Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Is This Iowa?

In the movie Field of Dreams, a ghostly baseball player who steps out of the corn asks "Is this heaven?" Kevin Costner says "It's Iowa." That is perhaps the all time favorite line of any Iowa-based movie (though people always, always say "No, it's Iowa").

I thought of that when I walked into this new garden center by Des Moines.



Just for the record, these large cacti are not real. But they look real until you get really close.



This flying dragon is not real, either. But here's to you Dr. John! I thought of you right away when I saw this!



What a great face! I could almost hear Peter, Paul and Mary singing Puff, the Magic Dragon.



And, yes, I thought I could hear some music over here. Look at this fellow!



Here's his partner.



Is this Leghorn Foghorn? I think so...



Look at that llama!



And this dog!



Johanna, look! We have palm trees in Iowa, too!! Just like you do in Vancouver!



Okay, so they're made out of metal. Details, details....!



Can you see the dragon in the moat?? Look closely...



Okay. Time to go. Thanks for stopping by.

12 comments:

Marge said...

Russell, I believe there is a little bit of heaven in Iowa. I loved growing up there, and always wished I could give my kids the kids of childhood I had in Iowa. So the answer to "is this heaven?" should be "yup! It's Iowa!"

Marge said...

KIND of childhood.......sorry!

Country Girl said...

What? That's it? Get back here and tell us more about this crazy place, Russell! What a fun post.

Jo said...

Russell, if you don't go back there and buy those two musician frogs -- especially the one playing the trumpet -- I will shoot you...!!! Omigawd, they are wonnnnnnnnderful.

What a gorgeous place.

(P.S. -- those are not real palm trees -- *heh, heh*)

You gotta buy those frogs...! They have your name on them.

Maureen said...

You get those frogs, but I want that llama!

Debbie Courson Smith said...

What a great place! I want the dragon, please.

Tess Kincaid said...

Those little green garden scultures are a stitch. I especially like the llama! Wonderful garden center, Russell.

Tess Kincaid said...

...uh...that would be "sculptures" :):):)

Small City Scenes said...

Now that is a VERY different garden center. I wonder if soon very many people will have strange garden art in their yards.
Anyway.........Heaven is as Heavan does. MB

Daryl said...

What a wonderful garden center/store .. its like an amusement park for plant lovers!

Anonymous said...

Foghorn is pretty groovy...

Snappy Di

Hilary said...

There are so many quirky and amusing items at garden centers these days. You've captured their whimsical appeal.