Marian's Place

05/10/2026

The new grass area that we planted at Marian's Place is coming in beautifully, but is is brand new young grass. For now we would ask if you can stay off of the grass area to allow it to strengthen its roots or it can be damaged (as unfortunately you can see with this bike track photo below). Please stay on the path for now. Thank you!!! And thank you to Green Thumb Landscaping, for doing such a great job on seeding the grass.

🪻Additional update: the wildflowers and wild grass area is also coming in very nicely this year and we are starting to see some flowers. The long-term outlook for the 30 varieties of flowers and grasses looks good.

🌻We put down our w**d control last week and if weather co-operates we'll be getting the sunflower seeds in this week with hopes of them growing by late July or early August.

🐶 Please remember that dogs are always welcome Marian's Place but please clean up after them, reminder that we count on the community to help care for Marian's place so that it can be enjoyed by all.

04/08/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:

🌻 Our beloved 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 will be back! Nearly 5 acres are being planted soon, with peak blooms 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁
🪑 𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 with a bench is being developed to welcome visitors and provide park information. It will be a perfect for relaxing and snapping photos.
🪻 𝟱 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 planted last month to support pollinators and bring vibrant color year after year.
🌱 A 𝟮-𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 overlooking the Mississippi River—ideal for picnics, play, and group activities.
🚶‍♀️ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 to make exploring even better in every season.
🐦 We’re also thrilled to continue our partnership with 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆:
• 𝗔 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 took place in early March
•. 𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱along the river—keep an eye out!
• 🪺 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀 are up (thank you, WBS and John Mahar!), with hopes for 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀 coming this fall
🌳 Marian’s Place is open year-round for walking, biking, exercise, and reconnecting with nature.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝘄𝗲’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁! 💚

11/11/2025

🇺🇸 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 🇺🇸
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧, 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐲 – 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝟗𝟗

Reverend Carlton Norton lives in Kirkwood, Missouri, with his wife Marylin of 69 years. Together, they raised five children—four of whom were adopted.

Carl joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served during World War II, being discharged near the end of the war. When the Korean War broke out, he returned to duty aboard the Tarawa until his discharge in 1954.

He has often said what an honor it was to help others. During his time in the Navy, he developed a calling to ministry as he began helping fellow shipmates navigate life’s challenges.

Carl’s life has been defined by service to others. With support from the GI Bill, he pursued a career as a pastor in the United Church of Christ. He served for 24 years at St. John’s in Chesterfield, Missouri, and later provided pastoral leadership to 18 additional congregations—some in New York, but most throughout Missouri.

Having grown up in 16 foster homes, Carl learned firsthand the meaning of love, care, and compassion. Rather than allowing hardship to define him, he turned his experiences into sources of strength to uplift others. He and Marylin have always been passionate about children’s protection and education, continuing to set an example of doing good the right way.

When asked what he attributes his long life to, Carl replies:
“Faith in God, good genes—not the kind you wear—and being more interested in others than yourself.”

That humor, warmth, and wisdom embody the man he is. Carl and Marylin take time to connect with people of all ages, inspiring others to live joyfully, appreciate life, and count their blessings.

It is an honor to call them my friends.

– 𝑇𝑜𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑠

11/11/2025

On this Veterans Day, We want to say thank you to every man and woman who has served our nation.

Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication allow the rest of us to live with freedom and peace. Whether you served in wartime or peacetime, at home or abroad — you’ve made a difference that can never be repaid.

To all our veterans and their families: we see you, we appreciate you, and we honor you — today and every day.

Marian's Place remains devoted to our Vets through programs we've already enjoyed sharing and new recreational programs we are working on for this spring in partnership with the V.A., we always are excited to see you here.

🇺🇸 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆. 🇺🇸

11/10/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝

Today, on the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps. I would like to salute Sgt. Jim Brewer, age 90, who served our County as a Marine as the Korean War was winding down. He was stationed in Japan and various duty stations in the US. He and his wife Helen have been married 72 years with two daughters and one grandson James, who also served in the Marines.

One of Jim’s important positions was a DI – Drill Instructor in San Diego. The DI’s are the backbone of the Marine Recruit Training. All Marines go through very tough training so no matter what your final MOS may be you know how to face combat taking care of yourself and your fellow Marines. A 1967 movie starring Jack Web as a DI in Paris Island portrays this role life like. The reason I mention this is that many civilians do not know the platoon has a Senior DI who eats nails for breakfast, is in great physical shape, can scream loader than a lion, runs with full pack and gear like a deer and never ever smiles.

