Dysart United Methodist Church's Oasis Garden, located north and east of the church at the corner of Iowa and Crisman streets, pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The garden was dedicated last summer and is open to all for the nourishment of mind, body and soul. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

DYSART – A beauteous refuge awaits in the heart of Dysart. And while it’s certainly not a secret sanctuary, the space has flown mostly under the radar since first blooming onto the scene in the summer of 2024. It is the Dysart United Methodist Church (DUMC) Oasis Garden – open to all for the nourishment of the mind, body, and soul.

“The garden is meant to be a spiritual [experience] – meander and take in the beauty of the flowers,” Rev. Mechille Boldt said on a hot and sunny afternoon in early September during the newspaper’s tour of the garden. As she spoke, dozens upon dozens of butterflies, small bees, and hover flies flitted from flower to flower in an effort to soak up the waning nectar of summer.

When Rev. Boldt first began at DUMC in the summer of 2023, the Oasis Garden’s footprint – located north and east of the church on a nearly one-acre lot at the corner of Iowa and Crisman streets – contained a garden but it had long been neglected.

“There was a garden here but the footprint was much smaller and it was overgrown and it wasn’t being taken care of,” she explained. “The plan was to tear it out and turn it into green space.”

But then parishioner Wendy Fehr-Deitrick of rural Traer approached her with a different idea.

Rev. Mechille Boldt sits on Oasis Garden's center patio on Wednesday, Sept. 10. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Wendy heard I was planning [to turn the garden into] green space. She was taking Master Gardener training at the time and asked about using it as her project. [I told her], yes, we will leave it as a garden but it needs to be different. I wanted it to be something that was nourishing in mind, body, and soul.”

Together they came up with the idea for a prayer labyrinth garden.

The Oasis Garden was officially dedicated on July 14, 2024, after work began in April of that year.

“All of this is new,” Rev. Boldt said of the Oasis Garden. “We completely tore out the old and redid this space. Wendy did a lot of the work because she was trying to get in hours for her [Master Gardener] class.”

It is not an exaggeration in the slightest to describe the garden this growing season as stunning. Even now as the climate in Iowa slowly moves toward fall, the Oasis Garden continues to teem with beauty. Fehr-Deitrick’s plantings include everything from native perennials and prairie grasses, to bulbs, herbs and annuals she has tucked seemingly everywhere along the paths.

Oasis Garden's labyrinth path lined with flowers, grasses, and herbs. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

There are also vegetables – so many vegetables – and all free to those in need of nourishment.

“On the four corners of the garden is where we have food,” Rev. Boldt said. “We added three rows of vegetables this year because grocery prices are just so high.”

She further explained that anyone from any community “experiencing the high price of produce” can come to Oasis Garden and harvest what they need, no questions asked.

“We have lots and lots of food choices for people,” she continued. “People come over with their grocery bags and pick. If buying vegetables is a tough thing [financially], the garden is here.”

All four corners of the garden feature a theme including a salsa garden, a fresh salad garden, and a pizza garden. During the newspaper’s visit, squash and watermelon vines were winding their own path around the garden’s edges.

Rev. Mechille Boldt helps the reporter's toddler daughter, Flannery McAllister, pick cherry tomatoes at Oasis Garden on Sept. 10. The garden's bountiful produce is available for free to all in need. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

While the labyrinth garden is meant for reflection, there are no preexisting conditions to meander along the paths lined with pea gravel stepping stones or sit on the center patio’s bench in contemplation. Rev. Boldt said humans harbor a natural inclination to follow paths which means the Oasis Garden can be a refuge for anyone – visitors do not need to follow any particular religion or faith. Nor do visitors need to be from Dysart.

“The garden is for both people in our community and neighboring communities,” she said. It is also for those of any age from curious youngsters to those unsteady on their feet who might prefer to skip the labyrinth and make a beeline for the center using the garden’s recently-constructed direct path.

Today, Fehr-Deitrick continues to maintain the garden with help from DUMC volunteers including the youth group. Rev. Boldt said plans are in the works to add cabinetry next season near the church shed to store and display harvested produce. They are also hoping to add a lattice over the center patio complete with vining plants.

On the south side of the garden near the parking lot, signage explains the premise of Oasis Garden to visitors.

“This garden is designed as a prayer labyrinth where you can enter here and walk the labyrinth path around the garden, stopping along the way to pray at different intervals or simply take in the beauty of the garden as you go,” the sign reads. “In the center, you are invited to turn on the little fountain and sit awhile, allowing all the stresses and anxieties to melt away. When you leave the garden labyrinth, feel free to harvest any number of fresh veggies to nourish your body that can be found on the four corners or those in the overflow garden bed. Feel free to come as often as you would like – All Are Welcome!”

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

To visit Oasis Garden, navigate to 602 Tilford St. which is the church’s address. The garden is located directly north and east of the church, across Iowa Street. Park in the large gravel parking area. In addition to the center patio’s concrete bench, a couple picnic tables are also available.

No matter the hunger – mind, body or soul – Oasis Garden is available, Rev. Boldt said.

“[The garden] gives you just a few moments to find a recentering place. It’s been a really wonderful project for us.”

Telegraph Note: This story will publish in the Friday, Oct. 3 edition of the newspaper.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER