Q on holiday

Monday, May 28, 2012

Lavender Farms

On the cusp of the Tallgrass Prairie, where short
bluestem grass meets tall bluestem grass,
a lavender farm thrives.

Just north of Salina, Kansas, Prairie Lavender Farm
tends over 3500 lavender plants.

This is sandhill country.

The lavender is at home in this hot dry climate.

A Lark Sparrow hunted bugs while we toured the farm.

Snowberry Clearwings,

Pipevine Swallowtails,

American Ladies

Black Swallowtails

and bees were busy nectaring in the lavender.

Mike Neustrom was an informative and gracious host.
We are planning on attending his lavender festival on
June 16th.

On the way home we stopped at another lavender farm in Kansas.

Just north of Topeka we found

Kansas Lavender.

Seeing a Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Dragonfly

in the lavender made me gasp.

Lavender is the perfect perch.

Plus this dragon has a tasty mosquito!

A White-Lined Sphinx Moth,

Great Spangled Fritillaries and

Regal Fritillaries

all have convinced me to plant more lavender.
Maybe I can figure out a way to have a mini lavender farm
on my corner of the Tallgrass Prairie.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Dinosaur Monument

We drove into Utah.

We were looking for Dinosaur Monument.

We saw a Bullock's Oriole at a Humming bird feeder
at the Welcome Center.

His mate was waiting for her turn.

It was here I first learned of the petroglyphs that were
on the rocks in the Monument.

The quarry was closed to the public.

We saw a Spotted Towhee.

He sang for us.

A new to us bird.

I was disappointed I couldn't get into the quarry.

Yet when I saw the rock art I was thrilled.

The art spoke to my soul.

The Clovis Tradition are my favorite Paleo-peoples.

But the Fremont peoples were amazing humans too.

We had a wonderful trip this year.

We had a long detour on our drive home.
The Missouri river was flooding.
Our highway home was closed.
We came through Iowa.
I am happy to be home.
Happy to be dreaming of the
First Americans and Mammoths.