Flag Iris....

The rain destroyed an iris that I was going to share today so I will wait for a new bloom to merge. This flag iris was given to me by a neighbor. This plant is their major plant of the one of their garden areas and it is so crowded in the area. I was given, no I took from their garbage with their permission, one of the clumps that they had discarded. It is a soft lavender blue and this is the first year in two years that it actually bloomed. I like the weathered fence texture as the background for the plant. I have a relative that wants me to take some starts of their flag iris bed from their garden but I don't know what the color of it will be. I can plant it somewhere else as it is a great specimen plant and it really doesn't matter what color as the price is right....

Backyard view....

This is a view of our backyard off of the patio. We are so lush that you can't see the narrow sidewalk shooting diagonally to the left. I think the sidewalk actually at one time in the old days went to a coal shed or an outhouse as it angles diagonally away from the house. In about two weeks you will see ditch lilies, asiatic lilies, and maybe phlox blooming. There is a pond behind the major front area and another sunken stock tank at the back. After taking the picture I can see I could have moved the pot with the struggling agapanthus plant out of the picture and the step ladder in the far back of the picture under the apple tree should be put away in the shed. It is still there when I was spraying the fruit tree spray. I need yet to do a major overhaul of the pond with the bridge. I am getting the weeding done first and will face the project soon.

Carefree Wonder.....

I worked last summer in a nursery of a grocery store. It was fun but I received responsible hours so that I could be the adult to close the store. I worked too hard for too little money, but I still loved it. I may do it again some time but not this year. The younger employees were in charge of watering things and kids just don't have a feel for the needs of a plant. This yellow rose was set aside by a customer in order to buy it and then they didn't. It sat for quite a few days on a table in the back of the business outside but it never got watered and by the time it got water it seemed too late. The boss had tossed it as the leaves were all gone, so I retrieved it and brought it home. It wasn't an expensive rose but it is doing well. It regrew it's leaves last fall and this spring it is blooming beautiful yellow flowers.
When I get all may facts together, I want to share about a rose hybrid breeder who created disease resistant, and weather tough roses. Griffith Buck is his name and I will tell a story about his roses when mine finally blooms. He did research near here at Iowa State University for many years.

Creamy white peony....

This is a very old peony that was on the property when I bought it in 1976. I almost think it looks more like a rose as it is more petite than a regular peony. I am going to have to move it as it sits near an apple tree that shades it more each year. The shade is limited the number of buds that it has on it also.

Iris.....

The colors in this flower are stunning. It almost doesn't seem real. I know you probably tire of me saying this but I don't own this, it is my neighbor's flower. The rains have been hard on them.

"Superstition" Iris.....

I bought this a few years back and it is one of the few iris that I have left growing. I gave one of the three starts to my mom and dad so I would have a backup. It is very hearty. The camera actually lightens it to make it look deep purple but it can actually looks black in certain light. The bloom is a little beat up from the rains we have been having but I am so glad to see it blooming.

Roses in collage.......

I am just going to let the collage tell the story today. This plant went from a dozen blooms to so many bursts of color overnight. A heavy rain will not be good for them so I am glad I have it photographed.