12 Comments
User's avatar
Jerrold Johnson's avatar

The bizarre naming of the streets and avenues of urban sprawl. We destroy habitat that once supported hundreds of species of Midwest wildlife, and then name these concrete and asphalt deserts Quail Avenue, Pheasant Lane, Badger Road.

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

That looks amazing--thanks, Derrick!

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

So true!

Expand full comment
Lynne Wyness's avatar

A wonderful weaving together of observations in your patch. It all sounds so exotic to me in rural England! That’s why I love about Substack, the chance to be utterly immersed in someone else’s place and their relationship with it.

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

Thank you! 🙏

Expand full comment
Timber Fox's avatar

A great read from start to finish, I like how you jumped from you topic to topic like a spider.

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

Ha! Thanks so much 🙏

Expand full comment
Gwenda Bond's avatar

Loved this one.

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

Thanks, Gwenda! 🙏

Expand full comment
Derrick Jeter's avatar

Wonderful post, Christopher. Since this article was mostly about the etymology of Des Moines, you might be interested in the book of place names in your adopted state of Texas: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1477320644/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1697377530&sr=8-2

Expand full comment
Kaymarion Raymond's avatar

another wonderful quilt of observation! i tried but couldn't get a link to work (404 error) so found this one instead https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/art/exhibitions/exhibition/id/1940?groundswell-women-of-land-art

Expand full comment
Christopher Brown's avatar

Thank you! Will correct that

Expand full comment