Stop! Is There a Fire?

So, here we are on letter S. Head over the Mrs. Nesbitt's site to see what she's posted and click on that same logo (the ABC Wednesday, Round 6) to see who else is posting.

"Where you see smoke, there's fire."

Haven't you heard that before?

It's not always true.

In the case of Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke,
we find an exception.

S? Absolutely! Sensational! Fond Sentiments to my Aunt MEA who gave me a piece of this native wildflower. Someone gave her a piece years and years ago, from the prairie!

Have a wonderful day.
It's mostly shady over here, but the front yard receives enough sunlight to grow this!! :-)

Generous Friends and Fabulous Family

Mr. Shady and I spent Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27 with my Aunt MEA in northern Iowa. There were so many great events happening that weekend and the "inn was full" at my parents' home. This was a great excuse to be able to spend time with my Gardening heroine!
She sent me home with "Mattie."

I'd like you to meet "Mattie."She's part of a parent plant that has been around for many years.

I believe my Aunt was a young wife when a lady in town, named Mattie, shared a piece of her phlox. Mattie (the lady who shared) is long gone, the plant has been named after her, and my Aunt MEA is 92 years young.

Here's Mattie!

Haven't I inherited a treasure? :-)

Aunt MEA's husband, Uncle Bill, died a few short years ago. As I was growing up, he owned and operated three (I think) Champlain gas stations. There was a tv commercial that sang, "Cham-plain! The Great name in the Great Plain!" ;-)

Anyway, one of the business men that visited my uncle knew of my aunt's fondness for gardening. At one time, long ago, this fellow brought my aunt a piece of a prairie wildflower named Geum triflorum Pursh or 'Long-plumed Avens', also known as prairie smoke and old-man's whiskers, among other names. My Aunt MEA (!) asked me earlier if I'd like a piece of her plant... ever slow to react, I immediately e-mailed her with a resounding (can you resound in an e-mail??) "YES!"

Meet Geum triflorum Pursh
(click on the photo for a little information from the USDA)

Now this is another interesting story! Last year I'd spotted some Filipendula rubra, 'Queen of the Prairie,' in the flower bed of one of my husband's friends. I'm not sure that it's still there. It's a great plant with a beautiful flower.

This is also a native prairie wildflower. Meet Filipendula rubra, 'Queen of the Prairie.' Click on the photo to link to more information.

Kasey, of Kasey's Korner, actually sent me this plant early this Spring.
It had to sit awhile before I was able to plant it, but it's beginning to catch up.
As you can see, it's in the back of a bed, but it's catching the East sun first.
:-)

Click on the photo to see a very recent post by Kasey on her plant.

Getting by with a little help from my friends (which includes my family!). :-)