The Seasons of Giverny -- "Papillon" This sixth floral view is an audiovisual presentation that was done with drive-by videography much like the first two Musical Views that were "shot" near the end of July. However, this video was panned from the back of our moving pickup—producing a higher viewpoint with much better visibility of our gardens. Comparing this recent Musical View with those done a month ago, you will notice, overall, a greater floriferousness ("flower power") than before. During the month of August, the daylilies, veronica, and delphinium have ceased blooming. The roses and foxgloves are at their floral low point! Even though our gardens were battered by two severe hailstorms (June 24th and July 4th), most flowers have now recuperated so that they are at their peak of floral density and beauty. The perennial goldenrods and gloriosa daisies are really putting on a dominant, ostentations display. However, most of the kaleidoscopic show of color is produced by hundreds of home-grown blooming annuals -- especially the petunias, impatiens, zinnias, salvias, and marigolds. The warm-season ornamental grasses are just now starting to send up their beautiful inflorescences (flowers/seed heads). The ornamental grasses, especially those of the genus Miscanthus (Japanese silver/maiden grass), will put on a spectacular display by the end of September, continuing to add beauty and interest throughout the winter!! To visit our YouTube Channel again, Google: Kimball ne meyers gardens

BUS-eum

On September 23, (Thursday), The BUS-eum will be at the Kimball High School in the morning and at the Kimball Public Library in the afternoon.  The BUS-eum will exhibit Behind Barbed Wire: Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany.  As the time gets closer, I will publish the hours it will be open to the public at the library.

Sweet Potato Pie

Have you read Guernsey Literary and Sweet Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer?  It tells a personalized story about a writer and her new friends on Guernsey Island after WWII.  The author brings out the experiences of the people during the German occupation of the Island through a series of letters.  A unique format for a novel, but it draws you in and clearly depicts the characters in the story.  An excellent book for a book club selection.

New books this week are Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs; and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. 

The Library Board meeting will be held on Sept 7 at 5:00 p.m.

Interstate 80 Eastbound Rest Area

Coop is hiring for a part time cook in the Deli!

Summer isn't over

We had some nice days to enjoy the outdoors, but today it is hot again.  It is still August.

The library has been busy with check-outs and computer use.  Our computers are used for homework and on-line college classes.  They are also used for relaxation after school and keeping in contact with friends and relatives.  We are happy to provide this service for the public.

New Books this week:  Losing Charlotte by Heather Clay;  The Island by Elin Hilderbrand;  The Passage by Justin Cronin;  Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin;  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner;  and As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs.

The library staff is working toward doing a through inventory in the next couple of weeks and then add many new items.  Something to look forward to. 

Classic books

Have you read a classic lately?  Since we don’t have any new books arriving this week, come in and browse the shelves for something – a book that you always thought you would get around to reading someday.  We have classics by authors such as Mari Sandoz, Willa Cather, Stevenson, John Updike, Steinbeck, Jane Austin and many more.  We also have a good collection of local and state history books.

There are many events coming up in the next few weeks that I will be writing about.  Look forward to more information on Downloadable Audio books, and a special display on Banned Books – you will be surprised at what is on the banned book list.

The Farmer’s Day book sale is right around the corner.  If you have books to donate, please bring them in soon.  And Thanks to all the people who have donated already.

Around and on Farmer’s Day, the Library will have a display of paintings by Rachelle Eversole of Broadwater, NE, a Certified Instructor by Bob Ross Studios will be in the Cultural Room.  In addition, there will be a display of some older local pictures and other items that will bring back memories.  Be sure to add the Library displays and the Book Sale to your Farmer’s Day rounds.

Congratulations to Kimball Public Schools for getting their 2nd $1000 check from the "Receipts to Cash" Program!

Mother Nature's "Music" -- Waterfall and Thunderstorm This long video of our backyard waterfall/rock garden/"mountain" is designed to relax and calm the viewer with its natural sounds of running/falling water and thunder. Watching this video may even have a very sleep-inducing or soporific effect on you -- so don't even listen to this aqueous video if you're driving or running some machinery! Try using this video as a surrogate drug for over-the-counter or prescribed meds (i.e., Advil PM; Ambian; Lunesta; etc) if you want some nonchemical, sedative aid to tranquilize or relax yourself and, especially, to make you feel very drowsy/sleepy. Near the end of this video, you will notice sounds of a train and a motorcycle - you may ride either to visit Slumber Land!! If this video doesn't cure your insomnia, you can ask for a full refund of the purchase price! (ha!) This backyard, five-tier waterfall was constructed 35 years ago by first hauling in 4 truckloads of topsoil to build an 8-foot high berm. Then we built our waterfall using iron reinforcing mesh, concrete, and lichen/"moss"-covered limestone boulders and rocks gathered from our countryside—mainly the old landfill area. The pump that's down in the small 110-gallon "pond" will recycle 4500 gallons per hour. To make our berm look a bit like a miniature "rocky mountain," we also planted some ponderosa and piňon pines, plus some aspen trees and columbine flowers. We and hundreds of guests, visitors, and tourists have immensely enjoyed this beautiful, natural-appearing water feature! To visit our youtube site again, Google: kimball ne meyers gardens

The Seasons of Giverny -- "The Moon Remembers" Like the last audiovisual presentation, this fourth garden view is a slide show that's of mainly close-ups -- some extreme! The sequence of flowers and floral scenes that were photographed in the last few days are as follows: various shots of our Aspen grove -- mainly impatiens and petunias (Supertunias); blue Salvia -- with a bee!; Petunia hanging baskets, pots and tubs; red Salvia; Hosta and Impatiens; Daylilies; Roses -- 35 slides -- our favorite flower!!; Zinnias; Phlox; pink Malva; Osteospermum (African Daisies); Goldenrod, "Yellow Submarine"; Fever Few; Begonias; Delphinium; Gloriosa Daisy; Purple Cone Flower; Foxglove -- "Camelot"; Lamium and blue Clematis. Many of our annual flowers are in containers such as 20" hanging baskets, 25-gallon tubs, 5 gal pots, and window boxes. This use of containers is primarily for ease of mobility -- producing migrating "flower power!" For example, as the earlier-blooming perennials (i.e., tulips, daffodils, iris, peonies) cease blooming, we tuck the portable pots of flowering annuals in-between the bloomless perennial plants' foliage. This is the primary method we use to maintain high floral density throughout most of the growing season -- from mid March to mid October (usually!!). Two other important ways to keep maximum "flower power" are to use a very good (homemade) soil-less potting mix with a slow-release fertilizer AND to fertilize weekly with a water-soluble, 15-30-15 fertilizer. There will be more info about our horticultural "trade secrets" in future videos/slide shows. To most easily visit our botanical site again, please Google: Kimball ne meyers gardens