Friends of the Limberlost
  • Home
  • Resources
    • Maps
    • Teachers
    • Mobile app and iBook
    • Programs >
      • Birds >
        • Beneficial Birds
        • Chimney Swifts
        • Eagles
        • Extreme Birds
        • Indiana's Raptors
        • Owls of Limberlost
        • Peregrine Falcons
        • Vultures
      • Insects >
        • Dragonflies
        • Moths
      • Rent-a-Naturalist
    • News
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Bird's Eye View
  • Contact Us

Ode to the Loblolly Marsh

9/23/2019

 
Ode to the Loblolly Marsh
 
The Marsh is marvelous, too marvelous for words.
The grasses swaying in the breeze
Put my heart and soul at ease.
Each little bird with its song of cheer
Brings 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 their ugliness,
Scavenge bodies in an acts of cleanliness.
The birds and bees,
The flowers and the trees
Amidst the constant strife,
Work in unison to spin the web of life.
The Monarch, Buckeye, Viceroy, and Painted Lady
Are spreading life where sunny or shady.
The worms and bugs,
The beetles and the flies,
Perform a thankless job
Upon which our life relies.
The wetlands and the forests,
The prairies and the hills
And all the creatures great and small,
Make you, Oh Lob,
A sacred place for all.

 
Bill Hubbard
September 15, 2019
Click the "Download File" button below for a copy of the "Ode to the Loblolly" PowerPoint filled with breathtaking photos of the Loblolly:
ode_to_the_loblolly_ppt_with_music.pdf
File Size: 5708 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture

Everyday Poetry

9/10/2019

 
Everyday Poetry

By Adrienne Provenzano, Songstress of the Limbelost

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 by Mary DeJong Obuchowski, and a resource I've turned to many times, as it gathers all of Stratton-Porter's known poetry along with insightful commentary. In recent years, former Indiana Poet Laureate, Shari Wagner, has shared her own poetry at the Limberlost and facilitated engaging writing workshops for children and adults, the results of which have been shared online by the Friends of the Limberlost

Last month, I had the privilege of portraying Gene Stratton-Porter at the Limberlost State Historic Site on what would have been her 156th birthday, August 17, 2019. I spent most of the day in the lovely music room of the Limberlost Cabin, speaking with tour groups and providing brief musical selections throughout the day. 

I also asked for suggestions from visitors for words or phrases about nature. I planned to later combine these contributions into a collaborative poem and share it on the Friends of the Limberlost website and Facebook page. One of the visitors recited a poem "Be Like the Bird" which she recalled learning during elementary school. A most appropriate literary work to recite in the home of Gene Stratton-Porter, also known as The Bird Woman! Readers familiar with Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost may recall that The Bird Woman is a prominent character in both novels by Stratton-Porter and Limberlost Cabin also plays an important part!

Below, I've included one of the many translations for the "Be Like the Bird" poem, written by French author Victor Hugo. While the original French refers to a male bird, I've also found translations which depict the bird as female, so I've included both options. The poem resulting from collaboration with visitors follows. Thank you all for keeping the spirit of creativity alive at Limberlost Cabin! 

"Be Like the Bird"

By Victor Hugo

Be like the bird who,

Resting in his (her) flight

On twig too slight,

Feels it give way beneath him (her),

Yet sings,

Knowing he (she) hath wings.

A Peaceful Place


A Collaborative Poem by the Songstress of the Limberlost (Adrienne Provenzano) and Visitors to Limberlost Cabin, August 17, 2019

A peaceful place,

Beautiful trees and brilliant birds.

Colors of red and blue.

When the eagles fly,

They create peaceful place for meditation.

Be like the bird.

Brilliant, beautiful.

​Create a peaceful place. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thank you to Bill Hubbard for the pictures taken on August 17, 2019.
Picture
Sunset at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve August 2019 by Terri Gorney. 
Picture
Ceylon Bridge, the last covered bridge on the Wabash River. Photo by Bill Hubbard. 
Picture
.Kingbird. Photo by Bill Hubbard.
Picture
Bald Eagle. Photo by Bill Hubbard.
Picture
Wabash River, east side of Geneva. Gene Stratton-Porter called this area "Paradise on the Wabash." Photo by Terri Gorney. 

Tree Trail Walk

9/1/2019

 
We hope you will enjoy this late summer walk along the Tree Trail at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. The woods and the Tree Trail is owned by the Friends of the Limberlost. Thank you to all those that have made this trail possible. A special thanks to Bill Hubbard for volunteering for the Friends and for identifying the trees.
Picture
Picture
Looking up into the tree canopy.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Early goldenrod growing along the trail. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
The first tinge of fall color in the leaves.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Photos by Terri Gorney.

    Author

    The volunteers and staff of Limberlost

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.