Iris Season….

All of them are my favorites but this one really is impressive. I don’t remember it’s name but one company I believe called it “Mother Earth”.

I bought this iris from an Oregon company and it has proven to be a great plant. It has large blooms.

I move this pink one from the old place. It has always been a good bloomer. 

 So many blooms are happening now. It is nice that some varieties are later. By the time they are done the peonies will start blooming.

Middle of the Week…

This white puts out so many blooms and they last for so very long.

The iris was new two seasons ago but really has become established in this spot.

These seem to be planted too close together. I guess I must of planted the middle one in a then  blank space which really wasn’t that good of an idea.

I am not around to see any baby robins this year. Maybe in three more weeks we will be home.

Sunrise….

 

First Day….

A visiting dog to the health center to see some family member.

The vine that has taken over way too much territory. I inherited it from a previous owner.

A lab that came to visit the health center on Sunday.

 Old fashion iris that has had a lot of blooms. I am anxious to see the next iris to open.

Things for Sunday…

Happiness is when a transplant peony has fully developed into a mature plant I think it was placed there three years ago.

In the early morning I am driving the river valley and I can see the Principal Building up on the hill in downtown Des Moines. The sun is reflecting off of it and that is my first time seeing it that way.

 The sky scraper reflects the sun in early morning. It’s called the 801 Grand High Building, the tallest in the state of Iowa. It’s built almost on a top of a hill so it can be seen for miles around. It is 45 stories high and was built in 1989. The Ruan Building to the left of it is half its height. Our oldest son attended prom on the 44th floor and we were there pre prom to take photos. The elevator ride was great and the views were great too.

Random Shots…..

My fern-leafed peony had two batches of buds and I got to see a good showing that were not ruined by rains.

I can always count on this white iris to put on quite a show.

No

Speaking of garden clubs, there use to be a beautiful brick building on this site called The Garden Club of Johnston. Apparently the new business bought them out and a new commercial building is being built. The beautiful gardens around the other building are also gone.

 

The local garden club plants fresh plants for the season at the nursing home. I always like to study how people plant there gardens and to see what plants they choose.

 I forgot to look for the moon last night. I was so tired and was unaware also about the Northern Lights being out.

Sunrise

 

The morning sun was not covered with clouds this day. The earth continues to tilt as the sun position’s is almost behind the larger evergreen. It was to the far right a month ago.

Thursday Today…

 I am anxious to see this being opened tomorrow.

The globe allium is just now starting to bloom.

My wife was gifted this plant while in the specialist hospital but they wouldn’t allow flowers. I keep sharing them with her on my phone as they are at home.

 I find blogging only on my cellphone to be very frustrating. I have an iPad and a MacBook, but not with me at the nursing home. It can be done but I feel so handicapped or restricted working on the cell phone. I can’t reply to other blogs like I use to do. Oh well!

Wednesday Morn….

I am off in the morning by 6:30 to go be with my wife for breakfast. Sometimes I need to be there to help dress her and the one attendant wants to help her before I get there to surprise me with her sitting in the big chair already dressed. Either way I am off and as I drive through the Des Moines River bottoms I can look across the fields and see a clear view of the sun rising.  Soon they will be planting the sweet corn in the fields of black dirt.

 The second shot shows why I was impressed with the view.

Tuesday

Having the rain is so wonderful but the early iris suffer.

I was told that we had tornado warnings last night but I slept through it all. I saw water on the deck and later water in potholes on the road. 

My wife continues to improve. She has such a lot of weight to gain back. She can swallow normally now and does have a good appetite. The food in the nursing home is somewhat home cooked in style, she was remarking to other as to their delicious lasagna. Her therapy sessions are so good for her. She is not walking yet but getting her to hold a stand is encouraging. She doesn’t snack  but I bought some oat raisin cookies to encourage it. Days for me are long but I am glad I can be there for her.

Old Fashioned Iris…

 It’s a classic smaller size and the color is so pure. The one inch of rain pretty much spoiled all the blooms .

Friday’s Finds…

My wife was surprised yesterday by a basket full of kittens. They were crawling all over her bed at the nursing home and she loved it.

More blooms are to come next to the rock. I actually moved this rock from my previous place. I was younger and stronger then because I sure couldn’t move it around today.

Thursday....

 

My front  yard that I mowed yesterday. I haven't mowed the back yard  yet but my neighbor Greg suggested that I won't have to worry about it.

 

 The early bloomers are of such a strong good color. The white iris use to be the first to bloom but once this iris became established it is the first one. 

This is a successful transplant as the blue bell grew and displayed some bells. In a couple of years it will be full of many stems with many blooms.

The nursing home is below par in its physical condition. If I had seen it before we arrived, I would have refused. It was a manipulation of the case worker to get us to be at it.  Anyway, the physical therapist are great and my wife is getting great treatment. She has lost so much weight that getting food down her and growing back the muscles is a priority. She wants to walk again especially after five weeks being off of her feet.  I plan to get back this morning to be with her during breakfsast.

Middle of the week

 It would be nice if the goose was real as it really would eat the grass around the iris.

We are at a heath center, nursing home, where they t dI do skilled therapy. I don’t like the old place but wife says she likes it. I am not allowed to stay over night.

First Blooms....

 The fern leafed peony is starting to bloom.  It has a short blooming time so I like to photograph every development. 

I had to move the plant away from a new fence project so it set i back a whole year. It looks like I have man blooms this year.

One of my collected cemetery iris is looking great.  It has a lot of buds on it this year and looks like it might crowd things out if I don't stop it.

This is the first bloom of the season from that iris.  It is like a smaller one that still has great color.

Sunday....

 

 

 

The flowers that were recently planted in the pots around the entrance of the hospital are taking off. The company plants them and then maintains them all the season until the first hard freeze.

 

 There were many tornadoes that touched down in Iowa a couple of days ago. The temperatures outside were balmy and the sky looked like this.

The towns of Creston, Pleasant Hill and Osceola had touch downs there. I am sure area farms were hit that were not identified with the towns.  The winds were clocked at 125 miles an hour in some places.  Anything that was poorly built was tested. 

We are going on four weeks and five days in the hospital zone.  My wife is better with her eating skils and now can chew and swallow.  Her appetite is going to have to pick up to put any weight back on to  her structure.  We still don't know when we will be out of the hospital and into the nursing home setting. Having talked to a doctor from the original start that is on the team  we may not be leaving so fast as there are issues that have to be dealt with concerning her gallbladder.  They are all watching her by the computer stats and rarely does a doctor walk into the door.  Time is irrelevant to them apparently and getting it right is what I do want them to do.

 

Saturday

My fern leafed peony had buds on it. Sadly I have not returned to see blooms. Life has been too busy. I saw pictures of my friend’s bushes and they were big and beautiful.

 I didn’t plant the creeping phlox. I like at this time of the year. I don’t like that it had crowded out the fancy tulips. I have to decide if I should tear a lot if it out. 

 I have cloud storm photos but my blog doesn’t want to connect with them right now. I will share another day.