If it's Monday, it must be Kansas City!

Sometimes I wish I had a regular sleeping schedule that actually aligned with the rest of the world. When people say, "Are you a morning person or a late-night person?", I just answer "Yes!". Because I (typically) go to bed between midnight and 1:00am and get up between 5:00am and 6:30am. So, about 5 or 5 1/2 hours of sleep each night. Since I was about 14 years old. (The exception being when I'm ill - fortunately not too often - when my body just shuts down and I think I sleep about 22 hours each day.)

In any case, this (meaning Monday) is a day when that particular schedule will come in handy! I had spent last night in a hotel not quite to Kansas City. I had plenty of time rise, pack, have breakfast, and check out of the hotel. I wanted to check into the AG hotel in plenty of time to unload and then head to KCI to pick up friends who were flying in, landing around 5:30-ish that evening. I had at least 5 or 6 hours - hooray! As is my wont, I was looking for trees, or water, or flowers. I found them all at Powell Gardens (Kansas City's Botanical Gardens). Unfortunately, I had some problems with my camera and my pictures were ultimately lost. I will do my best to make that up to you with some information and a few pictures I found online.

Powell Gardens, Kansas City's botanical garden, is just under 1,000 acres and is actually about 30 miles east o KC in Kingsville. The garden dates to 1948, when the land was purchased by George E. Powell, Sr.

Powell had grown up on a family farm, but had moved to Kansas City to pursue business around 1917. However, he never lost his interest in Missouri lands, and he and his family often spent time on his Johnson County farm. He donated the farm to the KC Boy Scouts in 1969, who used it as a camp for about 15 years. In 1984, the Powell Family Foundation partnered with the University of Missouri's School of Agriculture to develop the Powell Center (a natural resource and horticultural facility).

In 1988, ties with the University ended, and Powell Gardens Inc was established (not-for-profit organization). It features 6,000 varieties of plants, with 225,000 plants in seasonal displays, and is supported through private donations and and rental and gift shop revenues.

The sections of Powell Gardens include:

The Island Garden - Visitor Center and surrounding gardens including the Conservatory, Conifer Garden, and Dogwood & Magnolia Walks

Fountain Garden - an interactive water feature and displays of annuals

Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden - tiered pools of water plants (e.g. lotus, waterlilies, papyrus, and others

An area of prairie grasses and flowers

David T. Beals III Woodland and Stream Garden - ferns, azaleas, rhododendrons, hostas, and more!

Perennial Garden - hundreds of varieties, including daffodils, daylilies, chrysanthemums, and more!

Heartland Harvest Garden - according to the information on the site, this is one of the largest edible landscapes in North America, and covers 12 acres, showing 'the journey of food from seed to plate'. There are greenhouses, a vineyard, gardens of local farm produce, a (French style) kitchen garden. among other things.

Byron Shutz Nature Trail - I didn't get to walk this 3-mile trail, but the description of what one can see includes trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers

Memorial Garden - located next to the Chapel, with a path that wanders through wildflowers, oak trees and a native prairie area