In the Presence of The Queen

Listen my children and you shall hear
the story of when the Queen was near.

I scarcely could breathe; she created a stir,
The first time I caught but a glimpse of her.

'twas one day last July, exactly the sixth,
We visited a friend in his gardening niche.

He took us round gently, and touched her with care.
Her beauty inspired; I tried not to stare.

Her garment was lovely, light pink and quite airy
I must tell you now... she's
'Queen of the Prairie!'

Quite honestly, I'd never even known something like this existed! Isn't this beautiful?? I don't know its habits, as I've not done research on beyond finding the identity of this plant (the owner didn't know it). However, I did notice one of the gardening catalogs that came today is selling it!

Definitely not shady, but it provided me with a little entertainment! ;-)
Thank you for bearing with me.

Actually, as a postscript, here is some great news about Filipendula rubra! Click on the botanical name to see a Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Gardening. I can grow this in partial shade!! (OhIamsohappy!) ;-)

This site, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, shows a map where this plant is native as well as a list of states and the status of the plant in those states. (In Iowa, it is threatened.)

Summer 2008 Inspiration - February Posting!

Hi! This month is devoted to the newest Fun and/or Whimsical Items
you've added to your gardens!

Last Summer I had a great time recording and posting about a variety of whimsical items (that I'd never really taken stock of) due to the Meme suggested by

Nan Ondra at Garden Gone Wild!

You will see these items in this post of July 22, 2008.

I found this little cutie in a greenhouse, as I traveled US Hwy 34
towards Omaha (to visit my daughter and her family) this last Summer!
She reminds me of myself - a gardener who loves butterflies! :-)

Back to the Meme at Hand:

I made and assisted in making quite a number of birdbaths last summer. I first read the information in a Garden Gate magazine and then Rebecca's Garden (do you remember this short-lived magazine?) about 4 years ago!

We used hosta leaves (these are 'Sum 'n Substance'),
and rhubarb leaves.
One of my neighbors' techniques varied,
but look at the great birdbath she created! :-)

Some of you are wondering what we mid-westerners do during our long Winters. This mid-westerner dreams, schemes and works on projects, some of which you'll find below.

Before you see the work-in-progress, this type of decorative item is what inspired it.

You've probably seen these little fellows in gift and garden centers.
I've envisioned them hanging from garden fences, etc.
These particular ones are hanging from trellises in the guest room.
Yes, the trellises double as headboards.
:-)

I figured I could make them, and I knew just who I could reconnoiter to help me!

A few of my local gardening friends!

We'd already decided to meet during the Winter (rather than just during the Summer months).

One of my gardening friends is the cook at my (where I used to teach) elementary school. In November, she brought the big vegetable cans you'll see below.

We proceeded to flatten the cans somewhat,
"sewed" the bottom edges together with wire,
added a handle, and gave them a coat of exterior spray paint.
Voila!
These are great the way they are, but I plan to add a little embellishment
to mine (above) later. There was another that was painted bright blue.
A collection of bright, primary colors on a fence would be eye-catching,
wouldn't it?

Our next project is to make birdhouses out of gourds.

I know you've seen this done before.
My dad painted this one years ago!
Here's a sneak peek at our gourds.











I'll post the results later.
:-)

Last, but not least - this cutest of all bunnies.
He's supposed to hop into the garden wilderness this summer.
He hopped into my life at Christmas.
A gift from my daughter and son-in-law.
I believe I'll have to make sure MMD doesn't spot him!
:-)

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day - February 2009

February 1, 2009


Winter Clothes

Under my hood I have a hat
And under that
My hair is flat.
Under my coat
My sweater's blue.
My sweater's red.
I'm wearing two.
My muffler muffles to my chin
And round my neck
And then tucks in.
My gloves were knitted
By my aunts.
I've mittens too
And pants
And pants
and boots
And shoes
With socks inside.
The boots are rubber, red and wide.
And when I walk
I must not fall
Because I can't get up at all.

by Karla Kuskin


The first picture shows our Michigan grandchildren. This bottom photo shows our Omaha grandchildren (in my knitted hat creations). ;-)

Join Garden Bloggers' Muse Day! Visit Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.Post on the first day of each month and let her (and the rest of us) know!

Absolutely nothing "shady" about this muse!

Meet Clara

Is This Clara?

No, this is one of Clara's daughters.
My mom owns this violet.
Clara is the name of a violet owned by one of my mom's friends.
The violet is named after her friend's mother,
who first owned the violet.
Clara is over 30 years old!

Isn't she beautiful?

Meet Clara's granddaughter.
She's presently in the Nursery,
in my living room.

