Notes from Garden Curator Susan Wilkins
As published in The Fringed Gentian™
2024 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Outlook on the upcoming Garden season. Summer: A vibrant and busy spring - visitor counts, volunteer hours. Fall: Notes on staff work, visitor counts and projects at the Garden completed and underway.
2023 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Notes on the Christmas bird count. Summer: Notes on who has been involved with Garden operations and maintenance. Fall: A summary of the Garden events in 2023 and the contribution of volunteers.
2022 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Planning for the 2022 season, the Shelter will be open. Summer: Notes on new plantings, what's blooming and how the Garden plant collection is managed. Fall: Summary of Garden programs, visits and staff.
2021 - Season reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Covid rules for the Garden. Summer: How the Garden is faring this year; Some Garden weekly programs resuming. Fall: Information on programs presented by the staff this season plus the Wirth Beach Station.
2020 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Notes on what was going on prior to April 1 with the earlier Spring weather and effects of Covid-19 virus. Summer: Notes on how the Garden staff has coped with re-opening to visitors after being closed for 3 months. Fall: Summary of how the Garden fared in 2020 and how Covid-19 was handled with changes to visitor procedures.
2019 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Susan announces the completion of the boardwalk and reviews all the contributors. Fall - Summation of the Garden season - number of visitors, projects completed, thank you's to volunteers and the Friends.
2018 - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring: Winter work in the Garden preparing for the boardwalk construction and ash tree removal. Fall - Susan reviews all the programs that the Garden offered the past season.
2017 - pdf file - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring - Susan lists the new staff for this year's season. Summer Susan reviews the Garden's program, now in its 8th year, for Minneapolis Public Schools grade-schoolers to visit the Garden for a Naturalist program. Fall: Susan writes of how the Garden changes continually, whether we want it to or not.
2016 - pdf file - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring - Susan speaks of the new programming for Spring, the addition of a seasonal gardener position and the new naturalist staff. Summer/Fall Susan is off for the Summer with her new baby.
2015 - pdf file - Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring - Susan speaks to the joys of spring, the results of the 2012/14 bee survey, and how to stay connected to the Garden. Summer: Susan writes of the quality and uniqueness of the Garden. Fall: Year-end summation.
2014 - pdf file – Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring - Susan reviews Garden plans for 2014 which include the Boardwalk, a plant census, a birding festival, more plantings and educational programs for children. Summer - Susan reviews the wonderful spring season and the work of the Invasive Plant Action Group. Fall - Susan reviews the accomplishments of the past season.
2013 - pdf file – Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Spring - Susan writes of our need to cherish the nature we have and looks forward with a list of this years Garden activities. Summer - Susan reviews the very late spring start at the Garden, the summer Bee Survey, new plantings and how Eloise Butler may have adapted to climate change. Fall - Susan reviews the efforts of the Garden Naturalists this past season and plans ongoing for the Boardwalk in the Marsh.
2012 - pdf file – Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Winter - she describes the fall and early winter work in the Garden and updates on the wetland project. Spring - Susan lists the events taking place in the Garden this spring including the introduction of Honey Bees. Fall - Susan reviews the plantings done during the year and the progress on invasive plant removal.
2011 - pdf file – Seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Winter - a review the Garden status for the past 2010 season. Spring - Susan reviews the volunteer effort that made the 2010 season a success. Summer - Susan reviews the spring season and new wildflower plantings. Fall - Susan describes the large number of summer educational programs that were attended by many school children.
2010 - pdf file – 4 seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Fall - on Garden art programs of this season, the 2010 Garden Resident Artist and art programs affiliated with other organizations that benefit the Garden; summer - on the amount of volunteer time spent in the Garden so far this year; spring - on new Spring Programs at the Garden; winter - about handling invasive species in the Garden.
2009 - pdf file – 4 seasonal reports from Susan Wilkins. Fall - on the need for natural places for the education of people about nature; summer - on the replanting along Violet Way in the Woodland Garden; spring - on her thoughts when Spring approaches the Garden; winter - on activities that happen in the Garden after the gate closes in October.
Summer/fall 2008 – A review of the progress on removing invasive plants from the Woodland Garden and the replanting of new shrubs and trees.
Autumn 2007 – A review of the various Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden 100th Anniversary events.
Summer 2005 – Cherishing Orchids, an Eloise Butler Legacy
Friends of the Wildflower Garden, Inc., P. O. Box 3793, Minneapolis, MN 55403. www.friendsofeloisebutler.org. 101424