Ark Valley News - The View from Sunflower Gardens

The View from Sunflower Gardens
By Marilyn Bentley
Last Updated: September 20, 2018

Fall is a special time of the year

One of the natural wonders of Kansas, the gardens at Botanica in Wichita, is full of flowering color. Folks stroll the walks, attend the lectures and enjoy the butterfly house and the changing of seasons. The children's garden is popular.

At Sunflower Gardens, we like our Monday coffee chats, Tuesday Bible study, dinners, concerts, game nights, our library, our puzzle rooms and walks down our halls.

We are "getting to know" the new residents in the new units.

It's fall and we see changes in our flower gardens.

"Fall was special when I was a kid.

"Really didn't mater what it was we did.

"Buying books and school clothes for this next school year.

"Greeting some new friends and some we still hold dear.

"Meeting our teachers, learning many things.

"Marveling at the wonders new knowledge brings.

"Taking part in school sports, cheering for ‘our team.'

"Being in a school play; seeing parents beam.

"Going trick or treating on a late fall afternoon.

"Knowing winter was coming all too soon." — Karen Evans

Verse of the week: "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

Remember to keep in prayer all our troops and their families, our Congress and president, the road repairmen and school kids.

The Kansas State Fair drew many Kansans to Hutchinson. We liked the animal exhibits, all the entertainment, rides and a variety of food there. All Kansas-grown grains and food products were on display.

All over our county, we have road repair. Drive carefully. Buckle up; it's the law.

Welcome, welcome new residents here. It's fun to get to know new folks here and where they came from.

We like the Mennonite Sunday night sing-alongs.

Recently we had some flooding due to heavy rains — rather unusual in Kansas. We thank all first responders and the Red Cross. It's good to give blood to the Red Cross in times of crisis.

We have new trees planted here to the east of the main building.

Thanks to all our volunteers flower gardeners here.

Thank you to all who share summer veggies, too.

There will be new paving of driveway on the parking lot by the main building.

It was fun to see the crowd for the ribbon cutting for phase 3 buildings. On a recent day with Ron Estes and Mennonite housing officials in attendance.

"Be kind, anyway." — Mother Teresa