Refuge and Summer Beauty

July is fading into August. As I reflect on the disappearing July and time at Prospect Gardens finding refuge during a rather turbulent month emerges into consciousness. We experienced stormy weather and the political world continued to be turbulent. Usually, I can navigate through the political chaos with some calmness. However, after watching fifteen minutes of the Mueller hearings, I got on my working shoes, and went to Prospect Gardens. There I found refuge while removing rocks and making space for Little Blue Stem grasses donated by a neighbor. Yes, planting in mid summer is atypical. Watering will be required and the hardiest will survive.

During Sunday's walk I meandered through the University of Wisconsin Botanical Garden, located at 1090 University Avenue. A magnificent perennial garden, all plants duly identified, and with a small pond. As I crossed the bridge this water lily caught my eye. Here's a poem telling us what we can learn from the Water Lily. It's from the 2017 Wisconsin Poets' Calendar, a present from Sandy. Sandy is a poet and  the crew chief of the Glenway Prairie, about a 20 minute walk west of Prospect Gardens.

How to Live Like a Water Lily (Annette L. Grunseth)
Wake up slowly, float in a dreamy world,

silky arms folded over your face until mid-morning,

then open wide, sun-warmed awake.

Breathe from more than one place, soft and supple.

Do not worry about today or tomorrow

or care what others think of you.

Your radiant center is tough, strong,

nourished by water and light.

Wind and wave may engulf you

but you can easily separate from submersion,

opening your face to the heavens.

Push back beads of wet darkness.

Move freely. Make white water circles until afternoon,

when you fold softly back into yourself,

 drowsing in the dimming daylight.

The poem's message is worthy of reflection as we move further into the dog days of summer. The poem also reminded me how Prospect Gardens is a refuge for me and I would hope for others. As I tend the Gardens with the help of volunteers, I also experience community and connections. Here's the July 26th crew. We are holding butterscotch oatmeal bars made by Ann, my wife, while toasting her as she took the picture.

Two UW Badger Volunteers returned: Joe sitting on the left side of the first step and Connie, in the middle of the back row. Two more Badger volunteers, Ethan and Sameer, were taking exams.

Accompanying the UW Badger Volunteers is Sam, an intern with Wisconsin Environmental Initiative, (WEI). He's sitting to Joe's left and on the first step. WEI, led by John Imes, is the sponsor of these particular Badger Volunteers. Blog readers will recognize Sam, Joe and Connie because they were part of the crew that tended the Gardens in June. Behind Sam is Steve and on the same step are Hanns and Joyce. In the back row, flanking Connie, are Ann N. and me.

The weather was quite pleasant and the afternoon quickly slipped by. Much was accomplished including thinning out a species of aggressive, overgrown Black Eye Susan plants.  Joyce, in the green t-shirt, Sam, and Ann N. without hesitation did the job. 










Here's Joe, Connie, and Steve in the background. They are clearing out an unknown weed that carpeted this section of the Garden.




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I had to include this one of Joe giving the "thumps up" to a productive afternoon as well as one filled with conversation and humor.

This particular team of Badger Volunteers is finishing the summer term of working with John Imes' Wisconsin Environmental Initiative. Another team will join John as the Fall semester unfolds.

Thank you John for the opportunity to interact with these hard working and enthusiastic future UW alumni.

I bid farewell and send best wishes to Sam, Justine, Joe, Connie, Ethan and and Sameer as they finish their degrees and move forward with their lives.  May you be safe, may you be well, may you be strong and may you be happy.

I would be remiss if I didn't feature ten pictures showing the Gardens' summer beauty. This beauty contributes to the Gardens being a refuge for birds, insects and human beings.

Swamp Milkweed, a favorite of Monarch Butterflies. I wish I had more. Hopefully this clump will continue to flourish and spread.

