Going to Union, Illinois-- Part 2: A Nursery and a Lot of History

This, as I said before, is my second longest trip from home since March 2020 because of you-know-what.   The only farther trip was to the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend a short time ago.

Once on Illinois Highway 176 and headed west to Union, I stopped at Kolze's nursery and found two hostas that I liked and bought the,.  Hostas have become my go to plant as they require very little effort to grow.  They just do their thing.

Drove around Union, Illinois, a thriving community of 576 according tom the 2020 census, but it has been there since the 1850s and is named for the United States.  It is an old village with a small downtown.  The McHenry County Civil War Round Table got its start there before meetings were moved to the more centrally located Woodstock.

In addition, the McHenry County Historical Society Museum is there and located in what used to be a school.  Also, the Illinois Railway Museum is there as is  Donley's Wild West Town amusement Park and the site of the oldest and largest antique Phonograph Show in the world.  So, as you can see, there sure is a lot of history in Union.

--RoadUnion

My Second-Longest Trip Since the Virus Hit: Going to Union for McHenry County CWRT-- Part 1

Yesterday, I went for my second longest trip from home to Union, Illinois, some 33 miles from home since March 2020 because of you-know-what.  I went there for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table's (MCCWRT) first in-person meeting since March of that year as well.  (I just got back my from my farthest trip from home, the Indy 500, on May 31st.)

Plus, did some of my favorite things along the way, stopping and looking at flowers and bushes at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Meijer and a Kolze's, private nursery, along the way and now have two unique hostas that I bought at the last place.

I am amazed at how few sales on plants are going on these days.

But what is worse, the gas prices.  Oh my goodness.  Big Oil has a full-on gas gouge going now.  I figured once it hit $3 here in northeastern Illinois, that it would drop.  Wrong.  Every station was between $3.40 and $3.50.

Thanks a lot guys.

I drove  Illinois Highways 31, 120, 47 and 176 to Union.

Good to Be on the Road Again, But Doggone Those Gas Prices.  --RoadDog

Back to My 20.4 Mile Road Trip-- Part 4: Hitting the Garden Centers

Like I said, this was the farthest I had drive from home since the coronavirus hit and Illinois closed down back on March 17, 2020.

Munch sliders as I drove north on Illinois Highway 31, I went to two stores in McHenry, Illinois, to check out what they had in the garden supply nursery area.  This is also one of my favorite things to do in life.  I especially enjoy this as the winter doldrums and cold are leaving and spring is springing.  Nothing like those smells to put you in the mood.

I went first to Home Depot and then Meijer, both located north of McHenry in Illinois Highway 31.  I didn't buy anything at either place.  Meijer had very little left and Home depot had a lot.  But there wasn't much on sale.

That is one thing I have been noticing during the pandemic and that is that prices have gone up some, there are not as many plants and flowers for sale and there just isn't much on sale either..  Usually this time of the year there are a lot of great sales with very low prices and that is when I really start buying.

Actually, we had another MCCWRT discussion group meeting at the Alginquin Panera Bread store and this time I remembered to set the trip odometer (the last time I just looked up distance between Spring Grove and Algonquin and it said 20.4 miles).  Today, the distance from home to Panera was 22.3 miles.

Must be a Virus Thing, You Know.  --RoadDog

The Good, the Good and the Really, Really Bad

All that happened on Saturday around here. //// The first "Good" was that the big stores had opened their yard nurseries, always a favorite time of mine around northern Illinois. That means that spring has arrived. And, with the 70s temps, it sure felt like it. Well, the hail storm in the morning wasn't so good. //// Another really "Good" thing was that I went to my local mom and pop record store in McHenry, The Vinyl Frontier, and found out that next Saturday is the National Record Store Day Celebration, always a favorite of mine. But, even better, I saw a young boy, maybe 8th grade or freshman, going through the stacks. Not ONLY wasn't he downloading tunes, this young guy was grabbing albums. Maybe there is hope for us old, non-downloading folks after all. Maybe albums, CDs and cassettes will somehow survive. //// Now, the BAD and something that definitely will affect my travels this summer. The price of gas had passed tghe "magical" $3.99.9 mark all over McHenry, Illinois, and was at $4.10, or $4.09 as most would say. //// Nolt Every Thing Goes Your Way. Thanks GRBs. --RoadDog

If This Don't Get You Into a Fall Mood, Nothing Will-- Part 1

Yesterday, on our way back from Crystal Lake, Illinois, Liz and I stopped at the Greenhouse, a great name for a nursery, and it was in full fall splendor. Besides being set in the woods, the place was literally overrun with mums of every hue, pumpkins with that vibrant orange and corn shocks.

We've driven by the place many times, but never stopped. Been meaning to, but just haven't. If for no other reason, they have two Muffler Men and you don't often get to see two of them in one place.

I walked around and took lots and lots of pictures. Just about everywhere I looked, there was a really fine frame for a great shot. And, they had a special on where any pumpkin cost $3.95 and they had some mighty big ones.

Well worth a stop if you're on Illinois Highway 31 between McHenry and Crystal Lake. For that matter, stop at your own local nursery.

It's a Fall Thing, You can Really Smell Those Burning Leaves If You're Lucky Enough to be in a Place Where You Can Still Burn 'Em. --RoadDog