Tulips91 - I actually get embarrassed when I go out in my yard and dig because of the clanking noise that I'm sure the neighbors can hear for at least a quarter mile. If they're wanting to monitor how much time I spend out in the yard, it makes it easy for them to keep track. lol Please DO tiptoe over and introduce yourself. Would love to hear what's growing well in your yard. It's nice to compare and see what tolerates the heat, drought, rocks, insects, etc.

Just posting a follow-up so it won't stay at the top forever. Thanks

They have expanded since I was there. They are putting out different kinds of shrubs so you can see what you'd like to grow. These are small now so don't expect much yet. They had some nice combinations - sedum and vitex, purplish petunia with ageratum, a white garden with snow on the Mt. white dahlia, white butterfly bush etc. The grasses were what inspired me. There was a small one ruby grass that I am going to have to track down. Some plants that had bloomed earlier looked ratty just like in my yard, that is the nature of flowers.

I live in NE OK about 30 miles from the MO border. I believe we are the 'flat edge' of the Ozark region. I previously lived just over an hour N of Fort Worth Texas, and have lived various places. The summers are hot here, but not as hot/long as TX was. The winters are cold here, but not as cold/long as CT was. The weather is sometimes grey here, but not as grey/long as WA was. The spring is GLORIOUS. The fall is GLORIOUS. OK, so we have occasional tornados and hail and hellacious storms (mostly in spring and fall). You've got those in Texas too, though! I think someone forgot to put the Maple tree on the invasive seed list for this region. I am told this area used to be the edge of plains. It's hard for me to imagine. I pull out hundreds of maple seedlings trying to grow anywhere, up the walls, in the cracks of the flagstones... and there is more 'green-green-green' here in Spring than my nearly 30 years in California all combined ever saw. I love having seasons. Just love it. I grew up in avg 72 degrees year round, chronic sun in Ventura-Ojai CA and am a weather wimp. But I wouldn't trade having four seasons now. I'm spoiled... now unless I've no choice, I'll never again live somewhere that doesn't have four seasons. As for people and culture, well, I've lived all around the country. I am around people from MO-AR-KS-OK all the time now, being right in the four corners, and I find them pretty nice in general. I wouldn't want to try out their hospitality if I were a racial minority to be honest, but that'd go even moreso for farther South. Culture is something that is very local, and what there is in the region may not reflect what is going on in your neighborhood, which may be influenced by certain churches or leading families or the leading trade of the locals. You guys oughtta take a drive up to the area and look around, talk to people. Palyne P.S. All of my friends are spread across the country and none are physically near me. I'd give up a whole lot to be near any one of my very few 'best friend's. That friend may be the best part of the geography. P.P.S. People grow roses in the Ozarks, too. ;-)