More downtown Des Moines

Des Moines is home to Meredith Publications. Their buildings are located at the point at which you enter downtown from the west. It used to be one of the only way downtown other than the interstate when you come from the west. I don't know what it is about Des Moines, but we really have a lovely city with plantings, gardens and artwork. Meredith gets in on the act with several large areas of beautiful landscaping. This is just one area on the western part of their campus.

This is the opposite side of the area from the grasses. It's about a whole block, I think. The building peaking out in the corner on the right side of the photograph is the newer Meredith building.

Edwin Thomas Meredith founded the company in 1902 when he began publishing Successful Farming magazine. In 1922, Meredith began publishing Fruit, Garden and Home magazine, a home and family service publication. Two years later, this magazine was retitled Better Homes and Gardens, and the first issue cost a dime on the newsstand. In 1930, they published the first edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book.

Oh what fun it is to ride through downtown Des Moines

Here is a dog peeing on a fire hydrant! This is outside a popular lunchtime restaurant in the East Village.
Festive fall decor:

Outside a big insurance company. We have many, many of those in this town.

This park with the water running through is west of the public library and east of Meredith Publishing. Chances are very good you know Meredith: magazines and local television stations all over the country start here. Most notably: Better Homes and Gardens. I purposely put my coffee cup in the photo. Just across the street from here, I got an 8 ounce cup (not full) of hot, black coffee for $1.33. Note to self: bring your own coffee. That's expensive in this town.

I noticed the plantings at the library when I ran past the library in the Capital Pursuit. I was really taken with the way they use rhubarb in the plantings. Doesn't it look great against the yellow flowers?

These three-planting stands line the two main streets through downtown. These are right outside...wait for it...a really large insurance company.

The plantings vary and in the winter, they are lovely with evergreens. I'll get some later in the year.

Downtown Des Moines

Scenes from Saturday morning around 1130-noon in downtown Des Moines. I had been to the Farmer's Market, but didn't remember my camera and didn't want to go back to the car.
I like this guy with all his letters. He is very close to the public library, but not on their grounds.

The kids seemed most drawn to this one. Not sure what it is and I didn't make a note of any of the names of any of the sculptures.

This is the view looking to the east. The biggest building, for your reference, is about 42 stories on the inside. It has wonderful views of the city from every direction.

Looking west again, we have a creepy spider!

I.love.these.guys. The remind me of the Tim Burton movie "Nightmare Before Christmas."