Letter from the Board President
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Hello Garden Friends,
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the Robert W. Monk Botanical Gardens seed was planted; we had acres of beautiful donated land, a master plan, and many ideas. Some said it was impossible. The original 2003 board begged to differ! The feature story of our newsletter includes a walk down memory lane of how the Gardens have been shaped the past two decades, and I hope you find it as impressive and informative as I do.
What a community effort we’ve witnessed in the past two decades; our staff and volunteers have turned “Wausau’s Best Kept Secret” into a year-round destination by educating, engaging, and inspiring everyone who enters the garden gates. Here are a few ways we are doing that at the moment:
- Sara’s Storybook Garden will be completed this year and will inspire everyone who is young at heart.
- Sprouts Preschool is expanding and will continue to educate children as the only outdoor school in the region.
- Summer Camp and Blossom of Lights will continue to heighten our engagement with Wausau residents and surrounding communities.
- Our volunteer list continues to grow, and these selfless people are the biggest inspiration at the Gardens!
- Our staff remains a force in educating our visitors, gardeners, and others looking to learn more about their natural surroundings.
- Speaking of our staff, a huge “congratulations!” and “thank you!” to our Executive Director, Darcie Howard, and our Education & Events Manager, Elise Schuler, on their 5 year anniversaries at the Gardens!
As I walk the Gardens in 2023, I’m thoroughly impressed by what our shared community has done in the past 20 years, and I look forward to 20 more years of the Monk Botanical Gardens making an impact on everyone who walks our beautiful paths. Sure, the Gardens is a place for blooming, but that’s not limited to plants and flowers. We believe what once was “Wausau’s Best Kept Secret” is now a source of inspiration, education, and engagement for all who are looking to better themselves in one way or another.
See you in the Gardens!
Susan Lang
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