Liatris

Liatris pycnostachya ( probably!) in the garden. This does grow wild in Kansas and is often called Kansas gayfeather. The flowers grow in a spike and open from the top of the spike. It is very heat and cold resistant as might be expected of a Kansas native. It makes a good cut flower and is often used in dried flower arrangements also.

Not  quite so hot today, a mere 93ºF  I think we may be seeing the beginning of a cooling trend but no sign of rain yet.