(Des Moines, IA, June 3, 2008) During an evening walk last night I saw the light of several fireflies. It was the first time I saw that sight this year. What I have not seen many of, however, are bees. I saw one in early May and one while I was at the Clare & Miles Mills Rose Garden in Greenwood Park a couple days ago. Maybe I have been in the wrong places at the wrong times, but a friend who has a decent-sized garden told me she hasn’t seen bees this year, either.
Three days ago, on May 31st, I first saw cottonwood seeds floating through the air. It seems early for cottonwoods to be dropping seeds. In contrast, tulips were among the flowers that took their time emerging; although, they were strong and long lasting once they did start to bloom. Irises also were slow to grow but have been adding beautiful colors to the landscape for about a month. Buds can be seen on roses throughout the city now, as can the occasional full flower, such as I found at the state fairgrounds on June 1st.
Last year I visited the Rose Garden on May 25th. The Fire Meldland rose tree displayed several clusters of red flowers. This year the plant, which is taken indoors during the colder months, showed only green on June 1st. In the middle part of the garden, a single yellow Sun Sprite brought out a smile.
Sunday, June 1st was a delightful day to be outside. Temperatures continued to be in the low 80′s but the humidity had dropped into the 30-percent range. I have never seen so many people walking, bicycling, and driving their cars along 45th Street on their way to Ashworth Pool, to the Bill Riley Trail, or to the lake in the park. I discovered that the city-owned Ashworth swimming pool, that includes lap lanes and lockers for rent, is open on Sundays. I also learned that bow hunting of deer is allowed in the wood around the Bill Riley Trail from mid-September through mid-January.
Looking at pictures I took of flooding along the bicycle trail last year and comparing them to pictures I took this year, the flooding appeared to be more extensive last year. However, the Raccoon River, into which Walnut Creek flows just a short distance from where the trail was flooded, is not expected to crest during this year’s spring flooding until later this week. Reading the article I wrote for AroundDesMoines.com last year I also confirmed that last year there were plenty of mosquitos out already, another difference with this year.
This morning I had to delay writing this post because one of the seemingly daily thunderstorms was rolling through the area. Des Moines has been spared much of this past week’s storm activity, though. Unfortunately, Parkersburg, which is about 115 miles northeast of Des Moines was not spared from the fury of an EF5 tornado over Memorial Day weekend.
M.R. Field is a fan of nature, a trait she shares with several readers of AroundDesMoines.com.
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