Flowerama Triangle Tour

Wanna quick SE Iowa summer flower tour, and enjoy the spectacular Iowa greeneration along the way, and maybe some ice cream? Of course you do! Here’s three floweramas to delight your eyes and countryside pride. I call it the Flowerama Triangle Tour. Don’t forget your camera.

1. Heald Enterprise Trucking, 15520 Des Moines Henry Ave, Danville, right on Hwy. 34, on the Des Moines Henry County Line. Look for the huge American Flag standing tall and proud. Park along the shoulder of the highway or in the truck parking lot. This is the third or maybe fourth year Brad Heald, owner of the trucking company, has built this flower display. Brad parked his father’s original dump truck, with its bed raised, out by the highway. Spilling out of the back end of the truck like a wedding-gown train, is a long runway of zinnias. Last year it was mums. He called it the Mump Truck. He originally built it to honor his daughter’s wedding. It drew so much attention from passersby that he’s continued to build the flowerama year after year. And we hope he continues!

2. Downtown Mediapolis. Herschel Smuck is at it again! Across the street from Louisa County’s Freedom Rock, is a farm wagon dumping petunias into a farm elevator. In fact, the whole downtown is full of flowers hanging from light poles and decorating store fronts. Herschel starts out early in the morning driving a small tractor pulling a water wagon. He waters the hanging baskets of flowers and, of course, his pride and joy, the elevator. Although, when Ginnie and I were in Mediapolis, Herschel was on “vacation.” He was riding his bike across Missouri, from Kansas City to St. Louis on the Rock the Katy Trail Ride. Characteristic of Herschel, one day of the bike ride is devoted to volunteer work. In his absence, a group of volunteers took over the responsibility of watering the flowers. Mediapolis is vying for “Flower City USA!”

3. 2520 110th St., Winfield. This is the farm of Ron and Amber Anderson. Amber is well known as the owner of LeRoy Brown’s tavern in Ainsworth, which she has owned for 22 years. Amber and Ron are also getting to be well known for their elevator full of flowers on Sunnyside Farm north of Winfield. Like the old days of filling a barn with hay bales, the elevator is delivering flowers up into the barn. Also at Sunnyside Farm, is the original train depot building from Marsh, Iowa. The depot was about to be razed when Ron and Amber rescued it and moved it to their farm.

You do not have to take this flowerama triangle drive in the order I listed. Feel free to reverse order, or go in any order you want. The trip is a great way to celebrate Iowa and have a good time.

BTW: All three of the creators of the floweramas know each other and have used ideas from each other. Brad Heald has purchased truck tires from Herschel Smuck. Ron and Amber Anderson got their idea for their truck from Brad Heald, and the elevator from Herschel Smuck.

Ice cream: Although Heald’s Trucking has a Danville address, it’s right outside of New London. The Short Stop is the place for ice cream in New London. In Mediapolis, the Flour Barn will treat you right. And in Winfield, right across the street from Henry County’s Freedom Rock, is the El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant. Cool off your tacos with ice cream!

Flowers, ice cream and Iowa countryside. It really doesn’t get any better than this. Top it off with an Indiana Fever game with Caitlin Clark, and you have a perfect Iowa day. Hey?

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Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.