Welcome Back! So glad you returned. You must have enjoyed your first visit and the second one, too. I know a lot of the neighbors will be glad to see you. Though no one actually leaves the neighborhood, folks around here change their clothes, wearing sometimes their party and other times their workaday faces. Life here is never dull and the people who live in and around Union Center are glad when guests drop by.
Peacemakers, ready to reconcile
A lot of passionate folk live and work in Union Center. You’ve gotta be able to hold your own around here. I dare you to walk down the street, past the many open-air cafes and shops, without overhearing a heated debate about everything from free markets or education policy, to the existence of God and everything in-between. Usually things stay calm, but sometimes tempers flare. When people live and work together rubbing elbows a lot, sparks can fly. That’s where these purple beauties get to work. There’s something about these tall, graceful irises that tends to cool hot heads. They know what to say and how to move the combatants from point A to B to resolve the disagreement.
Sometimes, ya' gotta get hard-nosed
We’ve learned that every community needs its own curmudgeon. Naysayers play an important role. It’s too easy, sometimes, to be caught up in ideas and optimism and the excitement of possibility. As fun as it is to speculate and imagine how wonderful things might be, you should balance it with a little hard-nosed reality. That’s what these prickly characters add to the community. They chime in, just when everybody is getting cozy and comfy with things, pointing out a potential problem or fallacy. This is valuable though not always fun. And by the way, don’t be fooled by their appearance. These cacti are big ole softies once you get past their prickly exterior.
Ballet Class
Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to walk by the Ballet Studio during a practice. The sweeping movements of the dancers, the elegant grace of their steps are sure to inspire.
Can't resist a cool dip on a hot day
It’s no surprise that Union Center’s Parks and Recreation Department is such an integral part of the scene. In a way, the whole place is one big park. On a hot summer day, you’re likely to see some of the residents at the pool, often joined by a few ducks. I think it’s so telling that the lifeguards, these purple water irises, are cousins of the Mediator Irises. Maybe mediation and lifesaving go hand in hand?
Madame Prima Dona Bella
Madame Prima Dona Bella brings a spark of old world charm and European sensuality to the neighborhood. We never know what she’ll wear or say or do next, but she adds a flair and color to this place (like it needs more). She loves to sit out on her porch dressed to the nines, greeting passersby and inviting them to stop for a civilized espresso and biscotti.
A global view in our own backyard
These guys have a ball. The Alum Alumni are always ready for a little fun. They’re jokesters and pranksters who like to keep the rest of us on our toes. Irritating at moments, what they really do is help things from getting too serious around here.
Union Center Gone Green
I wanted to take you back to the heart of Union Center in late spring to show how life doesn’t stop, though the spring finery does. The daffodils are long finished with their Easter Parade, that yellow riot of energy and joy, and have settled into their green scene. In some ways this is more intense, because they know their above-ground days are numbered. They’re harvesting solar now, taking a scythe to sunbeams, and socking it away for the move indoors. Focused and serious, they’ll still be glad to see you for a few minutes. Everybody needs a breather.
Energized and energizing at Union Center
This shot is some weeks old now, obviously, considering the late, lingering tulips chatting with this hosta that just moved in. Like visiting a beach in the off-season, the late-Spring living in Union Center takes on a slow and easy, though possibly profound, pace. This suits the hosta perfectly. I love sipping lemonade while hearing what book they’re reading or thought they’re thinking.
