Leavenworth

 

 

The first time I saw US Penitentiary,  Leavenworth I thought it was quite ominous.  In film Leavenworth was always known as the prison with the worst criminals.  Built in 1897, it was the largest maximum security prison in the US until 2005 when it became a minimum security.

 You might notice the humidity haze in the second photo.  Humidity causes our skies to be hazy.

Fort Leavenworth is directly north of the prison.  I always enjoy a drive thru the post and have a few pictures to display over the next few days.

Left out

Mighty MO

The eastern side of the Missouri River.  Those trees use to be above the bank of the river and are now part of the river.  This was taken from my car window as I waited to cross the bridge.  The bridge has been shut down to one lane due to bridge repairs.   If the river gets above the embankment, prime farmland will be in ruin.

As I travel slowly over the Missouri River, taken from my car.  Those trees on the left are the same ones from above photo.

Taken from the western bank looking at same trees in first two photos.

High Water

Some of you have commented about the Severe Weather Alerts on the indicator at the side of my blog.  We have been under severe weather alerts for weeks.  We've had lots of thunderstorms, tornado watches and flooding which kicks off these alerts.  The Missouri River has been under flood warning for weeks.  The Army Corp of Engineers have been watching and attempting to control the Missouri River by release water at dams upstream to minimize flooding while not causing to much downstream flooding.  Those close to the Missouri River are paying close attention to the news and weather.

In the top photo, back in the trees, was a camp ground.  I visited Leavenworth, KS on Sunday, it is 30 miles west of Liberty, MO, where I live.  I visited this camp site and further down stream, a walking path next to the Mighty Mo.  There was a steady stream of people visiting the river to see how high it was flowing.

Over night my weather app on my phone went off for tornado watch, severe thunderstorm and flooding.

Fountain

Another view from the fountain I showed you a couple of weeks ago, Jumping In and Out of Water at the Kauffman Memorial Gardens,

A Look Thru to the Other Side

So much to see on the plaza just north of the Performing Arts Center. 

Weekend Reflection

Reflecting that I never spent much time in a Court House and am thankful.

Downtown Living

Summer downtown in front of the Court House

Where does your garden grow

Found in front of a local nursery

Colorful Windows

Colorful loft windows found in the Crossroads District

To bee or not to bee

This character was hard to catch as he kept moving from flower to flower.

Happy Father's Day

In honor of Father's Day I thought I would bring a photo of one of our forefathers office, Harry Truman. I visited his library here in the area in February.  I was drawn to his photo of other presidents in his office in Independence Missouri.

Hollyhocks

I have never grown hollyhocks but after seeing this flower I realize I need to find out more about them.  

Jumping in and out of Water

No midwest garden is complete without lilies.

Garden

The Kauffman Memorial Garden has over 7,000 plants on two acres of land in the center of Kansas City.  This include 300 varieties of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and bulbs.  Here we see hydrangeas, foxglove, annuals and I believe lambs ear (up front), although I didn't realize they had such a bloom that created a sphere like an allium.  Somebody please correct me.

Special Delivery

The arrival of my new grand daughter has kept me from updates and commenting on your blogs.  She awoke the household at 3 am on Monday morning announcing she was ready to arrive.  While my son and daughter-in-law headed to the hospital I stayed at their house to watch my 21 month grandson.  If I open my laptop while my grandson is awake, he helps me key...  When he took a nap yesterday, I took a nap too.  Then last night and this morning we went to see baby sister.  Thank you for indulging me and allowing this photo.  I must say she is the cutest little baby girl : )   I head back to the Kauffman Memorial Garden tomorrow.  

Kauffman Memorial Garden

Ewing Marion Kauffman was born in Garden City, KS in 1916.  He was a  pharmaceutical salesman when he founded Marion Laboratories in 1950, which began operations out of the basement of his home.  In 1989 Marion merged with Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. 

In the mid 1960's the Kauffman Foundation was created.   Kauffman wanted his foundation to be innovative—to dig deep and get at the roots of issues to fundamentally change people’s lives. He wanted to help young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, get a quality education that would enable them to reach their full potential.

The Kauffman name is prominent in Kansas City.

The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden is in the heart of Kansas City.

Art

Art is not for everyone, and everyone sees art differently.  We all have our preferences when it comes to art.  People like all kinds of art.   I liked the name of the art gallery and sculpture.

Two Heads are Better than One

The faceless one is obviously a backup...  On the art space just north of the Performing Arts Center.

Weekend Reflection

My current favorite building which you've seen several photos from around the area recently.

What does a Garden Provide

I thought this sign at the Community Garden looked much better from far away.  The garden has many vegetables, fruit trees and flowers and is just a nice escape in the middle of urban life.

Community Garden

This community garden is just a block away from the future Kauffman Center of Performing Arts.  I hope you don't get tired of seeing this new building, I love it and so much is going on around it that I keep taking photos.  I am just drawn to the area.

Flower

Found in a community garden in the Crossroads District.

Children's Fountain II

The girl above is my favorite.  Have a great start to the week.

Children's Fountain NKC

Kansas City has many, many fountains, the Children's Fountain in North Kansas City is one of my favorites.  It was a hot, humid day yesterday when these photos were taken.  The dedication reads: "The bronze figures represent children everywhere to whom this fountain is dedicated and the activities that shape young lives making childhood a joy."

Another photo of the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts

A few steps away from yesterdays photo and looking in the opposite direction I captured one of the city's newest buildings.  I've shared many photos of this building in April, here is one.

Weekend Reflection

A bit of a reflection on a rainy morning downtown.  As some of you know I go into work fairly early in the morning before lots of traffic and people are on the streets, which makes it easier to stop, step out of the car and take photos.

Johns Big Deck

A downtown bar with a roof top deck.  When I first moved to KC in 1995, this was one of the places I was told I had to visit.  Work was only a block away.  Great bar food, lunch and dinner.  Three floors and roof top deck.

Theme Day - Under Construction

Today is Theme Day for CDP.  It was a cloudy rainy morning on my way to work but had to get the picture.

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