C. Erik Karlsson, RLA
Landscape Architect | Planner
Tyler Arboretum
Meadow Maze & Discovery Trail
The Stopford Family Meadow Maze is located in an existing meadow at Tyler Arboretum near Media Pennsylvania and includes a Discovery Trail. The cardinal points of the compass are marked with large stones at the edge of the maze so that from the center the observer can view the four directions of the compass.On the 10-station Discovery Trail which surrounds the maze Arboretum staff demonstrate aspects of the meadow environment for school groups and adults. Children learn about features of the surrounding meadow and Pinetum such as meadow rooms, brush piles as homes for wildlife, and wildlife tracking, and adults can see demonstrations of home landscapes using native plants. The Trail includes a raised platform called the Raptor Roost where visitors can experience being a bird-of-prey such as a hawk or eagle and observers can see the Butterfly River which sweeps toward the Maze from this the highest point of the meadow. Careful design and planning kept disruption of the existing meadow to a minimum during construction of the maze.
Erik Karlsson was the project landscape architect and colaborated with with W. Gary Smith on this new environmental education exhibit.
