I’m sure my neighbor Barb Leavitt did not plant tulips for my sake.
They are my pick-me-up each morning and my solace at day’s end as I pass by, telling me that all is right with the world.
Such beauty should not go unnoticed. And I appreciate the efforts of all who go the extra step by planting flowers and the like.
On a trip to Germany years ago, I frequently heard the phrase “house proud,” referring to the care homeowners take of their properties. No matter how small, homes included colorful flowerbeds, birdbaths and feeders, flowering trees and bushes.
And right or wrong, I imbued the beauty with a generosity of spirit. “This must be a nice place to live,” I thought.
For this issue we’ve enjoyed interviewing gardeners, those who have accomplished impressive Do-It-Yourself renovation projects and a couple who made a lifestyle change by switching to all-electric vehicles.
What’s impressed me most is the patience and oftentimes stamina required to carry things through.
In my vocabulary, gardening means rejection.
Not necessarily, Gabe Gleason said. His advice: Start small.
Susan Lynn
“If you’ve failed at everything in life, plant an herb garden. It’s a guaranteed confidence-builder,” he said.
As for home renovations, Aaron Franklin has a similar nugget. When a project seems overwhelming, he suggests focusing on one project at a time to get a sense of success.
Franklin and his family devoted three years to renovating a long-vacant home that was next door to theirs. Not only did it help spruce up the neighborhood, but now provides additional income as an Airbnb.
The task also included tough decisions. Sometimes tempted to use carpet instead of going down to the original wood floor in some rooms, Franklin took the harder route and now has gleaming wood floors.
Kristen French and her husband faced similar obstacles with the renovation of their 1930s home on South Chestnut. After three years, they’ve done the heavy lifting, updating pretty much everything throughout the stately home.
Now it’s time for the finer touches.
“I really want to be selective about how I decorate,” she said, leaning toward a minimalist approach.
Happy reading!
Locally owned greenhouse and floral design is a great day getaway!
We love supporting happy customers.
Come and see us for the following:
• Annuals and perennials
• Shrubs and Grasses
• Unique home décor & gifts
“Green shag carpeting, god-awful wallpaper, and the ceiling was falling in,” was Kristen French’s first impression of the house.
So what kept her interest in the “lost cause”?
“The bookshelves. I fell in love with them,” she said.
The two glass-enclosed bookshelves so haunted her thoughts that she had to have the long-neglected house at 224 S. Chestnut in Iola.
Though French and her husband, Cassidy Weatherbie, have owned the home for four years, they didn’t move in until April 2023. French serves as an office manager at Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and Weatherbie is an employee of A&B Cleaning. The couple are parents to a 4-year-old daughter.
“It was in pretty rough shape when we bought it,” she said of the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath home just two blocks off the downtown square.
The couple spent every spare hour renovating the home. They also heavily relied on the help of family.
“My father-in-law, Gene Weatherbie, did the majority of the work for us,” she explained. “We wouldn’t be here today if not for him.”
Inside, the walls were taken down to the studs. Cabi-
nets removed. Carpets stripped. Windows replaced. New appliances installed.
Outside, the peeling stucco was redone. The brick repaired. The window trim replaced. And the entirety painted.
The antiquated kitchen with its half-wallpaper, half-pink painted backsplash has now been replaced with a modern aesthetic. With new appliances, cabinetry, and cool tones, the kitchen is French’s favorite room.
French’s goal is to create a minimalist space for her family. “I don’t want so much junk,” she said. “I really want to be selective about how I decorate. It’s still a work in progress, but I have some ideas.”
The one room that is completely finished is the spare bedroom, French said, stating that she knew from the outset exactly how she wanted it to look.
Built by the Sleeper family, the stately home has more than 2,000 square feet. “We had a lot to work with,” she said.
And there’s room for future renovations. The house has a spacious basement.
“It’s not livable down there right now, but at one time there must have been an awesome kitchen there.” French guesses it’s from the 1930s. “It’s a very old basement, but that kitchen space has potential.”
