Garden Tour

Nestled in amongst the corn & bean fields on a gravel road in rural Iowa is a gardeners paradise called The Prairie Pedlar. The Prairie Pedlar is owned & operated by Jack & Jane Hogue. Their gardens have been featured in many national publications & if you are ever in the area it is definitely worth seeing. I treat myself to a visit at least once a summer. Come along and take a tour....Russian Sage border beautifully greets you as you enter.
An old Sears & Roebuck barn is used for wedding receptions. Take note of the Double Aster quilt block on the barn. Prairie Pedlar is part of the Sac County Quilt Block Barn organization. Keep an eye out for more on this in a future blog.

Did you ever make Hollyhock dolls when you were a child?







This is Queen Anne's Lace and can be found growing in the ditches in Iowa in the summer. It is a beautiful, lacy white flower that works great in cut arrangements. Can you find the bee?



More Queen Anne's Lace








Don't you just love the bright green foliage next to the Bee Balm?









Flowers can be found everywhere...in an old bicycle basket...




...even in an old muffler!




Rather then cutting down this dead tree they filled it with a menagerie of birdhouses...very whimsical!




Notice the old mirror in the garden? I love how the old barn reflects in the mirror!






This is a new addition to the gardens this year and is totally breathtaking. We just sat on the bench and took it all in for several minutes. This is an old chicken coop that they rescued from being torn down and moved it onto the garden site. The children's garden club planted the flowers. The Prairie Pedlar has a wonderful gift shop & this little building houses the sale items.




The brick used for the path around the chicken coop comes from an old creamery that was being torn down.




The Prairie Pedlar also sells many annual & perennial plants. Rather then the plants being housed in a typical greenhouse theirs are placed on the ground along a walking path.




Hens & Chicks planted in an old wooden chicken nesting box.





This piece greets you at the door of the gift shop. Clay pots are strung on a steel rod...quite a conversation piece. I hope to make one of these next year.











What a great way to recycle an old sink!






I hope you have enjoyed the journey through these gardens & remember to take time to smell the roses.....



Brenda