1961
History of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
and The Friends of the Wildflower Garden

In 1960 Ken Avery experimented with planting Bunchberry Dogwood (Cornus canadensis). He considered the species to be a successful introduction and ordered a large number for planting in 1962. Martha Crone had first planted this species in 1933 and ‘34 and it was still on her 1951 plant census. It was indigenous to the Garden and Eloise Butler planted it many times, but it is no longer extant.

In the Friend's Newsletter, (Vol. 9 No. 4) editor Martha Crone wrote on the Hermit Thrush and of the Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba), which tree she had planted in the Garden in 1948; also of herb gardens and the common tomato. She considers autumn with these words:

Autumn’s smoldering blaze of brilliance after summer’s green has vanished is most noticeable where birches flaunt a trim of gold, mingled with the flaming scarlet of maple and bronzes of the oaks.” and quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson - “The beauty that shimmers in the yellow afternoon of October, who could clutch it? Go forth to find it, and it is gone.

Sigurd Olson’s “A Need for Wilderness” wass discussed.

Then there was an extensive section on the completion of the Fern Glen.

[Note: In 1955 the Friends received a gift of funds from the Minnetonka Garden Club and the Little Minnetonka Garden Flower Club which Martha used to create a fern glen in an undeveloped part of the Garden. She began planting in 1956 by setting out 2,160 fern plants followed by 308 the next year and completing the project in 1958 when the total reached 2,844 fern plants. Ken Avery added an additional 250 plants in 1960 bring the total planted to 3,094 before any losses]

Plants were arranged on the hilly area with Ostrich Fern, Cinnamon Fern and Royal Fern at the base where it is moist. Brittle Bladder and Bulblet Bladder were on a slope under an Oak. Lady Fern and Interrupted Ferns were on the steepest part, exposed to sun. In other spots were placed - Christmas Fern, Goldie’s fern, Hayscented fern, Narrow-leaved fern, Spleenwort, Silvery Spleenwort, Marginal Shield Fern, Spinulose shield Fern, Crested Wood Fern, Narrow Beech Fern, Bracken Fern and Rattlesnake Fern (Virginia Grape). [Thumbnail sheet of all these ferns.]

Below: The upland as it looked in the Spring of 1961. The loop path toward the upper right approaching the back fence where the new Fern Glen was being developed in the NE corner was removed in later years. A new path through the Glen was made and is barely visible in the photo. The Odell memorial bench of 1959 is in place but still no visible path to the lone oak. The Nordquist fountain will not show up until 1995. The little triangular area with branching side path noted in photo was removed in later years as was the long path paralleling the fence line. Photo courtesy University of Minnesota.

Martha Crone's final article in this issue was about Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) and how after the foliage dries, the red seed capsules are displayed, each seed coated with the red of the Cardinal Flower - a color used on no other fruit or flower [in the eastern half of the United States]. These capsules are the size of burst popcorn and in the shape of 4-cornered hats, appearing in masses.

Fall temperatures were warm in October with a moderate amount of rainfall followed by heavy snow in December with December average snow depth around 8 inches, entirely unlike the previous winter when there was scant snow. Ken Avery stated in his annual report (1) that:

The Garden went into winter in good condition with plenty of moisture in the soil and we have excellent cover this winter. This snow that makes our lives so miserable is a gift from the gods to the plants and I expect the best spring bloom in years.

The Garden’s Purpose:

Some of Ken’s other statements in his annual report are worth noting. He stated that approximately 100,000 people visited the Garden in 1961 and he said this to emphasize that the Garden is being used to near capacity.

On a busy Sunday the cars do not only fill our parking lot and the parking area at the spring, but also fill the parking area by Birch Pond and even line the road to the main Parkway.

Then he gives a bit of his philosophy which still holds true today:

Actually the number of people using the Garden is not nearly as important as the type of use the Garden receives. In the spring and fall teachers from schools from all parts of the state visit the Garden with classes from kindergarten through college. In the hours between school and closing, groups of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc., make use of the Garden for their nature study. The garden clubs that visit the other gardens visit us too, but our educational service is unique among the gardens. We also provide one of the few places where someone who does not have a car can find some of the forest birds, or for that matter find a little peace and quiet.

One final bit on new infrastructure was added to the Garden in 1961. The restroom facilities at the Garden had always been, as Ken Avery put it, "the hole in the ground variety." This was replaced by chemical toilets which "I think it is a significant improvement." (1).

It would not be until 1973 when the existing structure was built with help from the Friends funding of materials to house the facility.

At year end, Friends membership totaled 165. One noted member who had passed away was Gertrude Cram. (2)

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Notes:
(1). Annual Report of the Garden Curator to the Board of Park Commissioners dated March 5, 1962, to Superintendent Howard Moore.
(2). Friends of the Wild Flower Garden Secretary’s Report - 1961