Two decades ago, an “accidental trespassing” resulted in the Gardens concept being born. 

As Darla Zastrow was enjoying a sunny day with her mom having a picnic at what she thought was a public park, a man in his 70s rode up to them in his golf cart, asking, “What are you doing on my land?” As the man, Robert W. Monk III looked closer; he realized he went to high school with Darla’s mother. As the conversation continued, Mr. Monk told Darla he wanted his land to be an educational botanical garden. Darla, a biology teacher at UWMC, suggested that he begin discussions with the UWMC Foundation. The concept of an educational botanical garden for Wausau was born.

In 2003, the non-profit Robert W. Monk Gardens was incorporated, and the Board was created. For the next fourteen years, the Gardens was developed and maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers, many of whom are still involved. These volunteers worked tirelessly to raise funds and implement the Master Plan created in 2005. They successfully installed the Memory Circle and the Treehouse, planted trees for the Wildflower Woods, and completed Phase I of the Meditation Garden and the Kitchen Potager with an attached garden and event lawn. They allowed the public to explore the curated and wild parts of the land and provided events to attract more visitors.

In 2017, the Board hired me as its first full-time employee and Executive Director. Since then, the Gardens has grown exponentially from the number of volunteers and staff to curated gardens, events, and programming, to financial support. The Board has also gone through a significant shift from a working Board to a leadership Board, providing the Gardens with the connections and resources to increase its donations, memberships, and grants while developing policies and clear direction for the future.

Because of you, our volunteers, donors, and members, the Gardens has become a leader in environmental education and opened Marathon County’s first nature-based preschool in 2021. We have expanded the gardens planted by volunteers, created new gardens, and built a yurt and nature play space. We’ve also grown our staff to ten and, in 2022, hosted an incredible 64,000 visitors.

We are no longer “Wausau’s Best Kept Secret.” The days of being a hidden gem are gone, as the word is getting out that we are a flourishing garden space everyone can enjoy. The dream devised in 2003 is about to come to fruition. Thanks to your support and vision, it’s time to implement the Phase 1 garden enhancements, as part of our three phase plan to eventually build a Visitor & Education Center.

As you visit us this season, be on the lookout for additions, renovations, and changes, and know because of your financial support and donated expertise, you helped to make Robert W. Monk III’s vision come true. Thank you!

Written by Executive Director, Darcie Howard