Lady Bug

What a beautiful gorgeous day this was! I am still on my weed pulling mission, how do they grow so fast? This ladybug was nice enough to pose for me this weekend, I thought that was very nice of her. She even looks like a real Ladybug and not one of those smelly Asian Lady Beetles.

Jenny Wren

I enjoy taking bird shots, for the most part the birds do not cooperate very well but yesterday when I was outside this little wren was in a bush right by where I was working singing her little heart out, I loved having her company.

The Day of the Weird Shrooms

Mushrooms poped up over night after the 4 inches of rain in the past two days.

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have gotten almost 4 inches of rain in the past 3 days, so the weeds should pull easy this weekend. I know one plant that I will pull out by the bucket fulls is Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory, I received these seeds years ago in a seed exchange, while it is a pretty morning glory, they are prolific to say the least. If Grandpa Ott was that prolific he has descendants in every corner of the state :). I do let a few of the vines grow, mostly around the compost pile, it is covered in dark purple morning glories by the end of summer.

We planted two new Hydrangeas this past week so all the rain will make those two happy. We planted Black Lace Elderberry Sambucus nigra 'Eva' last week, this shrub is supposed to resemble a Japanese Maple which will not survive in zone 4, I hope it lives up to this claim. I had ordered the Hydrangeas and the Elderberry last February and forgot all about the order until it arrived this past week, it was a nice surprise, but his is the second order that I had forgotten about, either I am ordering too much or I am having senior moments.

I took the picture of the baby robin last weekend. The Baltimore Orioles are now regular visitors to the grape jelly and the peony is one of my last peony bushes to bloom this season.

False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo

I don't know why False indigo, Blue Wild Indigo
Baptisia australis is not grown more frequently, it is a beautiful plant. It is one of those plants that even looks great when it is not in bloom, it is trouble free, lasts for years and years, it behaves itself, has lovely blue seed pods in the fall, what more could one ask for?? It is in full bloom right now in zone 4, Iowa.

We received almost 2 inches of rain last evening and last night. So no watering for a couple of days at least.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Most people are surprised to know that Prickly Pear Cactus grows in Iowa. Not only grows but thrives. It is aptly named, the stickers are wicked! I have an old pair of leather gloves that are only used to weed the cactus bed and I am still picking stickers out of my hands for days. They are will be in full bloom soon.

I always say I am going to use the fruit to make jelly but that has not happened yet, probably won't this year either.

My hubby has been working on another raised flower bed, this is a smaller one, I think I will put a couple of climbing roses in it, there is a fenced directly behind the new bed. I have not grown climbing roses in years, I am hoping there are some new varieties that survive our Iowa winters better.

Morning Dew

I took these photos early Friday morning, there was a heavy dew. On mornings like this after we get home from walking the dogs, my little Cavalier, Erin, has to have a bath she is low to the ground and gets soaked.