Bright Sunshiny Day

As I sit here all snug and warm in my house with the outside temps at -10 I am hoping for the best for all the outside animals that do not have anyone to take proper care of them. Also the wildlife, the birds at the feeders have been extra hungry, we have been filling the feeders 2-4 times a day. I did not see the Carolina Wren today.

We decided to take a trip to Reiman Gardens once again, what a wonderful place to spend a cold winter day, we time our trips to get to the butterfly house about 11 AM or so on a sunny day. We were well rewarded today as the butterflys were very active! The flower display had been changed in the conservatory to "Passion for Plants" from the Christmas display that we seen and enjoyed in Decemeber. There was lots of tubrous begonias, amarylis, cyclamen, a few lady slipper orchids as well as lots of green plants. We sat in the conservatory and had a nice hot cup of coffee! What could be better?? Only the butterfly house of course.

Standing Cypress in Iowa

Standing Cypress is a Biennial that is not supposed to grow further north than zone 6, they grow well in my zone 4 garden, the seeds were given to me several years ago, the first year they are only about an inch tall, very feathery and easy to pull up until you recognize them, the second year is when they reach their glory, they get about 5-6 feet tall with a large flower spike. I had some yellow ones at one time but have not seen a yellow in my garden in about 5 years. I see some yellow ones at a house I drive by on my way to work each summer, I wonder what they would do if I stopped and begged for some seeds of the yellows :)? Once they get started they self seed.

Cold, Cold, Cold January in Iowa

I was so releived to come home from work today and see my little southern visitor at my feeder! Today she was eating from the seed tray not the suet holder as shown in this picture, with the really cold temps we have had over the last several days I was worried about her. I also worry about all the dogs and cats the folks leave outside, makes me very sad.

Every day early in the AM as it is getting light and each evening as it is getting dark I have had anywhere from 8-15 cardinals at my feeder, it is such a beautiful site to see.

Reiman Gardens, Ames, Iowa

As I mentioned in a previous post we enjoy going to Reiman Gardens, the butterfly house is my favorite but the gardens outside are well worth a look-see.

Yesterday's Blooms (Actually Last Summer)

Jackson and Perkins Catalog

The Jackson and Perkins catalog arrived yesterday, as I mentioned in an earlier post I do not have many hybrid tea roses. But my husband was nice enough to build me a raised rose bed last summer after we visited Reiman Gardens and seeing the roses there made us both miss the teas. It was late June before the bed was done so only two bushes were planted last summer. Both bushes did well, the red one is Okalahoma, the pink one is Truely Yours. I have my fingers crossed that they make it through the winter.

Double Delight was always my favorite, I see it is still available from Jackson & Perkins so I will order that one for sure plus a few of the fragrant ones. Plus one floribunda caught my eye, Heaven on Earth, it has large peony shaped flowers and is fragrant.

Carolina Wren Revisited

The Carolina Wren is still at our feeder, I was happy to see it is making it through the cold temps we are having right now. Yesterday I saw a Morning Dove at our feeders, I know some folks in Iowa have them at their feeders all winter long, I think ours take a short vacation south because the leave in the late fall and show up back here late winter.