An Introduction to the Gardens

Robert W. Monk

Mr. Monk’s father was a lawyer in Wausau, Wisconsin, and his grandfather was a doctor and state senator. Robert’s father saw that he enjoyed growing things, and enrolled him in the College of Agriculture at UW-Madison. Mr. Monk travelled the world to see different botanical gardens, and was fondest of Japanese inspired meditation gardens. Mr. Monk loved crabapple trees, look around the gardens and you will see them in many areas that have not been developed. As time and garden development continues, the crabapple trees have been replaced in honor of him. Sadly, Robert W. Monk died in 2009 at the age of 90, but we continue to grow his legacy.

History and Beginning of the Gardens

Historically the land had been a farm, and Mr. Monk wanted to continue the tradition by purchasing the land to use as a Christmas tree farm. As Robert made the land his own, he enlarged the pond, planted red pine, white oak, maples, flowering crabapples, azalea, hydrangeas, lilacs, and more. His plant collections can still be found amongst the wooded areas around the property. The garden was incorporated in 2003, and donated in 2004 after a master plan and business plan had been developed. We have established the first public botanical garden in North Central Wisconsin. Through generous funding from a DNR Urban and Forestry Grant in 2004, we were able to make the first developments of the gardens. Monk Botanical Gardens are continually funded by donations, memberships, and grant funding.