Upland Garden Restoration

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

An Upland Garden
Restoration Project

In the north end of the Upland Garden, the "back 40" so to speak, a restoration project has been going on for the past five years. In 2009 we see some of the colorful results of this work. The work area is centered near Guidebook station 36, with part of the restored area on both sides of the the path leading from the Upland Garden down to the Woodland Garden.

The process really began some years ago when several large oak trees that anchored the slope between the upper Garden area and the lower Woodland Garden, succumbed to Oak Wilt disease (fig. 1). Their removal allowed the understory plants, particularly the aggressive Buckthorn, to proliferate. Beginning in 2004, a process of clearing the invasives from this area began and unfortunately a number of other trees in the area also succumbed to disease. The removal of all this plant material left a relatively open area that could be replanted to sun loving flowering plants and grasses. In figures 1, 2 and 3 we see the area in October 2007 near the end of the "clearing up" process. Several other diseased trees are in the process of being removed.

Fig. 1 above: Work area in October 2007, next to the path leading to the Woodland Garden.
Fig. 2 below: Work area in October 2007 between the path and the back fence.

Figure 3 below: Tree removal. The work area centered around Guidebook station 36 at the intersection of 4 paths in the Garden.

While some plants volunteered in 2008, by the end of July 2008 this entire area was open as shown below in figs 4 and 5.

fig. 4 above: The area as it appeared in late July 2008.

fig. 5 above: A different view of the same area in July 2008.

fig. 6 above: In late July 2008, looking toward the back fence. The path on the right leads to the top of the back hill and to the fern glen. The large oak tree still standing.

fig. 7 above: An overall view of the cleared area in April 2009. The large diseased oak that was near the station 36 post was removed during the winter.

The last change to the landscape occurred prior to spring 2009 when the old oak tree near the station 36 guidepost had to be removed due to disease (fig. 6 and 7 above). This completely opened up the area to full summer sun. Garden Curator Susan Wilkins began inserting native plants into the area. In late July 2009 this area is a riot of color and species, most of which were planted, and some of which are from seed germination as always happens in area that is opened and disturbed.

fig. 8 left: The area at the path intersection at guidepost 36 on July 28, 2008.

In figures 8 and 9 we can see the dramatic difference within one year. The photos are 53 weeks apart. The station 36 guidepost is visible in fig. 8 and obscured in fig. 9 by the large clump of rosinweed. The oak tree still present in 2008 is now gone in 2009.

fig. 9 right: The same area at the path intersection at guidepost 36 on Aug. 4, 2009.

fig. 10 above: In July 2008 this clump of Rosinweed was growing at the path intersection near guidepost 36. Compare to fig. 11 a year later.

fig. 11 above: Dramatic differences can occur in individual plants within one year. Note how this clump of Rosinweed has greatly expanded from its appearance in 2008 (fig. 10) when the large oak still provided a canopy.

fig. 12 left: The restored area on the south side of the path that leads to the Woodland Garden.

Visitors to the Garden in the summer of 2009 were able to see a colorful panorama of flowers while maybe not ever realizing that the scene had been entirely different in prior years. Thanks to Garden Curator Susan Wilkins and other members of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff and the volunteers who contributed to this project. It will be enjoyable for years to come.

Article and photos by Gary Bebeau, Friends member and web site editor.