Incidentally, the "Blooming Butterfly" show is still on through August 11th at Olbrich Gardens, here in Madison. A variety of free-flying butterflies, including the Monarchs, will dazzle you as you walk through the Bolz Conservatory. The domed tropical conservatory is another soothing refuge and especially during the winter months.

I can't recall the name of this stately lavender beauty.  Nate, the Oregon teacher and lead for the school district's gardens, donated these several years ago. Nate's daughter got married a few weeks ago in the small park that adjoins the family home. It rained heavily in the morning. The skies cleared in time for the afternoon wedding. A good omen for a long and happy married life for the young couple.

A species of Black Eye Susan and the ones I like. These are shorter, compact, have larger blooms and know how to live with their neighbors. They are the opposite of their aggressive taller cousins which many are now on the pile of plant material waiting to be picked up by the city.

A Purple Cone surrounded by cultivated Phlox. Perennials and natives living together in beautiful harmony. The name is from the Greek word phlox meaning flame in reference to the intense flower colors of some varieties. Easy to grow while being subject to powder mildew.

The brilliant Coreopsis, maybe "Early Sunrise" species, spilling out of its bed. Sunshine at your finger tips. These also attract butterflies.

The delicate, yet hardy, Yellow Coneflower, a native that returns and spreads. This one's ancestors were in the gardens of our former home on Keyes Avenue. I planted them well before we sold and moved into our apartment, three years ago in August. Time is certainly slipping by. 

Here's the white spikes of Culver's Root. This year this hardy plant has migrated from it's original location on the flat Regent Neighborhood section of the Gardens down the slope to a site a few feet from the bike path.

As the years pass, plants migrate with the result being constant changes in the appearance of the Gardens. These migrations remind me that change and impermanence is a constant of life.

Prospect Gardens and other prairie gardens along the Southwest Path provide refuge for the generations of migrating Monarchs. Here the magnificent Purple Cone is providing nourishment for the majestic Monarch.

This White Cone flower, sometimes referred to as the "White Swan," is a cultivar rather than a native. Like the Purple Cone, butterflies and bees flock to the blooms. Songbirds love the seeds of both the white and purple cone flowers. This bee didn't mind at all as I closed in and snapped the picture.

Ah, the regal Queen of the Prairie, one of my favorites. I celebrate the return of these pink, airy blooms. Last year an unknown fungus purged most of the Queens. Apparently cutting down and removing the infected plants helped. Sometimes the fungus can linger in the soil.  Long live the Queen!

I invite you to visit Prospect Gardens. Experience its beauty while taking refuge from the divisiveness of our era. Meanwhile I leave you with one of my favorite Wendell Berry poems extolling nature as a refuge.

 The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethoughts

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

UW Badger Volunteers and Gratitude

On the first day of summer, June 21st, a new crew of University of Wisconsin Badger Volunteers and their supervisors, tended the Prospect Gardens. A perfect afternoon for gardening. Temperature in the low 70's and with a light cloud cover.

The four Badger Volunteers, in lime green t- shirts, starting from the left to right are Joe, Sameer, Ethan and Connie. In the back row are Justine, the Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) and Sam. He is replacing Justine who shortly will be leaving for Olympia, WA. Justine, serving an Americorps term, will join Capitol Land Trust in Olympia, WA, as their Restoration Coordinator. Justine will be involved in volunteer management, public education, and conservation efforts in the region.

WEI, directed by John Imes, sponsors the crew and through John's generosity, crews work in the Gardens several times during the gardening season.  This crew will be with WEI for the summer and will be involved with other WEI initiatives.

With deep gratitude I thank this crew, the UW Morgridge Center for Public Service, developers of the Badger Volunteer program, and John Imes for making his crew available. Before I share more for your reflection, here is Carrie Newcomer's poem, "Three Gratitudes."

