Author Archives: friendsoflimberlost

Smell the dank, dark soilof the cracked river bottom and enter nature’s grasp, yourtromping boot soles sinking into mud. See the flames ofautumn ivy spread near your path beside the water’s forced banks,straightened, pooling in memories of where it once was.Savor the warmth of sun reaching through enchanted branches and waking up creatures dulled by coolnessContinue reading “Invitation to Rainbow Bottom”

During 2017 and again in 2019, I had the privilege of offering poetry workshops inspired by the ecology and history of the Limberlost. These workshops were sponsored by Arts in the Parks and Historic Sites, a program of the Indiana Arts commission. Much of workshops’ success was do to the promotion efforts of Friends ofContinue reading “Poetry at the Limberlost”

LIMBERLOST VIEWS~Inspired by Bill Hubbard’s Photographs OrioleLittle and yellowmindful but lostgliding through the clouds By Lydia Shaffer        * * *Swan on the lakeWhite, curved neckIce floats by By Callie Shaffer        * * *Monkey cry, a flash of redSwooping through the treesPileated woodpecker By Simon Brainerd The Old Schoolhousecrumbling wallswoodContinue reading “Young Poets”

INVITATION TO LIMBERLOST CABIN~In memory of Gene Stratton-Porter Smell the mustiness of books,their brittle, coffee-stained pages. Curl up on a settee to hearthe crackle of fire, the warmth of Gene’s words. See the blue heron’smarble glare, and the golden eagle’s regal stature and talons. Lookat the porcelain doll holding memories of Jeannette. Come examine theContinue reading “November Workshop”

Kimberley Roll is an excellent nature photographer. She has shared her photographs from her October hikes at the Limberlost Wetland Preserve and the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. Wood ducks in flight. Turtles catching some sun on a warm October day. Savannah sparrow Male bluebird. We will have some bluebirds stay all winter and others willContinue reading “October at Limberlost”

Collaborative Poems from Participants in Shari Wagner’s 9-25-2019 Workshop for Kids: “Among Sights, Sounds, and Silences: A Writing Workshop” LOBLOLLY MARSH INVITATION See the grass in the distancemoving the way a catsashays side to side. Watch the geese flying over,an arrow that leads usinto the prairie. Hear the flock’s babble, laughingat us, and the honkingofContinue reading “Poetry Workshop for Kids”

Shari Wagner, Indiana Poet Laureate 2016-17, conducted a poetry workshop at Limberlost on Saturday, October 12. The day started with a hike led by Limberlost Naturalist Curt Burnette at Rainbow Bend Park. A place that Gene Stratton-Porter called Rainbow Bottom. Gene set “Song of the Cardinal” and “At the Foot of the Rainbow” at thisContinue reading “Poetry Group Hike”

Saturday, October 5, Naturalist Curt Burnette led a hike at the Limberlost Swamp Wetland Preserve which began at the Deacon’s Trail. This is a rare look at some of the areas of the wetland that cannot be seen from the road and spend part of the year underwater. This is the area where Gene Stratton-PorterContinue reading “October Limberlost Hike”

By Bill Hubbard The Marsh is marvelous, too marvelous for words.The grasses swaying in the breezePut my heart and soul at ease.Each little bird with its song of cheerBrings to my heart a message dear.The eagle perched, or soaring in the sky,Brings to my mind the thought,Oh, that it could be I!Vultures, beautiful in theirContinue reading “Ode to the Loblolly Marsh”

By Adrienne Provenzano, Songstress of the Limberlost Gene Stratton-Porter is better known as a naturalist, photographer, and author than as a poet. She enjoyed writing poems throughout her life and turned more and more to that genre in her later years. Field o’ My Dreams: The Poetry of Gene Stratton-Porter, is a comprehensive 2007 scholarly work byContinue reading “Everyday Poetry”