Archive Educational Articles

Site Plan and Archive

Friends of the Wild Flower Garden

Educational Activities and Articles

	Original publication date of articles given in brackets
Birding
A Great Place for Birding	Naturalist Tammy Mercer explains why the Garden is great for birding. (Spring 2005)
Cardinals - Juveniles	A photo page of what juvenile Northern Cardinals look like.
Early Birders Catch the Wonders	Naturalist Tammy Mercer reviews what wonders are seen during the year on the Saturday Morning Birding walks. (Fall 2008)
Downy and Hairy Woodpecker comparison	A photo page showing the size differences between the two similarly colored woodpeckers, with a link to more photos.
EBWG Birds to Become Part of State Bird Breeding History	Naturalist Tammy Mercer tells us of the Garden's part in a state-wide Bird Breeding Atlas.
EBWG as a Migration Rest Stop	Naturalist Tammy Mercer writes an article addressed to the birds about the benefits of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden as a migration rest stop. (Fall 2007)
Many Colors of Feathers (The)	Naturalist Tammy Mercer writes about the color of bird feathers and why we see the colors the way we do. (Fall 2010)
Native Plants - for the Birds	EBWG Naturalist Tammy Mercer writes about interactions of plants, insects and bird life. Illustrated.
Rewards of Summer Birding	Naturalist Tammy Mercer reviews summer birding and distinguishing fledglings from adults. (Summer 2005)
Winter Birds	A photo essay on thirteen common birds most likely to be seen during winter in central and southern Minnesota
Life
A Butterfly in Your Hand?	EBWG Naturalist Diana Thottungal tells you how to attract butterflies to your hand.
Baby, It's Cold Outside	An illustrated article by MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal on how some creatures physically survive the winter temperatures.(Winter 2009)
Eyeshine (pdf)	An article by MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal on the origin and use of glowing eyes in various creatures. (Summer 2011) (245kb pdf file)
Secret Life of Winter	MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal writes on the hidden life of winter. Illustrated. (Winter 2010)
Those Really Busy Bees -(pdf)	Ever wonder how the bees do their work? An informative article courtesy of the New England Wildflower Society. (Fall 2008)
Water in Winter - (pdf)	An illustrated article by MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal on the magical characteristics of water in the winter time.
Winter Survival of Warm-blooded Critters	MPRB Naturalist Tammy Mercer writes of how some of the birds and animals survive the winter in the Garden. (Winter 2009)
Plants, Habitat, etc.
Asters and Goldenrods	A photo look at asters and goldenrods in the Garden. 2009
Autumn Fruits and Seedpods	A photo thumbnail sheet of Autumn fruits and seeds that you are likely to see from September to Garden Close in October.
Bog in the Woodland Garden	History, environment and plant community of the Garden bog. (2010)
Cedar Apple Rust	Information and photos of the fungus that uses Eastern Red Cedar and other junipers as an alternate host. (2013)
Earliest Blooming Spring Plants	The five earliest bloomers - text and photos. (2013)
Fern Talk	A glossary of common terms used in describing ferns - illustrated (2012)
Ferns in the Garden	An illustrated index sheet of 12 ferns in Eloise Butler with links to detailed information sheets.
Friends' Newsletter Archive	Past issues of The Fringed Gentian™ in downloadable pdf format.
Fruit and Seed Quiz	A photo identification quiz on late summer fruits and seeds found in the Eloise Butler Garden.
Gentian in the Garden	Former Gardener Cary George writes of the Gentian in the Garden - both now and in the past. (originally published fall 2000)
Grasses of the Garden	Photos of the Garden grasses with links to detailed information pages.
Heritage Trees in the Garden	Former Gardener Cary George writes of the nine Minneapolis Heritage Trees in the Garden (originally published winter 2000)
Late Summer Flowers - 5 less well known	A look at 5 late summer flowers in the Garden that are not usually found in the home garden.
Late Summer Fruits and Seedpods	A photo thumbnail sheet of late summer fruits and seedpods that you are likely to see from mid-July through August.
Leaves: Patterns of Fall Leaf Drop.	Naturalist Diana Thottungal writes on the variations in pattern of how tress drop their leaves in the fall. Illustrated. (Fall 2009)
Magic in the Wildflower Garden	Naturalist Cathie Baldwin discusses plant lore about 5 Garden flowers. (Fall 1999)
Mapping Trees in the Garden	Garden Curator Susan Wilkins explains the process of how the trees in the Garden were data based and mapped via a GPS system. (2004)
Meet The Mushrooms	A well illustrated article by MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal on mushrooms and some of those found in the Garden. (Fall 2008)
Mushrooms	A photo page of a few of the many mushrooms in the Garden (2010)
Native Grasses for Home Landscape	A look at the 5 major native grasses of The Upland Garden by Cary George, former EBWG Gardener. (Fall 1999)
Native Plant Diversity at Home	Establishing Diversity. The Garden area was an Oak Savanna. Climate change is affecting the plant selection. By Douglas Owens-Pike, founder of EnergyScapes. (Spring 2009)
Orchids: Cherishing Orchids, an Eloise Butler Legacy	Garden Curator Susan Wilkins reviews Eloise Butler's passion for orchids and the Showy Lady's-slipper. (Summer 2005)