Every night before I go to sleep

I say out loud
Three things that I’m grateful for,
All the significant, insignificant
Extraordinary, ordinary stuff of my life.
It’s a small practice and humble,
And yet, I find I sleep better
Holding what lightens and softens my life
Ever so briefly at the end of the day.
Sunlight, and blueberries,
Good dogs and wool socks,
A fine rain,
A good friend,
Fresh basil and wild phlox,
My father’s good health,
My daughter’s new job,
The song that always makes me cry,
Always at the same part,
No matter how many times I hear it.
Decent coffee at the airport,
And your quiet breathing,
The stories you told me,
The frost patterns on the windows,
English horns and banjos,
Wood Thrush and June bugs,
The smooth glassy calm of the morning pond,
An old coat,
A new poem,
My library card,
And that my car keeps running
Despite all the miles.

And after three things,
More often than not,
I get on a roll and I just keep on going,
I keep naming and listing,

Until I lie grinning,
Blankets pulled up to my chin,
Awash with wonder
At the sweetness of it all."

As we ended the afternoon and packed up the tools and returned this wheelbarrow to its owner, I felt grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a summer afternoon with future UW alumni. You could say  I was "awash with wonder at the sweetness of it all."

Here's Justine observing a spider on her arm during an April work session when she and another crew of Badger Volunteers tended the Gardens. I wish the best to her as she ventures to Olympia and begins her new job. She is excited about moving to the Northwest. Justine will do very well in her new job.

Justine and I teamed to create a new bed which first involved  removing rocks. We took turns hauling the rocks in a wheelbarrow up the northern ramp. The rock pile awaits pick up by the city.

I will fill the space with dirt and plant natives and maybe some grasses. Nate, an Oregon teacher and lead for its school prairie, has set aside Blue Lobelia and Little Blue Stem grasses. Maybe early next week  I will do the planting.

Sam, pictured here pulling weeds, is  an environmental science major and will be a senior this fall semester. Recently he's been biking many of our nearby trails. He also loves cast and fly fishing and especially near his hometown of Viroqua. Thanks Sam for your good work which included pulling Bishops Weed.

Viroqua's population is nearly 4,400 and is located about 94 miles northwest of Madison. Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County. The county and surrounding areas are part of the unique Driftless region which covers about 20,000 square miles in western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and extreme northwestern Illinois. This area was never glaciated, resulting in landscapes of steep, forested ridges, and deeply-carved river valleys.

Besides it's natural beauty, the Viroqua area is known for being one of the greatest organic farming regions of the  United States. Organic Valley, the largest organic farming cooperative in North America, is just one of the many organic farms that provide products to restaurants in Viroqua and across the Midwest.

The town and the area has a special place in my heart. Prior to retiring, I was the evaluation coordinator for the UW Environmental Resource Center. I'm grateful for the eight years of being on a team dedicated to addressing environmental issues.

We had a two day staff meeting held at the visitors center of The Kickapoo Valley Reserve, 23 miles east of Viroqua. A majestic setting on  8,600-acre of public land.

The Kickapoo River, a 126-mile-long tributary of the Wisconsin River, flows through the Reserve. Sandstone outcroppings tower over the River and native plants and animals abound in all seasons throughout the Reserve. Great fishing, and I bet Sam has fished in or near the Reserve.

During break, we talked about our least favorite buildings on campus. Sam disliked the Noland Zoology building. Joe nominated the George L. Mosse Humanities building pictured here. A few years ago the walk bridge was removed from this concrete colossus. Surprisingly, Sam liked the Humanities building, even though its design is similar to the Zoology Building.

Talking about buildings reminded me of my four years on the campus and how grateful I am for my UW education. Those were transformative  years for me when the Zoology and Humanities building were under construction. Also, UW was one of the epicenters of the Vietnam War protests during those years.

Construction of the Humanities Building began in 1966 when I was a senior, and in the fall began a Master's Degree program in Political Science. It and the Zoology building was completed in 1969. That year I still lived in Madison and was finishing my first year of teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies in Poynette with a Masters degree and teacher certification earned in 1968.

