​     The flowers of high summer now adorn our prairie.  The well-known friends such as Ratibidas, Echinaceas, Rudbeckias, and Monardas, now shoot forth from earth-protected, perennial roots to blaze in the long days. 
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     Fitful showers rear up in tall clouds, watering some and giving the hope of another day to those missed by the rain.  Some clouds carry the time-release moisture we all dread.  Hail cuts paths across the prairie farmland, shredding crops.  Hail stones whiten the ground before melting into their more docile liquid form.  They, like their sometimes-companions, the tornados, usually cut a relatively narrow path, but in their path, destruction is often complete. 

Summer Showers and Summer Blooms

     As our dry summer has turned more moist, the green of June extends into July.  The lack of mosquitoes has turned into an abundance of all types of insects.  Fireflies light up the night and moths and butterflies abound.  Mayflies and dragon flies have risen in waves from our wetlands as the native colors of summer march on.

    Fresh garden vegetables now grace our table as we now fight weeds rather than dry soil in the garden.  Although much has changed in the world, those of us who garden are still finding the wonderful “old normal” of working in the soil and eating good fresh food.
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