By Lori Ehde
The December ground is hard and frozen, but Blue Mounds State Park staff are planning now for wildflowers that will bloom next spring in Carrie Nelson’s memory.
Park officials announced last week that ground had been broken for "Nelson Memorial Garden" near the Interpretive Center atop the Blue Mounds cliffs.
A memorial fund had been established for former park employee Carrie Nelson, who was murdered while working in the park office in May 2001.
Close family members, along with park workers decided an appropriate use for the funds would be a native perennial wildflower garden.
"I think it’s a real nice gesture," said Stan Nelson, Carrie’s father. "It’s a pretty spot, and I think we’re all touched by the gesture. It seems fitting that it’s at the park where Carrie loved to be. We’d been going out there since the girls were able to walk."
According to a statement released by the park Nov. 27, the plants will serve as an educational component for the park, as well as provide a place of relaxation and reflection for visitors.
Local stones were placed as footpath edging rocks, and seeds, representing more than a dozen species of local flowering plants, have been gathered. They’ll germinate indoors over the winter and the park staff plans to plant them in late spring.
Future plans also may include a sun dial, bench and stone pathways. "We are still searching for suitable material to build a permanent marker at the site," said Park Naturalist Dave Rambow.
The only funding for the wildflower garden is donations to the memorial fund. Those interested in supporting Nelson’s "living memorial" may send contributions to the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 E. Main St., Luverne, MN 56156.
"It’s a great opportunity to remember Carrie and what life is supposed to be about — kindness and goodness," Nelson said. "And that helps, because it’s real important to me to remember Carrie. It’ll be a place for all of us, her friends and family, to go to remember her."
Nelson was found beaten to death on May 20, 2001, in the park office where she worked as a summer employee assisting visitors at the front desk.
The murder has not been solved, but the case remains open. The Rock County Sheriff’s Department still encourages anyone with helpful information on the case to call the Law Enforcement Center at 283-5000.