One bloom

 My Fern- leafed Peony had just one bloom again this year.   It was a gift from Larry years ago.  I hate to move it... I am just thankful for one bloom! 

  Pop on over to Larry's and say Hi, this week he brought his wife Della home from the hospital/rehab center...she has not been home since March 25.  So it is a big deal that she is finally home!   I am positive that you will enjoy all of Larry's flowers as much as I do.

Far Side

Lettuce Wagon and A Peony

 We planted lettuce in the little red wagon.  Parked it on the patio next to the kitchen window.  

The lettuce wagon

A bright spot in the day was the Fern Leaf Peony that Larry sent me a few years ago. 

Everything is so dry...the grass out in the full sun scrunches under your feet. 

Yesterday we were busy all day.   We had a hump of soil that needed to be taken care of  moved to a hole and leaves were all stacked up against the east side of a garage...I mowed the front yard...we had to fix the freaking mower again.   I told Far Guy how I would have designed that poor excuse for a part that falls off.  He agreed that would solve my problem...so would a new lawn mower.    If it doesn't rain I won't have to worry about the lawn. 

I spread some diatomaceous earth trying to control some big biting black ants.   Then I noticed some PI and the war was on...but first I had to fix a sprayer...a couple of times...I had parts...Far Guy said to throw some of the worthless spray nozzles in the garbage.  He was working on some car parts and I kept interrupting him. 

Finally got the sprayer fixed and went off to kill something...Poison Ivy.  Gosh it felt good! 

Far Side

Almost Blooming

The Fern Leaf Peony just has one bud  But that one bloom will be appreciated!

This was a gift from long time blog friend Larry in Iowa a number of years ago.

Our late blooming Lilac has a number of buds.  I pruned it way back last year right after it bloomed...I will try to do that again this year.

We had several busy days.  We hung up the wasp nests, Far Guy only hit his cut up thumb once...ouch, I took care of more thistle and poison ivy, Far Guy sharpened his woodcarving tools.  We visited the last two cemeteries and took up the flowers...it makes it easier for the people who mow.  We trimmed the Purple Leafed Sandcherry shrub...it was looking leggy and had some dead wood.  We seem to find enough "stuff" to keep us busy everyday.  I harvested some rhubarb from the neighbors who always share their rhubarb...I washed it up and chopped it into cubes and froze it in 2 cup portions so it will be easy to make some jam or some other marvelous rhubarb creation! We took some time out to hold hands and watch the Bluebirds come into the bird bath in the evenings.

Far Side

Pretty Peony

The Fern Leaf Peony is partially open.

The last ant did a great job of eating nectar.

The bloom is almost open.  If a storm comes through it will be history.
So I enjoyed it while I could!

I took my Dad to Bingo, we didn't win but we had a good time!
Far Side

Peony

My Fern Leaf Peony from Larry is getting it's usual one bloom.
The ants are busy.

Far Side

Fern Leaf Peony

My Fern Leaf Peony from Larry was covered with ants.

Here you can see that the ants are still busy.  Ants love peonies.

It was a beautiful bloom this year!

Cemeteries

We spent most of the day yesterday at cemeteries.  We visited six yesterday and three the day before.  We took along a bucket and a butcher kife, many of the grave markers needed a good edging.

This marker was  rescued.  I remember one time when I was little and this grave was near the fence  (the fence has been moved back now) and the grave marker was not visible so my Dad hunted for it and cleared it off.  This is my Dad’s brother who died when he was six months old.  Some of these old stones should be raised up.

After wandering around a while we finally found Far Guy’s Great Grandparents on his fathers side of the family.

The Fern-leaf Peony is almost past bloom in the cemetery just down the road. 

The blooms are smaller than a regular Peony.

At the cemetery

Some of the prettiest flowers this time of year are at the cemetery.

Phlox subulata at Riverside.

A beautiful Fern-leaf Peony ( Paeonia tenuifolia) in bud at Linnell.

I was glad to see that this plant was untouched by the frost the other morning.  I enjoy this plant every year.  It marks the grave of a young neighborhood boy who was five when he died.  In a few days the flowers will be open.

Spring Emerges

The forest fire smoke finally left our area, we got some rain, not sure how much as I keep forgetting to get out the rain guage.  It has been cool, the furnace still comes on several times a day. We will have freezing morning temperatures over the weekend…it is opening Fishing Weekend….traffic in town has increased.

Our first Hummer showed up on May 11, 2016.  He/she should have a little down filled parka.

Far Guys Lilac may bloom in May this year!

One day I worked on spring cleaning the kitchen, I am maybe 1/4 done.  At this rate I will be done in a month.

My Fern-leafed  Peony might have a tiny bud.  Larry from Iowa sent me this plant a number of years ago.

