Weed Watcher's Report: July

What can I say? After the long gray winter, summer is so colorful. It's a feast for the eyes...if you're looking for it.

Milkweed is something I often played with as a kid. I knew all about the pods, the sticky milky goo that seeps from the stems, but in all these years I never noticed the flowers. They don't look like much from the road, but when I got up close I was blown away by their intricacy.

So often I miss the beauty that's all around me, but I've been making it a point to open my eyes and see it more. What a blessing that's been!

This year's winter wheat has been harvested and soybeans are quickly growing in those fields. Double cropping is popular down here.

My favorite summer flower is the tiger lily. They grow wild around here--oh, I'm sure someone planted them years ago, but they've spread through the years. They've spread enough that the cemetery on the corner of our property is blanketed in tiger lilies. Beautiful!

Here's a weed that grows in the ditches all around my house. Any one know what it is?

Of course, you can't talk about summer flowers--especially in a weed watchers report without mentioning dandelions. A little girl's delight and home owner's pain. There's still something magical about dandelions when get right down to it.

So tell me, what's your favorite summertime flower?