Stroll into Powell Gardens

Just southeast of Kansas City, Missouri is a very well kept secret, Powell Gardens, a 915 acre garden. It boasts of four different gardens, a chapel and and event rental spaces.

• The Fountain Garden surrounds a fountain water feature where children can play. Flowers in colorful kaleidoscope abound. Many are indigenous to the area. Many are blooms you see in floral arrangement catalogs like 1800flowers.
  
• Then there is the Byron Schutz Nature Trail, a 3.25 acre walking path amidst trees, prairie grasses and different species of plants around the world able to withstand midwest weather. Birds and butterflies accompany you on the trail.
  
• The Kauffman Legacy Garden is a two acre garden in the middle of Kansas City built in memory of Muriel and Ewing Kauffman, beloved Kansas City philantropists. It is tended by staff from Powell Gardens. There is a meandering brick path, pavillions to relax and rest and water accents.
  
• The Heartland Harvest Garden is a feast for the casual and the serious vegetable gardener at heart.
  
• There is a gift shop and a store where you can buy plantings, books, and even Mothers day flowers.
  
• All throughout the gardens are pavilions and resource centers where visitors can rest and watch or just enjoy the watching outdoors.
  

Powell Gardens is named after George E. Powell, Sr, who bought the farm in 1948. It has successfully transformed from a dairy farm to the magnificent garden it is today. Renovated in 1988, Powell Gardens is popular setting for weddings, birthdays and family events. You may want to have your Mothers day celebration in the gardens. A visit to Powell Gardens is a treat to the senses of all things beautiful.

Powell Gardens
1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50
Kingsville, MO 64061
Telephone: 816-697-2600
Fax: 816-697-2619

Mohammed Babangida Blogs on Jazz

As if he dose not have enough to do with his busy schedule as oil and gas consultant, businessman and polo player, Nigerian mogul, Mohammed Babangida, also blogs on jazz music.  

In his blog, Mohammed Babangida traces the roots of jazz to its African origin and follows its progression to modern jazz.  He is especially partial to blues music which evolved as an expression of the early African American condition in the south.  He is a fan of Charlie Mingus and Louis Armstrong.

As the world gets smaller and smaller, the blend of African and American music is finding its way into contemporary music.  Paul Simon's Graceland album released in 1986 was inspired by the mbaqanga sounds of the South African group, Boyoyo Boys. Paul Simon used various African jazz musicians in his album.  African jazz musicians are becoming more influential in contemporary American jazz.  By lending his stature to his blogs, Mohammed Babangida is certainly contributing to the evolution of a genre of African American jazz truly derived from both continents.

The son of former Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammed Babangida was educated in Europe and Harvard Business School specializing in the oil and gas industry.  He is also an accomplished polo player.