Around Des Moines

As I got into my car and noticed the spot on my windshield, I was reminded of that famous old country song:
There was bird poop on my window and my dog just up and died.

But once I got to the Arie den Boer Arboretum at Des Moines Water Works Park, I cheered up. What a beautiful day in Des Moines - about 60 degrees with a nice breeze - and a perfect day to be outside. The Purple Wren and I spent about an hour wandering through the crab apple trees appreciating all of the colors and shapes. The DMWW website tells us there are 300 varieties and that we are at the peak of the flowering season.

Try to find a few minutes to spend time there this week. Take your lunch.

The floods of 1993 put the Arboretum underwater for long enough that most of the crabapples were destroyed and needed to be replaced. At the time I was working in the Drake University Chemistry Department with Carolyn Trepka (now Walling) a Grinnell College graduate. Carolyn suggested that our department chip in and buy a replacement tree so we did. The tree is still there, and it’s tagged with the department’s name.

Anyone can buy and dedicate a tree in honor or memory of whomever or whatever you like. It’s less painful to chip in with a big group since the cost is $200, but you can still be proud to give back to community. Most people honor the memory of a loved one.

Guest Writer: James G. Lindberg (Jim) is the Purple Wren’s sweetie and is a visiting chemistry professor at Grinnell College and retired from Drake University.

Technorati Tags: Iowa, Des Moines, Central Iowa News, Water Works Park