POST 29/2025 GENEVA INDIANA: Limberlost. Loblolly. Gene Stratton-Porter. We were driving from our Bed No Breakfast lodging in Berne enroute to a Poetry Workshop at Loblolly Marsh and got slightly lost to-ing and fro-ing around a detour on gravel roads to Loblolly, part of the Limberlost Conservation Area Nature Preserves.
Our niece Shari Wagner led a workshop, sponsored by the Adams Public Library and Friends of the Limberlost a week ago. Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924) built two Limberlost cabins, the first in Geneva the second on Sylvan Lake, Rome City, Indiana.
For those who are able, I highly recommend a visit to both historic sites. The day after the workshop we had a guided tour of Stratton-Porter’s home at Limberlost State Historic Site at Geneva. The tour guide’s depth of knowledge and affability alone made the visit worthwhile: Search online for Limberlost State Historic Site. Go if you can! Include walks on trails in the area Preserves.
The workshop a week ago included a guided morning walk through the marsh for the 15 participants.
For me, delight lay in pausing on the trail, hearing stories of the land once settled by Europeans, parts of which are now being restored to their natural settings with vegetation and wildlife managed for invasive species.
From our guide I learned about poison ivy’s natural purpose. Its berries provide food for migrating and over-wintering birds. When it came time in the afternoon to draft a poem, I chose poison ivy, working title, “Friend or Foe, You Poison Plant.”
Poison ivy
The most ubiquitous plant in Loblolly Marsh,
Our guide pointed out.
Berries, food for migrating or wintering birds.
Abundance maturing on the stem.
As a lover of nature
I cringe at the memories of suffering its infernal itch.
This I learned today
Poison ivy has a natural purpose
Plus, an expansive point:
If I were a bird
There'd be no need to be concerned
About God's bounty.
Wouldn’t you know it. Two days after the hike I woke up with a poison ivy rash, which proved severe enough to get shots from my doctor. Thankfully, the workshop experience gives me an expanded bird’s eye view goodness all around.
Loblolly
Limberlost Historic Site
Garden give-away
The red peppers are almost too hot to eat by themselves. They may end up in a stew.
Happy to-ing and fro-ing. Take care around, but give thanks for, poison ivy.
-John
It's About Now 
Recalling the times we’ve been at Limberlost together, both in the Kass era and later Audrey in 2015, I think, on our way west on Amtrak. Ken
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Indeed, Ken and Audrey, Gene Stratton-Porter shines a light on good connections, good memories, good times. I’m reading Freckles, really good book about an orphan who came into his own at the start of the 20th century in the employ of a kind but exacting boss in the timber harvest around Geneva, where the author lived before moving to Rome City.
We’re doing well. Brother-in-law Gerald died last Wednesday from advanced Parkinson’s. We’re going to spend a few days with Mary this week.
Be well!
John
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