Waukesha flower garden

There is a beautiful flower garden in Waukesha' Frame Park that I enjoy going to at different times of the year to see what is in bloom. Earlier in the spring, I took photos of the brilliantly beautiful crab apple trees in bloom. This past weekend, I photogrpahed the varities of roses blooming.

A garden adds so much to a community, I feel. The garden in Frame Park is very well-maintained. It was created in an Italian sunken garden style with urns, lattice work and benches. It is also quite geometrical.

Whenber I go on vacations to a new city, I visit its flower garden. Over the past year, I have gone to the botanical gardens in Seattle and St. Louis. Next weekend, I will visit friends in Charlottesvill, VA and Chapel Hill, NC. My goal is to make a trip to their gardens and take many lovely photos.

The roses in Waukesha's Frame Park:






QUOTE:

"Bloom where you are planted."

"How beautiful, how buoyant, and glad is the morning."
--L.E. Landon

Flood Roundup

It's certainly been a hectic couple of weeks for me due to the flooding in much of Waukesha County. It's finally starting to settle back into the regular routine as most communities are cleaning up. Pewaukee's downtown is open for business again, but the beach is still partly submerged. I know that many people still have flooded basements. FEMA is offering aid to many Wisconsin counties, a third of which have been declared disaster areas.

I did enjoy getting to cover the flooding. I felt so bad for the people adversely affected by the high waters, but because of the storms, I was given some exciting photography opportunities and interviews.

Through it all, I was very impressed with how neighbors helped neighbors, city staff helped businesses and club members helped communities. Many people used their free time to make sandbags and carry them to where they were needed. Others volunteered time to help keep people safe in the flood areas. It's good to know that in our day and age, people are still out there helping their neighbors in need.

Here are some of my better photographs from the flooding and storms.


Left, Eric Clendenning, 10, of Hartland jumps into a flooded Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Pewaukee Tuesday afternoon followed by Katrina Zenda, 7, of Pewaukee and Lucas Clendenning, 8, of Hartland. The children said they were having fun playing in the water.


Tim Budda, 18, of Sussex skimboards Tuesday evening along the flooded beach in downtown Pewaukee. Many area residents visited the flooded downtown to take photos.


Village of Pewaukee staff walk along flooded Wisconsin Avenue near the snow plows and parts used as a water breaker for waves coming off of Pewaukee Lake.


A mature tree fell Thursday afternoon on a City of Mukwonago house denting
the roof and creating a lot of work for Dave. D. Williams, on roof, Greg
Wiza, sitting in the middle of the tree and Raul Cervera, with the chain
saw. Wiza, who owns Gwiz Tree Service, said it was the first call he
received after the storm yesterday, but that the past couple of weeks have
been busy.


A boat dock in the City of Pewaukee on Pewaukee Lake is not accessible.


Sand bags protect downtown Pewaukee businesses.


After hearing that carp had swam through downtown Pewaukee on Tuesday, Marlee Szmanda, 7, of Stone Bank set out to catch some of her own. copyright Waukesha Freeman.


Jarrett Ruppenthal guides his daughters, Sydney, 5, left, and Ciara, 3, right, along sandbags placed to protect businesses along Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Pewaukee.

FLOOD!

Here are some of my first photos taken early this morning of the flooding of Fox Lake from Frame Park. Much of downtown Waukesha is closed.

sweet summer days

As usual, it looks like Wisconsin has quickly switched from chilly spring days to warm summer days. I am so excited about summer this year, more so than I remember for previous years. Or at least that's how it feels. I think that most Wisconsinites get really excited when summer arrives. This year especially so because of the cold, harsh winter we had. Plus, in Wisconsin we know how to do summerhe the best. There are way too many options each summer weekend of things to do as every little community and Milwaukee has at least some cool summer festival to attend.

There are also so many great trails and parks to enjoy. Yesterday afternoon, I hopped on my bike and pedaled over to the Fox River Sanctuary, a place near my apartment that I have never been to before. I was surprised to see so many serious bikers there. I soon figured out that the park was the beginning of the Glacier Drumlim Trail. I followed the path and had a great bike ride. I biked as far as the first farm and then turned around and headed back to my apartment.

The ride was wonderful because that part of the trail wanders through the woods and past the Fox River. The blooming honeysuckle made the path smell so sweet and the phlox made the area so pretty, too. I was impressed by the number of bikers on the trail, everyone from serious distance bikers to casual family bikers. It was such a great atmosphere. My aunt Ellen and I are planning to go there one day this week and I hope to again by myself at least one more day. It's such a great feeling knowing that there is a great bike trail like that so close to my apartment.

Right now, I am sitting on a small camping chair on the roof of my building with my guinea pig in his cage near me(Ihave wireless Internet to make this possible).
He looks happy as he is sniffing the breeze. I am very pleased to be able to sit up here and enjoy the late morning as swallows chirp and fly above my head. There are several trees whose branches extend over the roof. I sat up here last night, as well, as I talked to my friend, Kit. I was able to see the end of the sunset. These are my first times to spend time up on the roof, but I plan to sit up here much more often.

I was going to plant tomato and pepper plants in pots, but feared the sun on the roof would be too bright. Observing the light right now, I think it would be fine. I am starting to think again about getting some plants and pots this week. It would be great to have some plants of my own and to get some fresh, delicious vegetables for Skitch and me to enjoy this summer. I also think I will get a couple more camping/lawn chairs to use up here when friends come over so we can watch the sunset or get a light tan.

The view is quite nice from here, too. I can look at the Carroll College art center, chapel and athletic field, as well as, many trees. I do get road noise, but the swallows flying over head help to block out the noise from the tucks, motorcycles and buses.

I am really starting to get comfortable with the idea that it is summer and am excited about all the new possibilities it holds. I am also looking forward to the traditions, such as Irish Fest, Devil's Lake and laying out in my parents' backyard.






QUOTE:

"Make your ego porous. Will is of little importance, complaining is nothing, fame is nothing. Openness, patience, receptivity, solitude is everything."
--Rainer Maria Rilke

"Where would the gardener be, if there were no more weeds?"
--Chuang Tzu