After spending three years of renovating almost every detail, French said the most rewarding moment came when the carpet was installed. “We had spent the weekend finishing painting, vacuuming and sweeping in preparation for the carpet to be laid,” she said. “That was when I realized this journey
was really starting to come to an end. Walking in and seeing the new carpet made it really feel like home.”
And the bookshelves? Still the highlight. Walking in the front entryway, they catch your eye immediately, drawing you into the rest of the house.
When asked what advice she would give those considering undertaking a similar project, French quickly replied, “Don’t.”
That knee-jerk reaction can probably be attributed to her least favorite job — hanging Sheetrock. “It was a lot of mudding and sanding,” she said.
After further consideration, her advice is to remain steadfast. “Don’t give up,” she said. “It’s a long and hard journey, but don’t give up.”
“I can’t live without light,” Myra Gleason said of what attracted her to their light-filled home on South Cottonwood Street. Second to her need for sunshine are plants. Decorative, edible or medicinal, Myra has a holistic relationship with them.
Myra and husband Gabe moved to Iola from Sacramento, Calif., in 2022. Today, they own Wild Bloom coffee shop on the downtown square where Gabe is chef to an ever-expanding menu.
Fresh food plays a central role in their business as well as well as in their personal lives.
The couple are also musicians who once spent long stretches of time touring.
For Myra, growing plants signal stability.
“If I lived somewhere long enough to hang a plant, that would become a really big thing for me,” she said. Today, she relishes philodendron tendrils wrapping around curtain rods and columns, proof that she, too, is taking root.
“Plants are my safety net. When the world might get a little crazy, caring for my plants gives me control. And they respond to me. As long as I care for them, they will grow. It’s the same with our bodies. They respond to how much care we give them.”
Myra said she became interested in plants when she worked with children in foster care in Oregon years ago.
“Therapy gardens were a really important tool,” she said. “When you’re working with kids who lack confidence, being able to grow something can be a real boost.”
Central to the process was learning how to be patient and caring.
“We would teach the kiddos that when a seed is planted, it’s not going to shoot up that day, but requires nurturing over a certain period of time. It requires you to come back to it and care for it.”
It’s the same with relationships, she said.
And as with the seasons, foster children sometimes had to “learn to move on,” she said. “They had to learn that sometimes they may not spend a lifetime with their foster parents.”
“Growing a garden has been a radical learning experi-
ence for me. It’s taught me a lot of lessons that I didn’t think could be remotely connected to plants. It’s so rewarding and therapeutic to grow things,” she said. “I wish more young people took to gardening.
Myra has metaphors for just about everything.
“If you don’t get the weed out — if you keep throwing mulch on top of it — it’s always going to pop up,” she quipped.
The Gleasons have a small backyard surrounded by a high fence to keep out foxes and rabbits. Lining one side of the fence are concrete blocks in which every other one contains white candytuft, a delicate perennial. In the others will be peppers.
The garden is a work in progress, with plans for a small greenhouse.
Their herbs include English, German, and lemon thyme, tarragon, sage, mint, and chamomile. Myra uses many of them to make teas and salves.
The Gleasons use companion plants to fend off unwanted pests. Next to their heirloom tomatoes will be basil. Amongst the herbs will be marigolds. With peppers will be onions.
Gabe, who nurtures the herb garden all year round, contends it’s the perfect project for a beginner gardener.
“If you’ve failed at everything in life, if you plant an herb garden it will keep coming back. If you want to grow
After the passing of a neighbor left the house sitting vacant for years, Aaron Franklin purchased the 1,100 square foot home on South Oak Street in 2021 with the intention of beautifying the area and making it a safe place to live.
“There was a lot to do,” said Franklin. “The house had sat vacant for a minimum of seven years without climate control.” Franklin’s first step was to get rid of any contaminants or mold in the house.
Using his skills as an insurance adjuster, Franklin teamed up with his wife Allegra and mother-in-law, Tracy Call, to tackle the renovation. “We spent two-and-a-half years working on it and consulting others who have experience,” he said.
