Summer Solstice Walk & Celebration

Please join Helen Sierminski of Nola Sidewalk Gardens and Forests for a Summer Solstice Walk and Celebration through Couturie Forest in City Park on Saturday, June 21st at 9am. We will spend some time walking through the forest, looking for evidence of Summer. After our walk, we will have a celebration where we thank the Earth for this season with a ritual. Feel free to bring an offering that is biodegradable. There will be light snacks provided but bringing something else to share is encouraged but not necessary. The walk will begin at 9am but please arrive at 8:45am so we can start on time. The ritual and celebration will begin around 10am. We will meet at the bench near the Oak trees in the main parking lot. It is suggested that you bring something to sit on like a towel or a folding chair.

The Summer Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole has its maximum tilt towards the Sun. It is the day with the longest amount of daylight and shortest nighttime; it is considered the beginning of Summer. Since prehistory, this has been a significant time of year for many cultures, celebrated with festivals and rituals. To many, it holds deep spiritual significance, symbolizing new beginnings, abundance and the peak of the Sun’s energy. At this time, we celebrate the light and our connection to nature.

Couturie Forest is an urban forest in the middle of City Park, hosting 8 distinct ecosystems, trails, waterways and the highest point in New Orleans (Laborde Mountain), sitting at a whopping 27 feet above sea level. It is one of the best places to bird in the city and is known for being a peaceful retreat that does not require leaving the city limits.

Helen is a great appreciator of nature and considers herself an Urban Naturalist. She is a certified Master Naturalist for the Greater New Orleans area and is currently serving on the board for the Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans. It is her life’s work to get others excited about nature in urban settings. She runs her own nature based spiritual practice and also maintains an Instagram/Facebook page called Nola Sidewalk Gardens and Forests, which is a homage to the overhanging trees and opulent gardens that line the sidewalks of New Orleans.

Bring your binoculars!

Tips Appreciated.