University of Iowa Pentacrest

Plants, flowers, shrubs, and tree resources.

I have been doing some considerable thinking about what to do with my yard.  It could really be a show stopper if I only I had some more energy, time, and knowledge.   I decided to start with the knowledge.  After doing some research about what to plant in my yard, I have found some nice resources for plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees.  If you live in the Midwest especially in Iowa and are looking for some information on how to choose plants or trees for your garden or yard, take a look at these resources.

 1.  The Iowa Living Roadways Trust Fund    http://www.iowalivingroadway.com/NativePlants.aspx

     This plant database is set up to help you choose plants that are native to Iowa.  Very easy to use.

2. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center    http://www.wildflower.org/plants/

    If you are specifically looking for wildflowers that are native to your area, try this resource.

3.  Arbor Day Foundation http://arborday.org/shopping/trees/treewizard/Intro.cfm

     If you are trying to decide what kind of tree to plant in your yard, check out the tree wizard at the Arbor Day Foundation    website. 

I waste too much time, do you?

I have come to the realization that I just flat out waste too much time.  For instance the time that I am spending writing this post.  But, it is on my mind so here it goes….   I have quit Facebook.  Let me tell you the reason.  Some of my actual in life real friends who are also Facebook friends have decided to post multiple idiotic posts a day.  These are not idiotic posts of their own creation they are reposted from other places and most of them are of very poor taste and content.  So, I have discontinued my Facebook page.  It really is a waste of time.  I am certain I have many more of these time sinks that I could eliminate in my life.  I will start with getting rid of Facebook, and continue with cleaning the garage instead.

The Barn

This picture was taken 3 years ago.  One of the beams from the 911 site was traveling from east to west coast.  The fireman that were transporting it across the nation needed to stop for a break, and they somehow ended up at our place.  The performed a brief ceremony and continued on.  While they were there they took a picture.  That is our old run down barn in the background.  It was really a neat thing.  They were nice enough to share this photograph with us.   

You Can’t Fix Stupid, and You Can’t Defrost Dirt

We live along a gravel road.  I drive my old car to work everyday when it is nice out ( I will tell you why another day).  Since my car is the “old” car, it has to sit out in the driveway near the gravel road.  So, as other folks drive by and kick up the dirt and dust the car becomes completely covered in dirt.

In an attempt to be able to see out of my windows and safely drive I always turn on the windshield and rear defroster.  Why?   I don’t know.  I guess unless I wash the windows every morning before work, I just don’t know what else to do.

Well today it occurred to me that just as Ron White says “you can’t fix stupid”, I have also conceded to the fact that you can’t defrost dirt.

May the saying “You can’t defrost dirt” be hereby copyrighted as my words. 

After A Storm

We had a storm come through at the end of June.  After the storm was over the entire sky had this funny gold colored hue to it.  I DID NOT change any colors in this picture, this is how it looked.

 

 

A Shower At Work, and I Am Not Talking About Rain

So, the water system at home has been kind of flaky.  But, there has at least been some water.  Twice this week there has been NONE.  This morning I had to find a place to take a shower at work.  Thankfully my employer has a few places that a person can do this in emergency.  I have to admit it was really nice to have some nice hot water with pressure. 

Thank you work.

 

The Iowa State Bird

This picture is not high quality.  However, I wanted to share it because it comes to my window at work everyday.  Yes, my new office has a window!  I have been here now for two weeks, and this goldfinch stops by to visit me each day.  The goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa.

Summer Day in Iowa

Look Again

Around here we have a beautiful Iowa landscape to look at, plenty to do, see, and be thankful for.  Sometimes when I feel like taking pictures I walk out into the yard and it seems like I have taken pictures of all of this stuff before.  Then I just keep going and sometimes I end up with something that maybe isn’t the best picture in the world.  But, rather from a new view.  So, everywhere you go and in everything you do, Look Again.