He also had to learn a few things along the way. “Putting the baseboards in — I don’t know how to do this stuff,” he explained. “In my work, I go into a lot of super nice places and see a lot of these things at the finished state. I have an idea of what looks good.”
Franklin also saw this as a teaching moment for his kids. “I came from nothing,” he said. “My kids have not had that life and I wanted to teach them not to throw everything away, but to see something for what it is.”
That theme is showcased throughout the house. Instead
of replacing the 1930’s American Standard sink in the bathroom, Franklin scrubbed it clean and updated it with a new faucet. Rather than cover the kitchen linoleum with carpet — a cheaper and easier option — he restored it to the original wood flooring.
Stripping the kitchen floor was one of the more labor-intensive tasks. Beneath the linoleum was a black felt material that had been there for at least 40 years.
“We knew there was a wood floor underneath, but we didn’t know how to get that material off, so it was a lot of trial and error and elbow grease,” he said.
Franklin attributes focusing on one project at a time as the primary path to success. That, and the skills of his mother-in-law. “She is an artist,” he said.
Each room exhibits a labor of love. In fact, “restoration” may be a more appropriate word than “renovation.” Many of the original features of the home still shine through, revealing the charm of the two-bedroom, one-bath house.
Now operating as an Airbnb, Franklin noted the house hosted its first guests in February. Business has been steady ever since, he said. And, much like many of its fixtures, the old house now has a new purpose — a second life.
LE ROY — When Laura Pavlak took over a long-standing greenhouse business near Le Roy, it was important for her to honor both tradition and the Kansas prairie. Thus, Arnold’s Greenhouse became Arnold’s Prairie.
“We are located out in ‘God’s country’ as they say, but we hope that a trip here will be a chance for folks to step away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature and beautiful growing plants,” Pavlak said.
Pavlak’s connection to Arnold’s goes even deeper. She’s known original owners George and Rita Arnold since she was a child. Her mother, Nancy Brink, worked for the Arnolds for many years. Pavlak worked for them too, during high school. Then she left for Kansas State University to study horticulture.
She moved to Garden City where she met her husband, Tom. They stayed in that area for about 10 years before moving to Missouri, where Pavlak mostly worked in administrative office jobs. After about 15 years, they returned to Pavlak’s hometown.
They purchased Arnold’s on Dec. 22, 2023.
Pavlak always felt a connection to plants.
“My mom has a picture of me when I was 2 or 3, out in the yard digging up her tulip bulbs,” she said. “It’s just a thrill to walk into a greenhouse and see everything growing.”
George and Rita are retired but live nearby and continue to serve as mentors. They built the first greenhouse and started the business nearly 50 years ago.
“I think Rita will be growing plants until her final day. Like me, if it’s in your blood, you just do it and you don’t quit,” Pavlak said.
Many of the staff have been with the business for years. Pavlak expects to hire more this spring as the growing season ramps up.
Pavlak’s goal is to offer quality plants and products at reasonable prices and great customer service. The large facility offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, seeds, herbs, vegetables, small fruits, roses, shrubs and houseplants,
“and some varieties that you don’t find just anywhere.”
“Since we didn’t purchase the facility until late December, it’s been quite a whirlwind getting ready for the spring season,” she said. “One of our specialties will be Kansas native varieties of perennial flowers, grasses, and shrubs, but it will take some time to really build up to that.”
Pavlak hopes to continue to increase retail offerings, such as trees.
“I have some ideas brewing about future events. Once the dust settles, we’ll be offering classes and workshops, too, so we would love to hear any ideas or suggestions that our customers might have as well.”
She noted gardening became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It gives people a connection to nature,” she said. “With all the technology and stress we have in our world, having plants kind of helps you connect and calm down.”
Bill Walden drives a massive pickup. For the month of March, he spent $30 in “fuel.”
Wife Cara drives a sleek Cadillac. Her expenses are half that.
The Waldens are electric car converts.
“I was scared at first,” Cara said of the unknown. “It’s a whole new driving experience and learning curve. But now, I’ll never go back. I don’t have to change the oil or get gas. All I have to worry about is changing my tires and wiper blades.”
