Tag: Volunteers

Bike Rally

Our church held an interesting and fun event last weekend. The music director had the great idea of hosting a bicycle rally. This was an outreach event to our church neighbors… to help people get their bicycles into shape for the summer season.

The flyer.

There were a few bike stations set up…for minor repairs and pumping up tires as needed…there was a giveaway table, a raffle for bike helmets and bike locks. There was sunshine (although chilly at the beginning), and of course, there was music and food…donuts and coffee, hot dogs and water…all free…for all. O yes, and free t-shirts.

One of several bicycle help stations.
The raffle table, and overview of the lower parking lot at church.

Gary and I volunteered to help at the event. We envisioned lots of kids coming with their bikes. We were surprised, and enjoyed the fact, that many families came together, and many adults had their bikes serviced.

Another bicycle station.
A station for decorating bikes. Kids had fun with this…including the old-fashioned playing card attached to the spoke to make your bike sound “cool”.

There was a good turn out, and steady…not everyone came at once. We were there for four hours and all of us volunteers could tell people were having a great time, as were we! 

There were a couple obstacle courses set up in the front parking lot.

The bike rally was deemed successful. We were able to show love to our neighbors, and offer them something practical and fun. 

Hot dogs on the grill…always yummy.

It was most likely the beginning of an annual event.

Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Garden

It may not be very big – 52 acres – but it’s overflowing with beauty…the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Garden.

Peony

My friend and I met in Dubuque, Iowa for our annual get together. Dubuque is a lovely river town. It has a scenic river walk along the Mississippi River, a wonderful botanical garden and thrift stores.

Peony

Dubuque met our criteria for a meeting place: water, gardens and thrift & antique stores.

Lupine
Lupine

The day we went to the botanical garden was dreamy. An ideal temperature, bright blue skies with no clouds in sight.

One of the garden sculptures: Germination.

Dubuque is five hours farther south than Northfield, and there were many plants blooming in Iowa that were not blooming in Minnesota yet. There were peonies and lupines and iris’ in their full array.

Iris
Iris
Iris
Iris

In the botanical garden there was an herb garden, a shade garden, an English garden, a Japanese garden, a prairie garden, a rose garden (not in bloom yet), annuals, perennials, peonies, iris’ and lupines, a children’s area, sculptures, trees, lots of benches and green, green, grass.

The Japanese Garden

So much packed into those 52 acres.

The shade garden.
Striking sun pattern on the gazebo.

The arb is convenient and close to town. And has free admission.

Peony
Bleeding Heart

They also boast the arboretum & garden is run entirely by volunteers. It’s a young arboretum…established in 1980.

Peony
Peony

We spent our morning meandering, and sitting on the benches, and smelling the flowers, enjoying ourselves in this beautiful setting, marveling at God’s creation.

Lupine
The Tin Man in an annual garden, with more displays in other annual beds featuring characters from The Wizard of Oz.

And we were grateful.

Peony