I recall walking past the Humanities Building as it was being built. The site was surrounded by a ply wood barrier covered with graffiti and anti-war slogans. According to a popular myth, the architect designed the structure to be riot proof. Supposedly, the design would impede protesters from occupying the building, as was done on October 18, 1967 when students took over the Commerce building. Known as the "Dow Chemical Riots", police waded into Commerce and dispersed the students with what would now be called excessive force.

I now stroll pass the Humanities Building on my occasional walks through campus. The massive building is a prime example of the 1960's Brutalist architectural movement. Brutalist designed buildings are large scaled concrete structures with a stark appearance featuring minimalist geometric patterns, straight lines and unadorned concrete exterior and interior surfaces. The architect was Harry Weese, the same man who designed Washington, D.C.’s iconic metro stations.

The UW master plan calls for the demolition of Humanities sometime in the future which has stirred up  controversy. Here's what Joe Reuteman, in the December 5th, 2015 Badger Herald said:

"The severe cement facade strikes many as overly imposing, looking less like a hub of arts and history and more like a munitions plant from some bleak dystopian fiction. The interior can be equally off-putting for new visitors, who often critique the layout of corridors, rooms, and stairwells as segmented and counter-intuitive."

However, Humanities has its supporters such as UW alumnus Virgil Abloh , the fashion designer and artistic director of Louis Vuitton's men's wear collection. Perhaps Sam, as a future alumnus, will have a voice in resolving the controversy.

Another future alumnus is Joe. Here's Joe returning from dumping a pile of weeds. Joe is beginning his senior year and double majoring in Environmental Studies and Economics.

Joe is from Wauwatosa, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. Joe joined Badger Volunteers because he enjoys being a part of a cause that is greater than himself. Your generous spirit and hard work is greatly appreciated.

Here's Ethan with Justine. Ethan, his international name, is from China. His majors are mathematics and economics. 

Ethan now has two courses and an internship as a Data Analyst for the Wisconsin Educational Research Center. He joined the Badger Volunteers to get a break from a lot of time sitting and looking at the laptop screen. Being a Badger Volunteer also satisfies his desire to help preserve nature. Thank you, Ethan.

Connie, her international name, is also from China. She was born in a small village, and reflecting trends in China, moved with her family to a city. When living in the village she   gardened with her Grandmother.

Connie is biochemistry major with a computer science minor. Connie joined UW Badger Volunteers because she wants to be more engaged in the community and specifically in environmental protection efforts. She is pleased to be with the Wisconsin  Environmental Initiative (WEI). I am equally pleased and grateful that Connie spent the afternoon tending the Prospect Gardens.   

Ethan and Connie in action. The two made a great team. They worked diligently while seeming to enjoy themselves. Thank you.

Here's Sameer removing Jewel Weed. His hometown is Kenosha. His major is electrical engineering with an emphasis on embedded systems. According to my Google search, embedded systems is a new discipline that intersects  Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Embedded systems dominate every aspect of human life. Applications are used in automobiles, TVs, cell phones, tablets, house appliances, house automation, and many other domains. In other words, all the electronic gadgets in our lives involve embedded systems.

Sameer joined Badger Volunteers because he felt it was good opportunity to meet new people and help the community at the same time. Thanks for helping our community and especially Prospect Gardens.


Gardening with the UW Badger Volunteers, Sam and Justine, to borrow from Newcomer's poem, is another example of the "Extraordinary, ordinary stuff of my life." I look forward to this crew's return.

The efforts of volunteers over the ten years since the Gardens began means that colorful areas such as this one greet passersby.The Poppy Mellows are in full bloom and dominate the area.

The Poppy Mellows are well established and like magic return each year. Yet they and all sections of the Gardens must be maintained which means that the need for volunteers is constant. The next neighborhood work session will be July 20th, 9 to noon. If you are in Madison, please join me. Many other plants will be in boom and perhaps the raspberries will be ready to pick.