Primrose of the Morning

Growing wild all over the place around here and perhaps in your area, too, is the flowering plant called Evening Primrose, considered a weed in most cases.

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In the flower garden near my house, I've been tolerant, allowing Evening Primrose to shoot up wherever it pleases (within reason). Sometimes its doesn't act very "prim", as when its gangly, stiff stalks grow too long and heavy to remain upright. The other morning a stalk broke off and I absently tossed it into the wheelbarrow............

I was planning to turn heel and march away, but the half-closed blossoms near the top end of the broken stalk caught my eye......hey.......why not.......they deserve a photo shoot before being thrown on the trash heap!

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So here and there in the morning sunlight around the farmstead, the doomed Evening Primrose blooms were posed against various backgrounds.

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Pumice-look stone and rotting log:

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Rusty livestock trailer:

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Old wood gate, hearts, and horseshoe:

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Wavy, galvanized grain bin:

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Old chicken coop with chain:
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Rusty milkcan lid:

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Old flare-box farm wagon:

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Chicken coop door hinge:

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Well, that completes the Evening Primrose photo shoot.........now its back into the wheelbarrow for the poor thing. By the way, these photos were taken in the morning........you can see how Evening Primrose flowers appear at that time of day. They open completely by late in the afternoon.......providing for the origin of their name, evidently.

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Here's an update on my son's summer detasseling career, which started two weeks ago and is scheduled to last another two weeks, although he'll be done with it when football practice starts next week. I'm proud of him.......he gets himself up early each morning to be in town to catch the detasseling bus at 6:00 a.m. He's been promoted to what he terms a "checker"------it has nothing to do with a cash register------its more like an inspector. He follows a crew through the corn rows, making sure they've yanked out all the tassels.

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I think it crucial to offer you a "word to the wise", as Iowa is most assuredly high on your list of desired travel destinations: IF your car ever breaks down in Iowa corn country during mid-July to mid-August, leaving you helplessly stranded along a cornfield-lined road, and a car filled with seemingly friendly, helpful teenagers stops to offer you a ride........DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GET INTO THE VEHICLE WITH THEM! You'll regret it, for they are probably detasselers on their way home after many hours of tromping through steamy cornfields, and you would surely be overcome by the aromatic atmosphere in their vehicle!! Egads........when my son gets home each day, I hold my nose and point to the washing machine so he can personally toss in his disgustingly smelly, sweat-drenched clothing. So be aware, and beware! Aren't you glad to be forewarned.......before you head to Iowa.

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Bonus question: Which "Evening Primrose of the Morning" background do you like best?

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