prairie point

I had to be in town on Friday to get some work done on a car, so I decided to use the time to revisit Clark Gardens, the botanical gardens on the east side of town. Our first frost is not far off and there might be a chance to see some fall-blooming flowers.

Yes, it’s Copper Canyon daisy again. These gardens actually started out as the “back yard” of the Clarks, who still live adjacent and can often be found working in the gardens, which are open to the public seven days a week.

There were lots of roses in bloom although most of them were looking rather battered and bruised, probably a result of the high winds that arrived with the cold front on Wednesday. These were in the “experimental” garden, where roses are tested that have not yet been introduced to the trade. These had only a number instead of a name.

This is the perfect time of year to see the ornamental grasses.

There was just enough wind to make watching the grasses especially interesting.

These really danced in the wind. A rhumba I think.

One of the most popular features of Clark Gardens is the model trains that wind around some of the plantings.

The trains attracted another visitor too, who stood astride the tracks like some kind of especially ornamental Rodan. Luckily that particular track was not in use at the time. Anyway the conductor was watching from inside the control room behind the bird.

Fall is my favorite time of year. Today was a perfect time to walk along the tree-lined paths. The afternoon sunlight made the bald cypress leaves around the pond look like gold. The plants in pots are azaleas, which will not grow in the local soil.