Cary George Wetland Project

This year as a tribute to Cary George, the Friends are raising funds to restore critical footpath structures in the Garden’s wetland habitat. These trail segments, including the wooden bridge next to Mallard Pool and the three wooden walkways south on Lady’s Slipper Lane, are popular among visitors and very much in need of replacement. It is true for Cary, as it was for Eloise, that the wetland is the heart of the Garden. We believe that this project in honor of our fourth Gardener will be a testimonial to his service as well as to the Founder and her vision.

These trail segments will be redesigned and installed for safety and accessibility by MPRB staff. Materials and workmanship of high quality will provide decades of use in this beautiful part of the Garden, where Cary worked so diligently to replant and nurture Eloise's Tamarack grove. The initial total project is estimated to cost $15,000. See below for more details.

Cary was the first person to realize how serious a threat invasive plants would be for the Garden. He became acutely aware of the fragility of the 15 acres under his care. And yet he taught us to believe in the resiliency of the Wild Garden:

These new, safer trail structures will be humble, modest and practical, too. They will be a fitting tribute to the diligence and dedication of the fourth Gardener.

To donate: With a credit or bank card, use the button below to transfer to our secure payments site (using PayPal). To mail a donation print out our donation form and specify "Cary George Project"

Photo left: Lady's-slipper Lane with two of the old wooden bridges visible. Photo right: The rustic bridge near Mallard Pool.

To discuss any of this you may e-mail us on this topic at giving@friendsofeloisebutler.org.

You may also call the treasurer directly at 952-322-7369.

List of donors to this project

Printable Donation Form

Several procedural steps need to be completed. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is first conducting a survey of the wetland area so as not to create a major disturbance during the construction. They must then choose the appropriate design/build firm. It is expected that the material used will be primarily recycled product that is of a newer type than recycled material previously used by MPRB in other projects. Most important, there is a colony of dwarf trout lilies in this area that Garden Curator Susan Wilkins desires to move before construction begins and that move must take place in the spring.

Rather than replace the small bridges with newer bridges, the Park Board has opted for a boardwalk. The area expected to be served by a boardwalk totals 700 feet in length. It will not all be constructed in phase one as the total cost estimated may reach $100,000 and funding for that amount may not be available in 2012. The Friends expect to contribute $15,000 to this in phase one.