By Scott Carlson
When Stephanie Mirocha signs copies of her new book “Tree Trek: A Daughter’s Walk through Grief” at the Como Zoo’s gift shop, Safari Gifts, on June 20 from 1:30 to 3 p.m., her appearance will be a homecoming of sorts.
Although she has been a visual artist living for many years in Aitken, Stephanie’s roots are firmly in Como Park. It’s where she grew up, attending schools, biking to the St. Anthony Park Library and doing other activities.
These days, Stephanie still has ties to Como Park, leading educational nature talks called “Tree Treks,” an activity she picked up from her father, Chet, founder of “Tree Trek” talks and leader of them from 2004 to 2013.
Chet, who was a professor at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul campus, died in 2019. Stephanie picked up her father’s nature legacy in June of 2020.
“I have always loved nature on many levels,” Stephanie said. “My dad and I shared a deep bond which included a poetic and appreciative love of nature, including trees.
“A few years before he died, I began to take great interest in the scientific aspect of nature,” Stephanie said. “At this point I had been a professional artist for 20 years based in Aitkin. In my work up to this point, I carefully observed what I was painting, followed scientific principles when painting reflections, shadows and using perspective.
“But I did not know the science of trees, including its nomenclature and amazing variety of characteristics.
“Besides leading Como Park Tree Treks, my volunteer work in the park includes an expansion of the self-guided aspect of Tree Trek, first initiated by my dad who labeled 18 trees,” she said.
For the expanded labeling project, the District 10 Como Park Community Council added new signs. The park now has 41 labeled trees, “and last year I completed another project of creating write-ups for all of those labeled tree species,” Stephanie said.
The same summer after receiving her master naturalist certification, Stephanie revived the Como Park Tree Trek program first initiated by Chet.
“What I found to be unexpected was that, while my park activities were thoroughly enjoyable, they also had much to do with processing my grief,” she said. “My new book shares my own grief story that I found in nature in my walks through the trees in the park.”
A few years into her master naturalist activities in Como Park, Mirocha said she felt a strong sudden urge to write about her park projects, which including the very personal story of her deep grief at losing her father.
“I spent about six weeks intensively letting the story flow through me, pouring out in words the intensity of my feelings and thoughts,” Stephanie said. “I then edited the manuscript over the next year or so, finally submitting it to publishers in 2023.” The book’s publisher is Holy Cow! Press of Duluth.
For more information about Mirocha’s career and art, including a gallery of her paintings and work for children’s picture books, visit her website: stephaniemirocha.com.
Scott Carlson is managing editor of the Bugle.
Photo credit: Stephanie Mirocha demonstrates leaf tutorial at a 2023 Tree Trek talk. Photo by Shevek McKee.