Bill’s biggest concern is forgetting to turn off the motor before he exits.
“I’ve done that numerous times. It’s so quiet I forget it’s on.”
Fortunately, the car turns off after 15 minutes.
The Cadillac’s extras include a soft humming noise to alert pedestrians and cyclists whenever the car is at 25 mph or below. It also “chirps” when in reverse.
Bill, a pharmacist and partner at Iola Pharmacy, and Cara, proprietor of 110 Lounge and Event Center, are sold on their cars’ quiet, smooth rides.
“It’s like floating on air,” Cara said of her Cadillac Lyriq, which they purchased in Springfield, Mo.
Bill’s Ford Lightning F-150 is from Iola’s Twin Motors Ford.
Converting to electric required that they install two 50amp charging units in their garage.
Kurt Jackson of KJ Electrical Contracting, Yates Center, did the work.
In the Waldens’ case, the installation was simple for two reasons, Jackson said.
First, the home’s “main electric source” was located in the garage and it was big enough to accommodate the additional demand.
“Most smaller- to medium-size homes are equipped with 100 to 200 amps. Larger homes are 400 amps,” Jackson said. “One charging station is 50 amps. So if you’ve got a clothes dryer and the air-conditioning on while also charging your vehicle, you could trip a breaker,” he said.
“The biggest thing is to make sure the electrical pull isn’t so great that it overloads the system. You need to know you have ample power before you buy an electric car, or be prepared to add more,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he’s seen a small uptick in demand to install electric vehicle (EV) charging units, “but nothing big.”
THE WALDENS venture that Iola not having a public charging station is a missed opportunity.
“For small towns like Iola, especially with a downtown square, it’s a way to bring people into town,” she said.
As frequent visitors to Branson, Mo., the couple now regularly stops in Mount Vernon, Mo., population 4,550, to recharge their vehicle’s battery. Alongside the town’s Walmart are four level 3 fast-charging ports, free to the public.
“In 15-20 minutes, I can charge my truck up to 90 percent while Cara does some shopping,” Bill said. “Think if we had a station like that near the square. People could go get a meal while their car charges.”
In Branson, only level-2 stations are available to the public, they said.
“That’s what we have at our home, which is fine when you have all night to plug them in,” Cara said.
They also bemoan the fact that the 170 miles along Hwy. 54 between Nevada, Mo., and Wichita, “there’s not a supercharging station in sight,” said Bill.
Another prime opportunity for the taking.
When on overnight trips, the couple makes sure they stay at hotels that come with charging stations.
“It’s changed how we travel somewhat, but not in a big way,” Cara said.
Both of their vehicles can go 300-320 miles before they need recharging.
Bill contends Cara is more brave when it comes to testing the limit.
“She has no anxiety whatsoever about running low. She’s come home from Kansas City with only 9 miles left. I would be freaking out,” he said.
Would they ever go back to gas?
“Not me. I’m sold,” said Cara.
While Bill simply shrugs and says, “It’s a great ride.”
The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is coordinating the Iola City-Wide Garage sale just in time for your spring cleaning!
The event will take place on Saturday, June 1. The registration deadline to be on the physical map and digital map is Wednesday, May 24. Registrations received after that time will not be included on the map.
To register as a seller, visit iolachamber.org or stop by our o ce at 10 W. Jackson. Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. There's a $10 registration fee. Cash, check or Venmo accepted.
Allen County Farmers’ Market has 3 markets to help our community grow and shop local!
Tuesday Afternoons
Opening day: May 7
Cofachique Park on N. State Street, Iola from 1-3 p.m.
Wednesdays
Opening day: June 5
Iola Area Chamber of Commerce’s office from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thursday Evenings
Opening day: May 9
East side of Iola’s square from 5:30-7 p.m.
Questions? Email info.allencountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call 620-228-3482
Follow us on Facebook or visit allencofarmersmarket.com/
Our outdoor living selection has what you need to tackle every project. Patio blocks, landscaping stones, patio furniture, fencing, mulch, and more… everything you need priced just right to make your outdoor living space beautiful this summer.