After a cold and wet spring, we’ve jumped straight into summer here in southwest Iowa. On this memorial day weekend, we are expecting temperatures of nearly 100 for four days. I was able to to take the day off yesterday for some plant shopping and did some digging in the dirt when I got home. Holy hot!

I was completely surprised when I found these open peonies yesterday. For some reason, it caught me completely off-guard. It seemed like they were just small buds yesterday. I have a feeling the hot weather is helping them along! I’m so happy to have well-established peonies at our new house. They are quickly becoming my favorite.

My smoke bush is about to start smoking! Last year I bouquets and boutiques of peonies and smokebush so I knew they had to be close as well. 

A few other updates from around the yard. I only planted a few perennials last year but they have come back really strong!

Last year, we laid mulch around all of our front beds. This year I planted perrenials. It doesn’t look like much right now but it will next year!

I tried a little market-garden style setup for small vegetables and greens in our back yard. I need to do some more thinning and weeding. Our vegetable garden is very segmented as some of it is on the retaining wall, some on the ground and some out in last year’s flower field. I picked up this Iris at the West Pott. Master Gardener Plant Sale this month and it’s already blooming! The color was a surprise and I absolutely love it. My bird feeder is still getting all kinds of guests. 

Beautiful clouds today. This is a sneak peak of a little project I am working on. More on this coming soon. All of our farm animals say hello!

My kitty is enjoying being outside more. He is a very happy fat cat. What’s going on in your yard or farm this Memorial Day Weekend?