Notes From The Gardens
November 2023
I’m Cutting You Off! Winter Tree Pruning
It's December 1, and we are starting a month that means so many different things for each of us! Shopping for gifts, planning and attending events, looking forward (or not) to seeing family and relatives, and hopefully finding some quiet and alone time binging old movies and enjoying the beautiful [...]
Buy it Where You Burn It- The Campaign to Keep Forests Safe!
It’s that time of year when we look forward to a glowing, crackling fire. Whether you build yours indoors or out, it’s important to source your firewood locally to keep your trees safe from invasive insects that may be hitching a ride! The incident that prompted my research into this [...]
October 2023
Squash Time!
Zucchini, squash, and gourds, oh my! One of my favorite plants to grow in a vegetable garden has to be pumpkins and squash (even if they aren’t my favorite thing to eat). You plant one or two little pumpkin seeds, let them grow all through summer- watching the vines double [...]
What Made Us Nature Superheroes: Our “Origin Stories”- Patrick Murphy, Facilities & Grounds Director
Every superhero has an origin story, and the superhero staff and interns at Monk Gardens are no different! Read on to learn what were the influences and experiences that made our Facilities and Grounds Director, Patrick Murphy, pursue a career in a nature-based field! "The tornado sirens could be heard [...]
September 2023
Leave the Leaves!- The Benefits Behind Being “Lazy” This Fall
It's that time of the year… the trees are changing color, and soon after, the leaves will come! Whether you dread fall yard cleaning or look forward to it, I will walk you through why the best thing you can do for your yard and neighborhood…is nothing! You heard me [...]
What Made Us Nature Superheroes: Our “Origin Stories”- Pat Witt, Garden Supervisor
Every superhero has an origin story, and the superhero staff and interns at Monk Gardens are no different! Read on to learn what were the influences and experiences that made our Garden Supervisor, Pat Witt, pursue a career in a nature-based field! "Even as suburban kids “back then” we [...]
August 2023
Oogie-Boogie Beetles! – Invasive Japanese Beetles and How We Handle Them
What may look like a pretty green and iridescent beetle actually spells doom for homeowners and the Gardens alike. The Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, has been out in full force here at the Gardens in the last couple weeks and we have been doing our best to manage them using [...]
May 2023
20 Years in the Making
Two decades ago, an “accidental trespassing” resulted in the Gardens concept being born. As Darla Zastrow was enjoying a sunny day with her mom having a picnic at what she thought was a public park, a man in his 70s rode up to them in his golf cart, asking, “What [...]
What Made Us Nature Superheroes: Our “Origin Stories”- Megan Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
Every superhero has an origin story, and the superhero staff and interns at Monk Gardens are no different! Read on to learn what were the influences and experiences that made our Volunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant, Megan Johnson, pursue a career in a nature-based field! "I was fortunate to explore many aspects [...]
What Made Us Nature Superheroes: Our “Origin Stories”- Kaytie Ruesch, Environmental Educator
"I was lucky enough to grow up in rural Crivitz, WI. We lived near Lake Noquebay and my mom would often take my brother and I to wade in the murky waters and look for creatures. When we weren’t partially submerged, we were riding our bikes around on “road patrol” [...]