I first discovered this beautiful phenomenom in 6th grade while waiting for Mom at Neosho’s old Intermediate School (6th and 7th grades). The entrance faced east, so at 4:30, as the Sun was starting to set, it would light up this white plantation-style house across the street.
I am starting to realize how many of the items on this list take me back to my childhood, because this is yet another thing that makes me happy from that time in my life. Item #37, dogwood trees, comes from when my family lived in Neosho, but the source of my gumball tree joy comes from before then, when we lived in Overland Park.
Neosho is famous for its dogwood trees with their white and pink blooms floating like clouds down Oak Ridge Drive, starting in early spring and lasting for several beautiful weeks. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the dogwoods during the annual Dogwood Tour, and there’s even a 5k race [DOC file] to celebrate the event (who’s running it with me next time?!).