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.

Old Rose

I love old roses, they require so little care, they are survivors and are happy where they are planted, maybe we could all take a lesson from this beautiful bush!

I took a cutting from this bush over 20 years ago, I don't have any idea what it's name might be or even how far back her heritage might go. The blooms smell wonderful! If I ever had to move, I would list this bush as a "must take along".

It is a beautful cool sunny morning! We received almost two inches of much needed rain.

Little Pink Columbines

Columbines are just such a dainty pretty little flower, don't you think?

I am keeping my fingers crossed for rain tomorrow, we need it.

Peony Pretty Peony

How could someone grow up in Iowa and not love peonies, the scent takes me back years, every yard had peony bushes. Mine are starting to open up.

Sunday In Iowa

Another nice weekend in the state of Iowa, is that anything like being in the state of grace?????? Is this heaven, no this is Iowa.

The Baltimore Orioles have been at my grape jelly all weekend, almost standing in line, it has been fun listening to their various songs. There have been several males at the jelly at the same time, I have seen a female at the jelly occasionally. The hummingbirds have been at their feeder as well.

We do need rain! I gave everything a good drink today. I purchased a few more herbs, lemon verbena, lamb's ears, and cinnamon basil. I made some new garden stones but they did not turn out, I had the wrong kind of concrete, it had too many stones in it. We went to Menards to get the kind of concrete that is used for patching, it is much finer. So next weekend, I will be making stones. I also bought some charcoal color concrete dye, I have always used the terra cotta tint.

Clematis

Some of my Clematis are starting to bloom.