Won't it be fun to have Clara III here in my home?
:-)


As an aside:
I spent an extended weekend at with my parents
in north central Iowa a week or so ago.
This is a photo of what I saw alongside the interstate
as I drove north.

I stopped, on the way, to visit my Aunt MEA.
This is a photo of her front step.
She is thankful for nice friends and neighbors
that move the snow for her!

Hurrah for Huechera and the Other Fella'

Huechera

The genus Heuchera includes at least 50 species of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Saxofragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. There are many, many varieties that vary in leaf shape, color, and blossom. You should look them up. I don't have many varieties... but I'm always on the "lookout!" ;-)

(I have ordered two Heuchera plants for Spring 2009. 'Sashay' and 'Purple Petticoats.' Hope they do well!)

'Lime Rickey' - deceased.
This may not return, as
I may have given it too much attention last year!
If it truly has expired, I may look for another... just because.

'Amber Waves' looked great early last Spring,
but I'm not sure it liked its location...
if it survives the Winter, I will probably move it.
This 'Amber Waves' is in a backyard location.
Obviously this was taken very early last Spring (note the Spring Beauties).
'Green Spice' in April

'Green Spice' in May

'Palace Purple'
(I have planted several of these)

And the Other Fine Fella'
Heucherella!
(This is a cross between Heuchera and Tiarella - the foamy bells.)

This is 'Quicksilver'This is 'Strike it Rich, Gold'
It resides in the SE woodland walk...
and it really likes it there.

:-)
There are a couple of people "out there," that seem to enjoy seeing what I've planted in my shady backyard. In that I've gleaned inspiration from so many sources (many of whom are garden bloggers!), I'm happy to tell you that these are pretty easy to grow. Most of the, though, don't care for a day of direct sunlight!

Happy list-making! :-)

A Deserted Island? Ohmygoodness!

My thoughts?

"How in the World did I Get Here?"
(Photo taken from Wikipedia)
Being stranded on a deserted island would be a nightmare!
I must explain...
I don't swim in water where I can't touch the bottom,
(unless I'm wearing a bouyant life jacket!)
I don't like the idea of sharks at all,
And Deserted...
as in,
All by Myself?
Yipes!

If I'm to be stuck,
these three plants must be Very Soul-nourishing
(and physically nourishing, as well?)!

Plant number one... strictly soul-nourishing!
It begins "on little pasque feet." ;-)
(Pardon me, Carl Sandburg.)The Pasque Flower
'Pulsatilla vulgaris'
is one of the earliest flowering plants in my yard,
and it thrills my soul in so many ways!
Another plant that I could never do without
would be the daylily.
The Variety, the Bloom times, the Sizes and Shapes
are wonderful! Plus, when they're not blooming,
you've got a nice little green clump that
gives visual interest and texture to the surrounding plants.
:-)
But, if I were stranded...
Really Stranded...
I could eat them.
I could eat the stalks,
I could eat the leaves
and I could eat the petals.

You can read about it
in an article I discovered here.


The third plant I would probably like to take with me would be our
Viburnum burkwoodii 'Mohawk'
If you would like to see it's beauty throughout the seasons
check this link for a previous post.
If I'm truly deserted, perhaps I might draw company
through the visiting birds!

If I might be able to smuggle one more plant
onto this deserted
(desserted?)
island, would be ...

rhubarb!

The wide leaves might give me shade and shelter.
And somehow or other, I'd find a way to make
rhubarb pie!
I might also use one of these leaves
for catching rainwater!
;-)

I just had to join this meme by Shirl at Shirl's Gardenwatch. I've seen some great posts and would urge you to create one, too! Click on the name of her blog in the previous sentence to get the details and explore other blogger posts. :-)

A Taste for Tiarella? (A little more Heronswood Mist)

Do you have a taste for Tiarella?

These are my Tiarella plants. I discovered them in "Taylor's 50 Best Perennials for Shade" during my winter research/reading just after we moved here in October 2002.

'Black Snowflake'

Yes, this little gem is right at the base of an oak tree.

'Heronswood Mist'

I really love the foliage on this little plant!

I've just added another couple of photos, to show the Spring to Summer progression. :-)

This picture was taken April 17

This picture was taken April 27

This picture was taken June 29

This picture was taken July 23

'Iron Butterfly'

'Neon Lights'

I planted Neon Lights during the Spring 2008.

This photo was taken from Nature Hills Nursery site..

'Pink Skyrocket'

Pink Skyrocket is one I purchased Last Winter and planted this past Spring (2008) due to huge accolades by Kylee at Our Little Acre. I'm really looking forward to our Spring 2009! :-)

This photo was taken from Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. site.

These may be found shady areas, but they're never a shady subject! ;-)