Summer

	Wild Blackeyed Susan
	Bubbling Over
	Storm Train Part of the picturesque beauty of the Midwest are the cloud formations that precede summer storms. This unusual "storm train" formation appeared in the summer of 2004.
	Compass Plant In the summer of 2005, an almost 3-month stream of rainless, 90-plus-degree days from late June into September was hard on Ozarks gardens and gardeners. Our wildflowers suffered, too; for example, this Compass Plant languished in a field at Wilson Creek Battlefield at about half its normal 8-10-foot height. You can find a properly rained-on, healthy Compass Plant by clicking on "Real Gardens" at left, then clicking on A Demonstration Garden.
	Sunflowers Galore One sure sign of midsummer is the appearance of many different varieties of sunflowers. These beauties were grown by Paris Springs Creations, which sells at the Farmer's Market at the Battlefield Mall in Springfield, Missouri.
	A cooler scene When the temperature hits 102 in the Ozarks, as it did last summer, this water feature southeast of Springfield promises something close to Nirvana.
	Hot work This visitor from cooler climes in New England waters a parched flower bed for a friend in Springfield, MO. The temperature was 90 degrees. Not her cup of tea, she said.

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