

No signs of Black Eyed Susans. These tender perennials have never done well for me. Here or at my previous home. I've tried growing them in every way. Perhaps they will show up eventually. It could happen.

Returning blooms from earlier in the season:

Lupine
5.19.26

Hairy Beard Tongue
(started indoors from seed)
6.5.26

Hawkweed?

Self planted weed, growing everywhere. I will most likely have to pull some, so it doesn't take over.

More recent sightings:

Hoary Vervain
7.3.26

Finally, a real butterfly in this years garden!

As you can see I made peace with letting grasses grow, along with what I consider weeds. Some are beneficial. The Monarch above seems to appreciates them.

yellow coneflowers have spread and doing well (from plants & seeds)
7.12.26

thriving together

A surprise Red Catchfly (aka Red Campion)
7.15.26

looks like more than one :)

Future plans: Another early Spring controlled burn. Also, watching for native plants to go on sale. I would like to continue adding a few key plants each year. However, the plants are pricey! More seeds will be spread, although I honestly don't feel seeding is effective here. Regardless I will continue collecting, saving and spreading seeds. Some seeds are easier to collect than others. Jury is out on the path & the fun antenna deely bobbers :)

The rest will be up to Mother Nature.