Friends of the Wildflower Garden
P. O. Box 3793
Minneapolis, MN 55403
News Update from the Friends
Garden entrance renovation
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has finalized a design for a major renovation of the entrance approach to the Wildflower Garden.
The purpose of this renovation is outlined in the following MPRB project plan:
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Entrance Renovation Project looks to renovate and reimagine the entrance into the wildflower garden. This project will improve the entry experience and access from the beginning as soon as visitors exit off Theodore Wirth Parkway all the way through the garden gates. Areas of focus include:
1. Improved walking trails and ADA access to the garden entrance gate from the existing parking lot.
2. A public gathering space for outdoor learning and education.
3. Enhanced welcoming experience by bringing the garden beyond the renovated entrance gate.
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Renovation Project will build upon the vision outlined with the 2015-approved Theodore Wirth Regional Park Plan. This project will also follow guidance by the 2022 community findings that were developed and recommendations at that time.
Below: The final design conception for the Garden entrance renovation. - Image - MPRB.
Larger image
Two public meetings plus an open house were held and an on-line survey was available for interested parties to comment.
The MPRB planners have had two meetings with the Friends board of directors to review the project and receive our comments. We will continue to be involved as this project moves forward. The Friends are committed to raise funds for this project, specifically for the lower amphitheater seating area. Construction could begin as early as this fall.
The Eloise Butler Council Ring:
A centerpiece of the entrance project will be the amphitheater area now designated as the Council Ring—a welcoming gathering space where visitors can connect with one another, participate in educational programs, and begin their Garden experience.
This summer, we celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 175th birthday of Eloise Butler, the pioneering botanist, teacher, and conservationist whose vision gave us the nation's first public wildflower garden. To help make this council ring a reality, the Friends of the Wildflower Garden has launched a Celebrate 175! campaign.
Our goal is simple and meaningful: raise $175,000 in honor of Eloise's 175th birthday. As we celebrate Eloise Butler's 175th birthday, we invite you to be part of the Garden's next chapter. Together, we can ensure that this beloved sanctuary continues to inspire wonder, foster biodiversity, and connect people with nature for generations to come.
To make a gift or learn more, go to this website page.
Eloise Butler Florilegium Exhibits
For a second time this year you will be able to see the drawings of plants in the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden that were created for the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Florilegium Project which wrapped up in 2025 with 111 completed drawings. Coming this September 26th at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum will be an exhibit of the entire collection with the show ending on January 3, 2027. An exhibition catalogue will be available only at the opening reception - October 7, 2-3:30pm. The catalogue will illustrate one work by each of the artists involved in the Florilegium.
The Friends will be sponsoring a fund raising event for the Garden Entrance Council Ring at the Bell on November 5 during the exhibition. Details on that will be out later
The 2025 Volunteer Appreciation Event.
Sunday October 26 was the date of the 2025 volunteer event sponsored by the Friends and the Wildflower Garden.
Eighty volunteers were able to register for the event, held at 5PM at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church. The Friends provided food from Christo's, beverages by Friends board members, and over 60 raffle gifts. The Wildflower Garden provided dessert and a take-home gift, this year a pack of Garden notecards.
Garden Curator spoke of this past season at the Garden, Friends president Jennifer Olson spoke, introduced special guests from the MPRB administration and conducted the raffle.
A special quest was Michael Jones, MPRB planner, who presented the final design concept for the Wildflower Garden entrance area renovation.
The 2025 Guest Lecture Meeting
The Annual Friends of the Wildflower Garden Guest Lecture was Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 7PM in the Fireside Room, Eddie Manderville Chalet, Theodore Wirth Regional Park .
Phyllis Root spoke on her new book Chasing Wildflowers.
Presenting her adventures of chasing wildflowers throughout their unique Minnesota habitats. Phyllis is author of 50 children’s books including the Big Belching Bog, Plant a Pocket of Prairie, and The Lost Forest. She and photographer Kelly Povo have written Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers and their newest book Chasing Wildflowers.
Big Hill Books in Bryn Mawr was on hand selling Root's books and sold out all copies of the book.
The meeting was also available via Zoom .
Below: Phyllis Root discussing her book Chasing Wildflowers at the October 14 Friends Lecture.
Photo G D Bebeau
Friends Board of Directors for 2026.
On Tuesday evening October 14, Friends annual supporters elected a new board of directors for the coming year.
the Directors are:
Gary Bebeau, Colin Bartol, Candyce Bartol, Mary Bolla, Joelle Hoeft, Bruce Jarvis, George Lawson, Jennifer Olson, Jim Proctor, Pam Weiner.
FIPAG has a new name.
The Volunteer Stewardship Area which surrounds the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden has been renamed "The Greater Eloise Volunteer Stewardship Area." Improving the natural habitat in this area which buffers the Wildflower Garden has been the focus of the Friends Invasive Plant Action Group (FIPAG) since 2007. In accord with the renamed area, FIPAG volunteers will now be called "Greater Eloise Stewards."
Restoration work in the north meadow:
In late summer The Greater Eloise Stewards have been uncovering parts of the past in the meadow north of the Wildflower Garden’s back fence and gate. This area was once open marsh and meadow with scattered trees on higher spots. It was kept moist by springs, seeps and water draining from Eloise Butler’s wildflower reserve. In recent decades views of the area have been obscured by the growth of dense forests of buckthorn. The paths in the area which lead to the Garden’s back gate, once a tunnel of buckthorn are now being cleared so the native plants that once were abundant there can receive sunlight and regenerate or be re-introduced as necessary. Historically, this is the area where Eloise Butler created her Mallard Pool in 1932.
Below: Fall 2025. This photo shows the buckthorn removal work in the north meadow. Photo Jim Proctor
Volunteer Greeters:
In 2026, Friends volunteers are again staffing both the entry Kiosk and the shelter for the 56th consecutive year, the Martha Crone Shelter. Over 30,000 people were engaged at the Garden with staff and volunteers up to June 16th. This exceeds the pace of 2025 when 55,000 people were engaged the entire season. Fifty-three volunteers went through training. Garden programs had 2,000 participants through mid-June.
Your donations
You should know that your support contributions to the Friends are entirely used for these Garden projects and our other mission programs. As an all volunteer entity in the last 3 years we spent 3.7% of our revenue on administration and fund raising expenses and all of those expenses are paid out of non-contribution income.
All contributions go to our educational activities, volunteer support, student transportation grants and funding for plants, habitat and infrastructure at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Our funding of $139,200 the past three years has supported: Wildflower Garden infrastructure and habitat - $118,800, Grants for children’s visits - 7,100, Educational program - $7,000, Volunteer activity support - $6,300.
If you want to read more about the historical aspects of the Garden and the things the Friends have accomplished over the last 74 years visit the "garden history tab" and the "Friends history tab." Links at the bottom of this page.