We have the Oriole Feeder out with grape jelly…so far they are a no show.

Garage Sale season has started!  One of our favorite activities!

May 22, 2012

This is my Fern Leaf Peony from Iowa.

A few days later..

Such a pretty bloom! It is a bright spot of color next to the grain bin…where it is also sheltered a bit from the wind.

I drug myself to the Doctor yesterday..no pneumonia..only bronchitis..I have medication to take for ten days.

I am feeling old today as my fourth grandchild enters his teenage years..how did he grow up so fast? This is the photo I put on his birthday card.

  Little Elvis and Noah.   Happy Birthday Noah! :)

What’s Up?

I had some time to look around in the yard yesterday.  I think Spring may have sprung for a few days at least. We will have a few nice days and then at the end of the week we are back to 50 degrees again…plus it is supposed to rain all week.

They are back!  We don’t eradicate them..their foliage is green. I love all yellow flowers!   When I was a kid, the rule was you could not go barefoot until the Dandelions were out.

This is my Fern Leaf Peony “ Larry’s Kindness.”  It made it through the winter and hopefully it will bloom this year! I will clip back last years stalks now that I know that it has survived.

If you look closely there are eight ..count them eight Yellow Lady Slipper shoots!!  I will not remove the leaf duff yet, it provides badly needed insulation on cool frosty mornings. I suppose I should pull a few of those weeds and chop off that wild raspberry.

Some of the brush is starting to bud out in the woods.  The tiny deer ticks are present in great numbers.  Too bad the birds don’t eat them.  I told Far Guy and Chance to go and buy some chickens, they could be chicken farmers for the summer.  Chickens eat ticks.

Something is eating my chives..that is no big loss, if they don’t flower they cannot go to seed and spread all over the place. It could be deer or it may be a bunny rabbit. Most everything I have in my wild gardens can survive a pruning by deer or rabbits..that is just the way it is:)

Fern-Leafed Peony From A Friend!

I had a beautiful fern-leaf peony when we lived in North Dakota. We sold the house in April and moved in late May, I had no place to move it to. I had splurged on it, at that time they cost 25 dollars. It was one of those plants that I grieved for.

Not your normal run of the mill peony, the foliage is highly divided..fern like.


The roots only went up in price..I believe they maxed out about 50 dollars for a root. I never wanted to part with that much money for one plant. When we moved here, I discovered a plant at the local cemetery, it adorns the grave of a child who died during a routine surgery. Chance and I visit this plant and this grave and pluck weeds..waiting for exactly the right light to capture this plants beauty.

 I took this photo last year.


Yesterday in the mail I received a very healthy Peonia tenuifolia 'Rubra Plena' root complete with foliage and two buds from Iowa. I don't remember exactly what I told Larry of Larry's Creative Zone,  he had been moving plants from his Mothers house to his house..I probably said "You have a real goldmine there with all those roots..you could sell them and retire in style." or " I am really coveting those roots of yours! " Anyway Larry being the kind generous person he is ..shared with me!!  I am just pleased as punch, I would do a cartwheel if I didn't think I would break a hip. OH, I never was any good at cartwheels anyway so just imagine an old lady standing and clapping in the woods..a standing ovation for Larry!

I planted the root, in the warmest spring spot in our yard..next to the old grain bin. I weeded and everything before I put it in the ground. Thanks Larry! :)

Fern-Leafed Peony

There is a very unique Peony that blooms earlier than the other peonies. It is a Fern-leafed variety. It's real name is Paeonia tenuifolia 'Rubra Plena' or 'Rubra Flora Plena'...depending on who you listen too. It is rumored that this plant is an old heirloom variety that made it's way around the United States by covered wagon. I was lucky enough to have one in my gardens in North Dakota, but I left it there when we moved. I do not have one here. However, I know where one is located..at the local cemetery, Chance and I have been following this plant very closely.

June 01, 2009

June 10, 2009 at sunset.

June 13, 2009

If you decide that you cannot live without this plant, then find one at your local homegrown garden center that sells perennials, be prepared to part with about 50 dollars. Now for the burning question that follows: Are ants really required in order for Peonies to bloom? I believe that ants help the many layered buds to open, and they are naturally attracted to peonies, that's why they are so often seen on peonies. Peonies are like a sweet desert buffet for ants. Will a peony bloom without ants..yes, but it will be lonely without all those ants that come marching in to herald the grand opening of the peonies.. Hurrah, Hurrah!!

This time of year at the old country church the ladies would bring in peonies for the vases on the alter, their heavy fragrance would fill the church. It was like a passing rite of spring into summer..Lilacs, Iris, Peony, followed by mixed bouquets and ending with the Gladiola's in August.

Yesterday The Duchess and Emma Rose featured the birth of a peony over on The Royal Photo Blog. It is definitely worth a visit! :)