George Grimm, formerly of Two Creeks, and now a resident of Milwaukee, sponsored a portion of the Maple Grove in 2021, in honor of his wife Susan. He trumped himself by appearing this summer to fund two major installations on the Arboretum grounds: The Council Circle and the Ivy Walls.

a stone seating area in the middle of a meadow with an inscribed entrance stone

The Council Circle is a landscape feature celebrated by Midwest landscape architect Jens Jensen. Its origins trace back to Native American cultures. The iteration constructed at the Arboretum is incised into a sloped terrain with a vista overlooking the lower grounds below. The pavement is configured as a compass rose composed of Valders stone, with inscribed sun angles for the solstice and equinox. A fire circle sits in the middle of the seating area, available for meetings with advanced notice.

Construction of the circle began in late fall of 2022 and was completed in 2023.

Establish your legacy

The stones that make up the floor of the Council Circle can be etched with a sponsor name or short phrase for a donation of $1250.00 There are 30 opportunities available total.

See this map for available spaces

an outdoor sunken stone seating area with a compass on the floor
Pavers are available for sponsored engravings.
The entrance to the circle is shaping up 9/23/23
Fire ring.
Job site inspector approves fire ring.
John Durbrow with Cher Burish and Gryphon 9/23/23
A rendering of the planned council circle.
George Grimm (right) with his brother-in-law Charles Schiereck.
The compass design of the council circle floor
Floor panels will be available for sponsorship at $1,250 each.
December 2022—the circle is poured

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