Friends' Garden Projects - Current and Recent
at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Special Project Funding
The Friends have undertaken funding various projects over the years to benefit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. These projects are jointly worked out between the Friends and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB). Our Student Transportation Grant Program pays for bus transportation to bring school children from eligible Minneapolis schools to the Garden for a nature class. These projects are funded from memberships, donations and memorials received by The Friends. The most recent funding years are shown below.
2022 Funding
On January 31, the Friends Board of Directors approved budgeting over $17,000 in 2022 for our mission program of educational activities, volunteer support, student transportation grants to visit the Garden and funding for plants, habitat and infrastructure at the Garden. The largest part of this will be direct funding for needs in the Garden. Due to Covid-19, student visits have been off limits. Minneapolis Schools did not authorize site visits this summer; we expect they will resume in 2023.
During the year, the Friends Invasive Plant Action Group (FIPAG) sucessfully held 3 invasive plant removal events in the spring and 3 in the fall, all in the Stewardship Area around the Garden. Additional tools and supplies were purchased for FIPAG. Seeds were purchased for sowing the Maple Bowl area where the removal events took place. The Friends sponsored a Volunteer Appreciation Event for all Garden volunteers on October 31. Docent volunteers staffed the new entry kiosk at the Garden front gate. Funds have been banked for the planned renovation of buildings in the Garden.
2021 Funding
The Friends began reserving funds for our contribution to planned improvements to the Garden Shelter which will add space to better support staff and visitors. The majority of the funding will be provided by the MPRB. Planning and design in underway.
We also funded the following:
(1) Purchase of flowers, ferns and sedges for replanting areas of the Garden where needed or where renovation work is being done.
(2) Funding supplies needed by the Friends Invasive Plant Action Group (FIPAG) for their work in the buffer zone surrounding the Garden.
With Covid restrictions still in during the year it was not possible for schools to schedule Garden visits, thus no funds for Student Transportation Grants were expended this year.
Below: New plants ready for planting at the Garden. Photo - Jennifer Olson.
The Friends funding for 2020 Garden Projects
Funding for 36 different species of flowers, ferns and sedges - total of 2,664 plants - cost $7,341.
Covid restrictions prevented schools from scheduling Garden visits this Summer and no funds for used from the Student Transportation Grant Fund.
The Friends funding for 2019 Garden Projects
1. Completion of Phase II of the wetland boardwalk - Installation finished in April 2019. Final funding installment - $22,100. Full boardwalk project details here. Total Friend funding for both Phase I and Phase II was $148,000, with the MPRB funding a similar amount.
2. Planting project - 145 Native shrubs for the wetland and 124 for the upland in the intensively managed prairie garden areas (as result of invasive control 2015-2018) - $5,065 - PLANT LIST
3. Student Transportation Grant Fund; 780 student Garden visits. Cost $2,750
4. Friends Invasive Plant Action Group: $813 for tools and seedlings planted in the Maple Glen.
Below: Completed phase II of the wetland boardwalk. Photo G D Bebeau
Below: The boardwalk dedication on April 26, 2019. L to r: MPRB Commissioner Jono Cowgill; Friends' Board Member Pam Weiner; donor Tom Hoch, MPRB Commissioner Meg Forney; donor Mark Addicks; Friends President Kathy Connelly. Photo MPRB.
