Notes From The Gardens
July 2021
The Solace of a Cloud
There is something to be said about a large cloud on a hot day. I’m talking about one of those days when the sun pierces your skin and you regret wearing thick socks. Imagine pouring sweat into a garden, watching the soil bake in the sun, and pulling a weed [...]
June 2021
Intern Blog – Columbine Flower by Claire Butalla
As I begin my second month as an intern at Monk Botanical Gardens, I take a moment to think about all I have learned and what I have been intrigued by. One aspect of the gardens that continues to catch my attention is all the flowers. Yes, that's the main focus of [...]
May 2021
Ecological Relationships at Monk Botanical Gardens
Up to this point, my professional career as a Scientific Illustrator has been marked by a fascination with life science, environmental education, and science communication. I have spent the last two summers interning at the Monk Botanical Gardens where I was first their horticulture intern and then their education intern [...]
April 2021
We Welcome Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee to our Team!
We are excited to announce that Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee has joined the Monk Botanical Gardens Team! She will help the Gardens continue to grow and connect the community with our mission as our first Development Director. "The Gardens is growing exponentially in programs, events, new gardens, and team members. Tiffany will [...]
March 2021
Your Support in Action: Exciting New Projects at the Gardens
Because of your support, there are some fantastic garden improvements planned for this growing season! Monk Botanical Gardens is now an All-American Selections Display Garden. Horticulture team members and volunteers will be installing a display bed by the front entrance to encompass this year’s All American Selection (AAS) Landscape Design [...]
Curiosity and Discovery Nurtured in Monk Gardens’ After School Program
The After School in the Gardens program offers children what they need most; screen-free time spent outdoors, engaging in active learning and exploration. For each session, our educators come prepared with planned activities that will spark wonder in participants. From there, we let the session progress naturally and encourage unstructured, [...]
Watch Your Step and Look Ahead!
As the snow melts and the puddles form, start looking around for plants peeking out of the snow. In Wisconsin, we are very fortunate to have many ephemeral spring-blooming plants native to our wooded areas. Ephemeral plants are perennial plants that emerge quickly in Spring before the trees leaf out. [...]
February 2021
Seed Starting
It’s that time of year again! My stack of seed catalogs is pulling at my green thumb. I can’t help but flip through the pages every night and imagine what my garden might look like. All of the pictures and descriptions give me hope that the winter weather will break, [...]
December 2020
Blooms for the Holidays
Are you looking for a little more than the typical greenery seen around the holidays? Some tremendous blooming plants are staples of the holiday season. There are excellent options if you are searching for a showy, dainty, fragrant, or long-lasting blossom. Keep your eyes peeled for these fantastic plants during [...]
November 2020
Winter Greens
Now that the leaves are starting to fall and the frost is covering the plants, it is time to start thinking about cleaning up your gardens for the winter. Fall is a great time to cut down herbaceous perennials in the garden, especially if there was any sign of pests [...]