The other DI in the platoon has some compassion, not a lot but enough that a recruit struggling to get his balance, mentally, physically or dealing with issues from home may find a sympathetic ear and some much-needed guidance. Jim was this DI.

Jim would go on to continue to be the Other DI in life. He always took time to take care of his family and when friends needed help he was there for them. So today Jim Happy Birthday and thank you for your service to our Great Country. God Bless.

~ 𝑇𝑜𝑚

08/24/2025

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒘🌻

The golden heads once reached for skies,
Now heavy, tired, they close their eyes.
A season’s song comes to an end,
The sun drifts low, a fading friend.

Petals curl like whispers gone,
A memory of summer’s song.
Their crowns now bent, yet still they keep,
The quiet strength of fields asleep.

Though time has worn their colors thin,
A softer beauty dwells within.
For even as the blossoms fade,
They leave behind the seeds they made.

So let them bow, let autumn claim,
The fleeting fire, the gentle flame.
For endings hold a promise true—
For spring will wake what autumn knew.

-Jᴇғғ Mᴀʜᴀʀ

08/15/2025

Sally Tippett Rains and her husband Rob Rains of StL Sports Page by Rob Rains happened to come by Marian's Place one night to see the sunflowers and discovered. The Rains' family as many know are huge supporters of outdoor activities, especially baseball and Cardinals baseball. But they were inspired our mission and after talking with some of the Rollins family came to understand other connections with this mutual love of activities and how in it's own way may have led to what Marian's Place is all about. Please enjoy their article from STL Sports Page. https://stlsportspage.com/2025/08/13/connecting-two-fields-the-baseball-field-and-the-sunflower-field-through-family-memories-and-loving-tributes/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMPakZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3bFcxNE9ock9Sc3ViV2MwAR6nZ3To7wdBptfVlgUIfJDBXpjn8tJonsQIDQmQCUa8eSESXoKfktoBYYPQTQ_aem_trkz2oPIyoDnOo-sDshq0w
🌻⚾️

STLSportsPage.com was started in 2012 by Rob Rains and Sally Tippett Rains. This free, quick-loading, mobile-friendly website provides up to the minute news from the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, and features articles of interest to all St. Louis sports fans.

08/12/2025

Elizabeth Barmeier of Spectrum News St. Louis did an extremely thoughtful piece with Tom at Marian's Place. While the flowers are sunsetting now, it sure has been fun to see so many getting out, being active and interacting with each other. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/08/12/marian-s-place-is-where-community-wellness--healing-happens-at-cliff-cave-park

We encourage you to do that all year long and please feel free to do it at Marian's Place. The piece mentions some of the other things we are trying to do. If you've never checked it out, find out more about some of those things we want to provide the community on our website https://www.mariansplace.org/ We certainly would appreciate any help in making those things happen through donations or sponsorships of some of the projects.🌻❤️🌻❤️

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Tom Rollins established a 50-acre wildlife sanctuary along the Mississippi River in honor of his late wife

08/09/2025

Good morning to you all. This morning we wanted to share some of the beautiful photos share with us from photographer Kevin Hurt. In them you'll see some excellent macro shots, really showing the detail of these beautiful sunflowers, but also look at the varieties of different shapes they come to us in here at Marian's Place. Kevin also captured many of the pollinators that enjoy the sunflowers as mush as we love seeing them. Thank you for sharing Kevin! 🌻🐝🪲🌻

08/07/2025

We wanted to share this deeply personal story from Jill Hasstedt about why she appreciates why she appreciates Marian's Place. Jill also has done some excellent images of the birds and sunflowers here.

"I met Mr. Rollins today and told him that since Marian's Place was created to celebrate his wife's life after she died with dementia, it meant a lot to me as I'd recently lost my twin brother to dementia. My twin brother Jack died this past December from Louie Body Dementia. Our family has quite a history of dementia. Marian's place is a wonderful place to come to celebrate life and the people we've been blessed to love and be loved by. I was so happy to thank Mr. Rollins for this place today when I saw him there. Plus I get to take photos!"

Thank you for sharing your story Jill. Our wellness mission is every bit as important to us as the flowers, though the flowers and other plants and wildlife will make for a great environment to heal, and care for those suffering and to get the activity needed to aid in recovery. We hope that with enough support we'll be able to provide more to the community year-long https://www.mariansplace.org/donations