Beautiful stained glass at entrance to Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin
Tall grass native prarie on church grounds. Every year or so they have a controlled burn off. This not only clears the land and burns most invasive plants, but is also very healthy for the prairie because: (1) all native plants are perennials so their roots extent twelve inches to over three feet into the soil -- most of their life is in their roots, and (2) for years before Europeans "discovered" the Midwest, there were natural fires from lightning which cleared the growth and small trees to leave only this native prairie behind.
Mary Alice Masonick (center) describing native plants with Allan Lindrup (left) and others
The "Wet Garden" in center surrounded by grass
Mary Alice describing another garden of native plants -- tall Black-eyed Susans and others
Another garden of native plants by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin
The "laberenth" -- all the stones were donated to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin from another "laberenth" about to be destroyed elsewhere
Many Black-eyed Susans, Donna Askins and another by the Community Garden
The "Meditation Garden" with some Purple coneflower (Echinacea) and Black-eyed Susans
Mary Alice and two others by the Meditation Garden
Purple coneflowers (Echinacea) and Meditation Garden
Donna Askins describing the Community Garden. Each square garden plot was originally from old (NOT chemically treated) timbers that eventually rotted and were replaced by a generous donation form the fire deepartment of the current stones which are wired together with cable(s). The crops grown in the rich composted soil are donated to local soup kitchens and poor people who otherwise could never afford nutritous, organic produce. The crops are properly rotated and currently contain garlic. Unfortunately, most white middle class people are not willing to "get their fingers dirty" and work in the garden, so much of the labor and upkeep comes from poor children and grownups.
Donna Askins (center) answering questions after the program