The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Minneapolis is the oldest in the United States. Every community should have one. People should have a place where they can learn to identify the native plants and learn about natural history.
Ms. Butler, a native of Maine, moved to Minneapolis in 1874 to teach high school. She taught mostly botany. She kept learning, attending classes at the University of Minnesota. She was interested in freshwater algae and identified new species.
By the 1880s, people could see habitat disappearing in the Twin Cities. People — most of the work was done by women’s clubs — advocated for a Wild Botanical Garden, a preserve for native species.
Ms. Butler was a driving force, and in 1907 three acres were set aside in a city park. Volunteers worked on the garden, adding native plants to the collection. In 1911 Ms. Butler was appointed curator, with a monthly salary of $50.
She was tireless. She collected native plants for the garden, which expanded to 13 acres. She gave talks. She wrote articles for journals and newspapers. She encouraged people to learn.
In my view, a preserve is an important public institution, like the public library. It’s a resource that can make ordinary citizens better people.
• Source: The Friends of the Wildflower Garden have information on Eloise Butler here:
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