Prairiebreak: A dusky walk in the Garden

Echeveria in the Cutting Garden

The Gipsy King concert was going to start soon, and I had to do the announcements. But the dusky light looked perfect for pictures, so I dashed out and snapped almost 100--and I mean snapped. Here they are, from the evening of August 15.

You can't accuse us of not being patriotic! What a gorgeous form of Agapanthus!

I've never seen so many forms of Amaranth as we seem to be growing (as you will see)--these are some of Dan Johnson's outrageous mix of colors.

Love that amaranth!

One of the outdoor displays of tender succulents

Leuchtenbergia principis

The so-called Agave cactus is about to bloom!

Salvia penstemonoides

The Watersmart Garden is still looking good despite a long hot summer

Contrasting planting of Hylotelephium sedums

Vintage Dan Johnson style: native Grass, Mexican Yucca rostrata and Greek Seseli gummiferum

Vignette from the O'Fallon Perennial Border

Another view

Lilium speciosum 'Rubrum' chiming in at the end of the Border

Ipomoea batatas and Cardoon--an unusual combo for the El Pomar water feature this year. I like it.

I can never have enough Athamanta turbith

The Ellipse garden full of fragrance thanks to Lobularia maritima

And yes, there is a statue there: "Colorado" by Dale Chihuly

The first gift of the Freyer and Newman families of Denver, who later gave even greater gifts that has allowed the construction of our new Center for Science, Education and Art.

A new site for Victoria

We're at the height of Echinacea season still, here with Salix rosmarinifolia behind them

Jennifer Miller has created quite a number of complex annual tableaux

This one is hard to miss! What a tour-de-force of combinational magic! Constantly changing through the summer.

Liatris ligulistylis doing its thing again

Michael Holloway seems to outdo himself every year with these planters featuring amaranths (again!)

The crowd is enjoying the gathering twilight: it was an outstanding concert by the way!

The high altitude Cortaderia is in fine form in the Patagonian section of the steppe garden

Water gardens are looking good everywhere...mostly day bloomers here I think...

Another of Jennifer Miller's extravaganzas

Arisaema consangineum lording it over Plantasia

The true Clematis texensis, finally! In Birds and Bees garden

Wonderful medley of Birds and Bees where Fritillaria meleagris proliferates in spring

South African plaza in late summer climax

Mike Kintgen's first crevice garden is now a silver symphony of Acantholimon

Amazing how much is still going on in the Rock Alpine Garden (which is best in spring)

Stipa capillata (I think) at the entrance of the garden

Epilobium fleischeri

Gentiana septemfida

View from the top of the "RAG"

Origanum 'Barbara Tinguey

I think I like this oregano even better than 'Kent Beauty'

Species peonies in seed--mostly P:.mlokosewitchii

People everywhere enjoying the garden. It wasn't always so popular!

A few last glimpses of RAG--here Mirabilis multiflora

Here closer up

Silene schafta

Still in the Rock Alpine Garden--I've had trouble tearing myself away for several decades now...

Zauschneria garrettii

And perhaps you can see why with this orange cataract on the Scree mound!

South African plaza full of tall cereal grasses

Greeting them from Dryland mesa is Sorghastrum nutans

And a delicious infestation of Cochineal! They no doubt have instructions to leave it for the education classes to show the kids biological controls (who love this sort of gruesome thing)