Ready to go Camping

The roof of the RV got a cleaning this week. We will head to Hart Ranch in the Black Hills next week for 12 days of R & R. Curt has been subbing since we've been home. School is done on Friday so we think of our trip to the Hills as the beginning of summer. We noticed the campgrounds around town & the lake were full for Memorial Day weekend. Curt will participate in the Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Monument the first weekend in June. Although my ankle is better, I am not ready for the 6 mile hike.

Palm Trees in SD?

Two metal palm trees stand in a pasture along Highway 10 in north central SD. It is an unusual sight to say the least. Two palm trees. No other metal art works. No nearby farm. Not close to a town. Just in the middle of nowhere, but visible from the road. I have been intrigued since I first saw them years ago. I wonder who created them. Why were they created? Why there? I now look for them each time I drive Highway 10. They have become a landmark.

Traveling in SD

In the four weeks we have been back in SD, I have traveled a lot in the northeast corner to the north central part of the state. The state bird, the ring necked pheasant is abundant after a long winter. The male is a beautiful creature willing to stand along the side of the road and run in front of the cars, but quick to scurry away when the car stopped for a picture.


Another animal common to the state is the majestic bison. These were in a farmyard just north of Pollock. They once roamed the state but are now confined to farms, ranches and Custer State Park in the Black Hills.


The mighty Missouri River meanders from North Dakota through central South Dakota. The river is just a mile or so from the farm we lived on until I was six years old. The mighty Mo was just a small river in those days. Thanks to the spring thaws the river is once again above full and is a fishing paradise to the small communities along its banks. It is an awesome sight after seeing its shrinking size the last seven to ten years.

And the final SD symbol is the state flower, the Pasque, which was blooming in my flower bed when we arrived home. The first sign of spring, along with the robins.

The Garden

We tilled the garden on Wednesday. I say we because it took two of us to do the job. As you can see my garden isn't very big. A few years ago we had to "rabbit proof" the area because the critters kept eating off the plants, especially the flowers I had planted to add some color and variety. Anyway, it is not an easy task to get a tiller into the small space. We set up a ramp on both sides of the wall, gathered all manner of tools and that may or may not be needed, and then Curt did the heavy part.


The soil was soooo wet it will need days to dry out before any planting can take place. That's okay as I don't have any plants to put in it, yet. Rain is forecasted for the weekend. Thanks Bob & Liz for the loan of the tiller.

I have been to several greenhouses in the area. But my purchases have consisted of perennials and some unique geraniums. Pictures and details later.

May Flowers from April Showers

One day last month the temperatures were in the 80s and I spent it outside digging in my perennial flower bed. I had not been in that flower bed since early May 2007. What a delight to see what had survived and what had not, what had flourished beyond pretty and what did not make it at all and will need replacing.

It is always a joy to see the first flowers of spring, the pasque. Mine have reached their peak and in fact are on the downhill slide.


And to my pleasure this tulip was blooming this morning. The rabbits did not get it. It has been so long since I planted things, I don't remember the colors. It will all be a surprise.