It has been so HOT and with little rain there is no water running thru the creek, but the flowers are so pretty this summer.
Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia)
Spiderwort
They grow in the wild and are edible and nutritious. I haven’t tried them (and probably not going to).
Vitex (angus-castus) or Chaste Tree
Joe-Pye Weed
All parts of this plant are edible. Joe Pye is said to be named after a Native American, Jopi who used this plant to cure typhus in the 1800’s.
Our grandchildren, Camryn and Caden, from Missouri spent a week with us. One of the places we visited was Rock City, which is located south west of Minneapolis, KS.
The rocks are remarkable because of their great size and large number. The spheriod masses are know as concretions. Rock City has 200 sandstone concretions covering the area of approximately two football fields. There are others throughout the world, but none are as large as they are at Rock City.
Oxford a small town located in Sumner County, is know for the Old Mill that was built in 1874. Restoration was completed in 2000, the mill is part of the local school’s entrepreneurship program. Students have cleaned up the grounds and created walking trails through out the area, they also manage the Mill Restaurant and serve lunch on Sundays.
Old Truss Bridges
A beautiful sunrise as a storm rolls in from the west.
Elmdale is located in Chase County, KS. Some consider it a Ghost Town, but it is still home to about 50 people. Elmdale has been damaged by numerous floods, a major one in 1951.
Bummies was a must stop back in 1980’s to pick up a sandwich before heading into the Flint Hills while hauling equipment to watershed dams.
The school was closed in 1967. It is now a private residence.
Entrance to St. Joseph’s Orphanage that provided a home to children from 1915-1959.
Grotto
Here is a link (Dickinson County Historical Society) to see a photo of the orphanage that was demolished in 1959. All that is left on the site are the stone markers at the entrance, a building and the unique grotto.
Happy belated 4th of July. God Bless the USA
Beautiful church and cemetery outside of Herington, KS
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Located along the Santa Fe trail
As I traveled along the Trail, I was amazed at the beauty of the lush grass land of the Flint Hills. I was also thankful that my “buggy” had air conditioning as it was in the upper 90’s.
Lost Springs, KS
Burdick
The Santa Fe trail passed approximately 3 miles north of Burdick. Know as “Six Mile State Station” it was needed on the trail after the station at Diamond Springs was destroyed by Missouri Bushwackers in 1863. Burdick was settled in 1880, located on the Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The line has been removed but the railroad has not abandoned the right of way.
Diamond Springs
Diamond Springs know as the “Diamond of the Plains” along the Santa Fe Trail, due to the prairie fountain that was of high quality water. The spring now rises in a concrete cistern and is piped to a nearby stock tank on the Diamond Spring Ranch.
Continuing south from Diamond Springs is Hymer Station along the abandoned train line
This beautiful bridge did not withstand the flooding this year
My lunch plans were changed as the Ad Astra in Strong City is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Went to the Grand Central Hotel and Grill in Cottonwood Falls and discovered another wonder place to eat in Small Town Kansas. The rooms in the Hotel are named after local ranches and look very comfortable. Pet friendly too….Wylie!!
Strong City
Farmer Days 