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. These projects are funded from donations and memorials received by The Friends. The most recent projects are shown below.
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.
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.
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.
The Friends funding for 2018 Garden Projects
1. 2018 installment of invasive plant control and habitat restoration in the prairie and wetland - $3,469.
2. 2018 Component manufacture of Phase II Boardwalk sections - $50,765.
3. Student Transportation Grant Fund subsidized 560 student Garden visits. Cost $2.040.
Below: Delivery of phase II boardwalk section in late November 2018.
The Friends funding for 2017 Garden Projects
1. Completion of the new desk for the Shelter - Quartersawn white oak. Final cost $1464.
2. 2017 installment of invasive plant control and habitat restoration in the prairie and wetland - $3,500.
3. Student Transportation Grant Fund subsidized 525 student Garden visits. Cost $2.040.
The Friends funding for 2016 Garden Projects
1. Student Transportation Grant Fund that subsidizes transportation costs for bringing school age children to the Garden for nature study. This year we provided $2,358 for transportation of 13 classes - 635 students.
2. Addition funds for year #2 of the invasive control project began in 2015 - $975
3. Miscel. projects: Deposit on construction of a new desk for the Martha Crone Shelter - $500; kids backpack project - $139; support for Friends Invasive Plant Action Group - $192; Shelter furniture upkeep - $162.