Mary Poppins Proud in Siouxland, Laurtizen Gardens, Omaha, NE

Umbrellas on display at a garden exhibit at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Visiting various places in and around Siouxland I always delight in fantastical exhibits and the imagination and inspiration of folk who create these exhibits. Seeing a recent one at the Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE I could only imagine that Mary Poppins would be proud, and most certainly I and others would have been delighted had she dropped in for a “spot of tea” and a song. But maybe that is my imagination running away with me, as a lyric to some now forgotten song plays in my head. Still, exhibits should elicit responses from those seeing them and enjoy them for what they are and represent.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seasonal Change and a Rainy Day in Siouxland, Sioux Center

This past week the Siouxland area got a much needed rain. It was only 1.5 inches, but much needed nevertheless. The area is still drought stricken, and many people I talk with throughout my day is opening for a wet winter, whether through rain or snow so the area can gain some moisture back to where it should be for area farming and in general. The moisture is needed to sustain the agricultural industry in the western part of Iowa and in the Midwest in general. But I took a drive to visit a former colleague now working for a smaller publication last week and stopped by a private Christian college, Dordt College, in Sioux Center, Iowa, and photographed students dealing with a change in weather. Not only was it raining, but the wind gusts were later reported to be between 30 mph to 50 mph which made it sometimes difficult just navigating across campus, but students didn’t dawdle between classes though. The wet weather has also put a damper (pun intended) on the Fall foliage and the season’s colors are now carpeting the ground with bright colors for a couple of days. Reprints for those interested.

 

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa