Charles City sculpture "Reading Girl" installed

Here is the almost finished sculpture. I have finished the cloth texture on her left, and have crayoned what I need to carve
on her right side. I have also made marks on her fingers as to where texture needs to be applied.

She is rigged up and ready to be loaded.

Derrick of JBB, inc. loads the sculpture with the crane while Don steadies it.

She is loaded and ready to go...

The sculpture crosses the Mississipi river.

Don positions the truck while Doug Kamm of Kamm Excavating sets up the crane in preparation for moving the sculpture into the site.

Don signals to Doug while Veronica Litterer, my contact person, watches from a safe distance.

This is a llama that is brought in to visit the children at the daycare across the street. It was just hilarious to see him
riding along, just like a dog, he seems to really enjoy it.

David, Dan and Shawn of Outdoor Designs Inc. discuss setting the pavers.

David of Outdoor Design Inc. lays the pavers down to determine their new line. The pavers will then be individually cut so that they form a curve.
The sculpture is covered to protect it from dust.

Don watches as David, Dan and Shawn pile dirt in around the sculpture.

Jeff Otto, owner of garden center "Otto's Oasis", plants the Vinca Minor, which is an evergreen groundcover. The variety is Atropurpurea and will they grow approximately 4-6" high and have a purplish pink flowers in the spring. The plants should fill the area beneath the book and hands nicely, without overwhelming them. The flowers represent the ideas that become a part of us when we read.

The sculpture, as seen from the side. The plants will fill in around her back and below her arm.

Jim Arnt, a local resident looks at the completed "Reading Girl".

The rest of this post will show things that I have found around the Wildlife Area. I have no idea what plant this is. The flowers are very tiny. They don't even read as flowers a few feet away.

I believe this is called an Ambush bug, kind of looks like a cross between a crab and a dinosaur.

This is some type of grasshopper. What a face!