Celebrating a Sense of Wonder in Our North Four Corners Park

By Carole Barth

Our second annual Rachel Carson Meadow Festival was truly a lovely day, in every sense of the word. About 90 people participated during the event. It was clear that (as we’ve always said) the Meadow can incorporate a wide variety of concurrent activities.

Sarah Stecher showed festival-goers how to make wreaths and crowns from invasive plants pulled from the meadow.

This is because the “rooms” within its landscape provide enough separation so one activity need not disturb another. (Of course, if the County goes through with its plans to destroy the exiting vegetation and natural topography to build a soccer field and 50 car parking lot, this will no longer be the case.) In fact, there were enough activities that we needed to post signs and a map. We used the beautiful logo created by neighborhood resident Aleks Beltran for the signs.

The Washington Revels delighted the crowd with songs, music, dancing, and skits rejoicing in the coming of spring.

In addition to the programmed activities, neighbors picnicked, tossed a football, or simply lounged on the grass in the Meadow enjoying the day.

Board Secretary Tiffany Wright shows off the prizes for top dogs in the competition.

We also had events in the developed side of the park, including soccer drills on the existing youth multipurpose field and presentations in the rec. center. Local author Catherine Zimmerman’s talk on urban meadows was of particular interest. (Catherine has offered NFCCA members a special deal on her book, so [contact data redacted] if you’re interested.)

Venus, a Rottweiler mix, lived up to her name when she won ‘Best in Show’ for owner Barbara Boccio (Woodridge Avenue).

One of the first events in the meadow was the “Pitting of the Pooches.” Even non-dog owners enjoyed watching the competition for “best kisser” and seeing happy doggie grins as dogs and owners socialized.

Brian Morrissey (Edgewood Avenue) and Apple won for ‘Best Trick.’

Exhibitors provided info on the Oaks Senior Living Facility, Friends of Sligo Creek, Neighbors of the Northwest Branch, the Rachel Carson Council, Weed Warriors, Rainscapes, the Northwood Trail project, and Clean Currents.

Judges Elsa and Aurea Sellmeyer have a quick confab before naming Julie Whitcomb (Chiswell Lane) and her shepherd mix Pumpkin as winners in the ‘Dog/Owner Look-Alike’ competition.

The nature art activity — making wreaths and crowns from invasive vines — was the hit of the festival. Young and old alike had fun weaving the vines and selecting leaves, flowers, and berries for decoration. This gave festival-goers an especially appropriate look for “bringing in the May” with the Washington Revels at the end of the day.

NFCCA Vice President Laura Hussey happily kept order as MC of this year’s dog show.

Our own Joyce Benson, Michelle Dastin, Darlene McClurkin, and Leah DeLano joined in the Revels performance. The Revels Festival Day is an amazing process. Volunteers (some of them first timers) are taught songs, dances, and a mummer’s play. When you see the final performance, it’s hard to believe that everyone isn’t an old hand.

Canines and their humans walked the enclosure to show their pups’ best features.

It was truly magical, starting with the procession winding through the meadow. In turn, I think being in the Rachel Carson Meadow, celebrating the meadow and the walnut tree in song and story, added another layer of meaning to these ancient rites for welcoming in the spring.

The Washington Revels begin their performance with a Grand Procession, which wove its way throughout the meadow.

Once upon a time, people felt they must participate in the changing of the seasons through ritual and group celebration to ensure that the blessings of nature would continue. Today we know that we must constantly participate as advocates and educators to ensure that society’s actions don’t rob us of those same blessings.

The last event of the day was the exuberant May Pole Dance.

Talking with some of the Revels performers, as well as people who came from around the area to see the performance, I kept hearing the same thing. “I never knew this park was here. What a lovely place. Why would anyone want to destroy it?”

Attendees gathered around the many environmental exhibits.

In other words, we were celebrating the sense of wonder. As Rachel Carson said, “If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.” And “if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

A resident and representative from The Oaks independent living facility for seniors (adjacent to the meadow) had their own exhibit table.

One display told all about Rachel Carson, the woman for whom the meadow was named.

Aleks Beltran led soccer drills for kids on the all-purpose field.

It was a great day for kids, moms, dads, and dogs, too!

Our neighborhood’s Joyce Benson, center at left in the green belt, sang with the Revels.

The Revels’ Mummer’s Play shows cold Winter.

Thanks to the Washington Revels, festival volunteers, and maybe even the meadow fairies, young and old alike rediscovered the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world in our own backyard. ■