Orchids in the Garden	Previous Eloise Butler Gardener Cary George writes on the Garden's two Lady's-slippers and the problems and ethics of transplantation (Spring 2000)
Ornamental Grasses for the Home Landscape	A review, with photos, of a selection of ornamental grasses for the home garden that were grown by Gary Bebeau. Growing and cultural tips.
Pea Family Plants in the Prairie	Pea family plants that thrive in the hot prairie sun, by previous Eloise Butler Gardener Cary George. (Summer 2002)
Planting for Winter Interest	Master Gardener Kathy Urberg reviews a few plants that supply winter landscape interest. (Winter 2008)
Ruffians in the Garden	A close look at Curly Dock, Mullein and Nettle and why we should like them. Gary Bebeau, 2009
Secret Life of Winter.	MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal writes on the hidden life of winter. Illustrated. (Winter 2010)
Spooky Fungi (pdf - .9mb)	MPRB Naturalist Donna Thottungal looks as some of the strangest fungi that you may encounter. (Fall 2011)
Tall Plants in the Summer Garden	Previous Eloise Butler Gardener Cary George writes about the tall plants and the lilies of the summer Upland Prairie Garden (Summer 2000)
The Four Silphiums	Photos and plant information on four representatives of the genus Silphium in the Eloise Butler Garden. Gary Bebeau 2009
Tree: My Life and Death as a Tree	MPRB Naturalist Tammy Mercer writes about the life cycle of a deciduous tree. Illustrated. (Winter 2010)
Trees and Shrubs in the Garden	Master Gardener Greg Lecker gives a look at some of the trees and shrubs in the Eloise Butler Garden that will come into leaf and bloom in the springtime. (Spring 2008.)
What's in a (Flower's) Name? (pdf)	An illustrated article by MPRB Naturalist Diana Thottungal on the origin and meaning of the names of some spring flowers. (Spring 2011) (710kb pdf file)
Willow Pine Cone Gall	An illustrated note about galls that resemble pine cones on willows. These are caused by a small gnat. (2013)
Eloise Butler's Writings	Columns published in the Sunday Minneapolis Tribune
April 16, 1911	Pasque Flowers at Easter Time Proclaim Yearly Spring Miracle.
April 30, 1911	Anemones, Hepaticas and Buttercups Prominent in Crowfoot Family Here
May 7, 1911	Bloodroots, Marsh Marigolds, Adder’s Tongues and Dutchman’s Breeches Among Spring Blooms that Delight Eye and Heart
May 14, 1911	Plum Blossoms, Skunk Cabbage, and Modest Jack-in-the-Pulpit among May Arrivals That Please Lover of Life in the Woods.
May 21, 1911	Beautiful Large-flowered Trilliums Grace Minnetonka Wood in May; Violets, Forest, Hillside and Prairie Varieties Flourish Near Minneapolis.
May 28, 1911	Geum, Early Meadow Rue, Lousewort, Phlox, and Hoary Puccoon Are Described as Wild Beauties in Miss Butler’s Weekly Article.
June 4, 1911	Hawthorn of World Fame through Poetry and Prose of England, Virginian Waterleaf, White Lily and Geranium Featured in June
June 11, 1911	Wild Roses Know When it is June, According to Miss Butler, Who Describes Blossoms that Delight the Rambler Out-of-Doors.
June 18, 1911	Painted Cup Notable among Wild Flowers Found near Minneapolis; Bog-trotter’s Zeal Repaid by Orchids and Other Swamp Blossoms
July 2, 1911	Blue Flag, Native Minnesota Iris, Classed as Richest of Lilies; Early Meadow Rue and Larkspur Treated by Miss Butler
July 9, 1911	Milkweed Flowers Much in evidence during July, Harebells, Ox-Eyes, and Water Lilies Also Bloom in Abundance.
July 16, 1911	Lily Declared Crowning Wild Flower near Minneapolis in July; Miss Butler Describes, Also, the Blossoms That Kept it Company.
July 23, 1911	Mint, Abundant in Minnesota, Delights the Senses; Miss Butler Tells of Wild Flowers in Glenwood Park Garden.
July 30, 1911	Flowering Spurge Graces Roadside and Prairie in Late summer; Varieties of Yellow Blooms Classed as “Sunflowers” Confusing.
August 6, 1911	Tramp Plants, Migrants from Foreign Lands, Thrive in Minnesota; They Often Pre-empt Ground, Crowding Out Native Citizens of Soil.
August 13, 1911	Common Plantain Is Compared with the Alisma Plantago, Otherwise Known as the Water Variety
August 20, 1911	Wild Balsam Occupies Low Places in Wild Gardens; Leaves Shine Like Silver When Put in the Water.
August 27, 1911	Prickly Armor Furnishes Protection for the Thistle; Caterpillars Crawl by and Browsing Horses Shun Plant.
September 3, 1911	Virgin Minnesota Prairie in Full Bloom Surpasses Flora of Tropics; Earth’s Tapestry Shows a Riot of Color before Autumnal Frosts.
September 10, 1911	Fringed Gentian, Termed Loveliest of Blue Flowers, Now in Bloom; Asters and Goldenrod Indicate Autumn Has Reached Minnesota.
September 17, 1911	Acrid Taste Gives Name to the Smart Weed; Miss Butler Describes Wild Grasses in the Park.
September 24, 1911	Late Blooming Flowers Dot Meadows with White, Blue and Gold; Asters, Gentians, Lobelias, and Sunflowers Greet Field Lovers.
	Essays from Annals of the Wild Life Reserve
Birdbath acquisition	New Birdbath and seeing a Woodcock - June 1917
Experiences in Collecting	Finding the White Cypripedium - May 1914
March 1915	Notable Features of my Wild Garden
March 1915 (Spring)	Notable Features of my Wild Garden - a second essay listing a large number of spring plants in the early Garden
Occult Experiences of a Wild Gardener	Eloise relates how a medium told her that she has two ghostly botanist friends that want her to find the plant she is looking for.