Prairie Labyrinth

The young Prairie Labyrinth inspires joy, welcomes reflection and contemplation, receives tears.  The soft background orchestral bird songs and gentle fragrance of the stunning white clusters of black locust bloom complete the experience.  Come, walk the Prairie Labyrinth.

Earth Day Prairie Labyrinth

Here we are!  Part of the score of builders of the Prairie Labyrinth at Indian Creek Nature Center! Beautiful day.  Motivated individuals who came together as a group to create a “living disturbance” of the prairie that will  add diversity of use to the Center, create some beneficial disturbance to the prairie, and soothe the soul.

Labyrinth in the News

Readers can enjoy a  glimpse into Labyrinth activity around the area with an engaging piece in the Gazette in Eastern Iowa Life posted on Saturday, April 21st.  Click on Diana Nollen  which will take readers to the article by Diana and pictures by Liz Martin.  Both Diana and Liz worked comfortably and skillfully with me and the other guests who willingly shared their experiences and walked the labyrinth.  This piece led to our Earth Day event at Indian Creek Nature Center where a score of enthusiasts ranging from infant in a stroller to several agile elders arranged welcoming rocks at the entrance and marked out the path to the center.  Wonderful!  Check out the Nature Center’s website and blog and watch here for postings of our progress and other walks this summer.

Mark your calendar now to attend the Native American/Columbus Day weekend labyrinth workshop featuring Sandi Ohlen of Rapid City, SD.

Spring in the Laughing Labyrinth

This unusual spring, a full four to five weeks ahead of the norm is simply spectacular!  The Magnolia tree held full blooms for many days – almost two weeks in fact.  Now, emerging leaves lend color and texture to the landscape as plants push through the ground and open themselves to the warm sun and rain.  Robins and turkeys are regular visitors as are the deer that sneak in at night.  The egg spray that I use to deter the latter from nibbling the plants works until a heavy dew or rain.  I try to stand upwind as I spray to keep the sulfur-smelling concoction off me.  Pretty stinky!

The bleeding hearts are super and the Hands In Harmony Solomon Seal are about four inches tall at the base of the Magnolia tree.  Aster clusters, the stepables in the entry way, and hosta all are popping up.  Wendee and Les Deal’s plants, Mary Westermeyer’s variegated  Solomon Seal, Jenny Herron’s pulmonaria, and the McNeil’s aster are among the early arrivals. 

Spring in Abundance

The Laughing Labyrinth is fairly bursting with energy and life.  Too early, may get frosted out, but the vibrancy of it all is reassuring and life will go on in spite of setbacks.

Jenny’s Pulmonaria is especially sweet to see.  Nancy and Bruce’s asters are tucked into wide open spaces.  Wendee and Les’ shrubs leafed out.  A few early emerging lilies from Kramer’s Flower Farm coming up in the middle of the path are settled in new locales where they will grow abundantly.

First Bench is where it needs to be and for a reason.  Pilgrims can by pass it.  Or if they sit, they simply need to look around and follow the path – take into account where they came from and where they are going.  And, should they back track, just re-trace their steps and follow around by the bricks on to the center. 

The entry is fragrant with cocoa bean shells – and so are my hands from spreading them.

Marching into Summer

       Wonderful colors above.  A crow pilgrim below. Latest picture of The Laughing Labyrinth.

Beyond Rubies “Lessons Learned in Creating the Laughing Labyrinth” March 2012

A lovely group of women joined me for the Beyond Rubies talk on “Lessons Learned in Creating the Laughing Labyrinth.”  One came because she knew me but didn’t know the topic!  Very fine to re-connect with a former colleague from many years ago.  Another came, because – nice support. Thank you.  A third had walked the Labyrinth and wanted to know more.  The others were “unschooled” so to speak, but one did have access to a labyrinth in Washington, IA.  Pleasant interchange and time to do a virtual walk.  This experience deeply touched one pilgrim who found some solace remembering her father who had died within the past year.

I enjoyed the interaction, appreciated the help before and after and am eager to explore other labyrinths in Iowa.