Iowa's State Flower:

I wanted to bring notice this week to Iowa's State flower- the Wild Rose- to those folks that don't have time or the ability to get out and drive around northwest Iowa. I have admired the tenacity of these beautiful little guys for years. They seem to have the ability to grow in some of the toughest conditions (for instance- along road ditches) and each year they put on a show for us that lasts for about two weeks. I picked one today for my grand daughter Grace and she thought they smelled wonderful- and she's right, just like the store bought variety. The show for this year is almost over so if you can find time- stop and smell the roses (sorry- couldn't pass that up).

Another pleasant surprise this week is the emergence if the coneflower's. I have been waiting for these guys to pop up and for me this is the official start of summer- that and the ticks that found me. Along side the many coneflower's I found today were also several black-eyed susan's just starting to show their little heads.This last image I'm inserting is for my grand daughter Grace-as we were all walking thru the park at Lost Island this afternoon I spotted this American Toad resting in the crotch of a big oak tree. Grace had never seen such a large toad before and was quite impressed, so as I didn't happen to have my camera along I went back two hours later and he was still in the same area so this ones's for Grace

.

That's all for this week, thanks for stopping by and have a great week. 

Comments

[Anthony Vodraska]

Indeed, Summer is here and we have seen the evidence of these bloomers in our little prairie patch as well, which your pictures so beautifully capture. But I sure like the toad and its connection to your granddaughter. Children sure help us see the world anew!

[Heather]

I can't believe that toad was still there! Pretty cool thing for her to see.... H

[Daniel Ruf]

Cool blog, Mike. Even the toad fits in to making us all notice the world around us and the importance of each creature that we meet along the way.

[Supra Tk Society]

and so it came about that in college I was unjustlyaccused of being a politician, because I was privy to thesecret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidenceswere unsought—frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation,or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakablesign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon; for the intimate revelations of young men, or at least the terms in which they express them, are usually plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions.

[Supra Tk Society]

and so it came about that in college I was unjustlyaccused of being a politician, because I was privy to thesecret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidenceswere unsought—frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation,or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakablesign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon; for the intimate revelations of young men, or at least the terms in which they express them, are usually plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions.

[Whitney Segura]

That is one wicked toad, I am in complete agreement with Heather on that one. I've never had the pleasure of visiting Iowa, other than just passing through on a long cross-country trip, but I would like to someday. It looks very beautiful and like a place I would just be in paradise.

Thanks for sharing these cool pictures, I especially liked the two pictures of the Iowa state flowers, I linked to you in a blog post, just a moment ago.

Enjoyed reading this,
- Whitney Segura

[smartphone pas cher]

Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We arre a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Yourr blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!

[www.coussindallaitement.fr]

Hi, I check your new stuff regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep it up!

[barre son samsung]

Hello to every body, it's my first go to see of this webpage; this weblog consists of remarkable and in fact excellent stuff in support of visitors.

[Www.Minifour.org]

Hi to all, it's truly a fastidious for me to pay a visit this website, it includes precious Information.

[jeu de fille]

Thanks for sharing youjr thoughts onn Willd Rose. Regards