Luna Moth in Iowa?? In February?

I have always wanted to see a real live Luna Moth even before reading Prodigal Summer
by Barbara Kingsolver, anyone read that book? It was a really good book, Poisonwood Bible by the same author was probably one of my all time favorite books buuuuuut, back to the Luna Moth, I actually saw one today! It had it's back to me and was kind of hidden but I spotted it! The volunteer at the butterfly house told me it was much more active at night (of course.......LUNA..........after all). But I finally got to see one, this one looked like it had been around the block more than once, it must have one hell of a night life :).

More Flying Flowers

Isn't it hard to beleive these pictures were taken today in Iowa?

Reiman Garden's Butterfly House Feb 03, 2007

Violets and other winter pastimes in Iowa

This little african violet sits on my kitchen window sill along with a few others, I like it because it is such a dark purple and has a nice little sparkle to it, brightens up a cloudy, damp, dreary day like we had today. Where oh where is that sun???????????

Lipstick Plant

My houseplants get me through the winter in Iowa, I mentioned in an earlier post how I found a lipstick plant and I had not had one in years, when I was repotting my original purchase one of the small branches broke off, I stuck it in a small pot, it has rewarded me by blooming!

Monday Monday

In case you are wondering who is in the picture, that is Quasi Boy one of my constant gardening companions. He was adopted through Midwest Boxer Rescue. He did not have the greatest life before but is quite happy now. He has a large scar around his neck from someone letting a collar grow into his skin.

Well, we did get some snow but not much, 3 inches is the official total. Not nearly enough to give me a good excuse to stay home from work for a snow day.

I mentioned that I placed an order with Select Seeds this past weekend, I ordered some Martagon lily bulbs, lilies happen to be one of my favorite garden plants. I read an article in a magazine some time back singing the praises for this particular lily also mentioning that it does not mind partial shade and even thrives in the shade. I hesitated to order the bulbs for spring planting because fall planted lilies always do better for me but I could not pass them up.

Sunday Snowy Sunday

On this snowy day in Iowa, I want to share some pictures of things that are in bloom in my little world. The Christmas Cactus is a bit of a late bloomer. The first photo is of a Star Hoya that blooms almost the entire year. I have several other Hoyas that bloom in late winter to spring, their blooms are all wonderfully fragrant but the Star Hoya's blooms have no fragrance.

Angel Wings

Another Angel Wing

Help Me Make it Through the Winter

One might wonder why someone in Iowa would start a garden blog in mid January, I wonder myself, I guess because I have the time now. I placed my first seed order today. It was with Select Seeds, one of my favorite seed catalogs. The seed catalogs seem to arrive earlier and earlier each year, I start getting some in November now. My annual tradition is to pile the catalogs up until after the holidays. I love browsing through all the beautiful pictures, I often wonder why my flower garden does not look like the ones in the catalog. Some of the catalogs are truly works of art, I always think I should do something crafty with them after I am done looking at all the beautiful flowers, but that has yet to happen. Time is always at a premium around here.

My houseplants help me get through the winter, I purchased several new Angel Wing Begonias last summer, they are all in bloom right now, plus a lipstick plant that I acquired last summer. Anyone remember the 60s and 70s plant craze, lipstick plants were everywhere. I never got out of the craze, I have many houseplants. Anyone buy plants from Logees? Another of my favorite catalogs. It is a bit too cold to mail order house plants right now, but I always make it a point to browse the plant sections at Lowes, Home Depot and Menards. Lowes has a nice selection. I even made a terrarium with one small episcia last weekend. Terrariums were all the rage in the 70s along with macrame, if you are as old as me no doubt you will remember both. I still have my stack of macrame pattern books, I remember standing for hours making plant hangers.