September 2015 Meeting: Visit to the Ridgeway Pine Relict

We had a wonderful September meeting roaming the pine barrens of the Ridgeway Pine Relict. Thank you to the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Malcolm Stack Foundation for sharing this local gem.

Pine relicts are pine forest communities that are remnants that date back to the last glacier retreat-some 10,000 years ago. These relicts were part of what was once a pine dominated landscape in a cool southern WI climate. As time passed the climate gradually warmed and prairie and oak savannas replaced nearly all the pine forests in Southern Wisconsin. All that remains are relicts found in very steep draws among rocky cliffs in the Driftless Areas of SW Wisconsin. The Ridgeway pines are only one of two large pine relicts in Southern Wisconsin. The plant community in a pine relict consists of at least 75% northern and not more than 25% southern plant species.

David Clutter, Executive Director of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, helped make arrangements with the Malcolm Stack Foundation to visit this site. David has dedicated his career to protecting and stewarding biological diversity, water resources and agricultural lands in Illinois and Wisconsin. David has a Master's of Science in Environment and Resources from UW-Madison with an emphasis on collaborative conservation planning and policy implementation. David gave us some background information on the pine relict and then led a walk.

August 2015: Picnic Meeting and Trip to Heritage Farm

Picnic at Soldiers Memorial Park

It was a great picnic at Soldier's Memorial Park in Mineral Point for our August meeting. Jenny McNeill has been working on developing diverse and colorful flower beds both along the creek and around the park entrance sign. We really enjoyed seeing what Jenny had done. Great food and lots of it.

Following our business meeting Marian Schmitz shared some fascinating and amazing history of

Soldier’s Memorial Park. Many were surprised with Marian’s park history, that there had been a lake in the park big enough for rowboats, swimming and a slide and that there once had been a dance pavilion that hosted big name bands. Marian brought in old pictures, letters, and

newspaper articles, and recounted some personal recollections about her involvement with the park.

Many thanks to Jenny for her work on the park gardens and to Marian for a delightful and informative look back at the history of Soldiers Memorial Park.

Day Trip to Heritage Farm

The 2015 annual Garden Club trip was to Heritage Farm outside of Decorah, Iowa on August 15th.

Heritage Farm is the headquarters of Seed Savers Exchange, whose mission is to conserve and promote America's culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.

The farm is located six miles north of Decorah, Iowa. Nestled among sparkling streams, limestone bluffs, and century-old white pine woods, the 890-acre farm is a living museum of historic varieties. Thousands of heirlooms are grown in certified organic fields.

August 2014 Meeting: Tour of Folklore Village Gardens

Folklore Village Farwell Hall entrance

The August Garden Club meeting was held at Folklore Village which is located in a lovely country setting six miles east of Dodgeville.

Folklore Village program director Meghan Dudle explained the many programs offered at Folklore Village and gave us a tour of the gardens and grounds.

Afterwards, the club enjoyed a potluck picnic on the grounds outside Farwell Hall.




Folklore Village offers an ongoing program of cultural, educational and participatory folklife activities, including dances, concerts, family events, cultural events, and exhibits. In the late 1960's Jane Farwell created Folklore Village, "the culmination of her ideas about festivals, folklore, dance, recreation, community, and the land." Jane also created the original gardens and an apple orchard which still exists. More recent additions include an extensive restored prairie with trails through it.

Program Director Meghan Dudle explains the many
programs offered at Folklore Village.

One of several large garden beds at Folklore Village

Jude's pie didn't last long!

Plox in bloom with one of the Folklore buildings in back

July 2014 Meeting: Tour of Oak Savanna and School Garden

For the Uplands July meeting, the club toured the Don Hawkins Community Oak Savanna in Mineral Point where we got a chance to chat with Don. We then visited the Mineral Point Elementary School Garden next door where we were wowed by the vegetable gardens created by Ryan Fox and the staff and students (and where we also got to do a bit of harvesting and sampling).

The Don Hawkins Community Oak Savanna

This past fall, 3rd graders from the Mineral Point Elementary School harvested and threshed seeds from the Oak Savanna with Don Hawkins and Don Hay. In winter, they bundled up and planted the seeds on top of the snow. When the snow melted, the seeds went into the ground and sprouted in spring.

At the end of February, the 3rd graders went to the high school to work with Mr. Robinson's students to plant seeds which were then transplanted into the Oak Savanna in May. This has been a great community/all school project that has been a part of the curriculum for years. It is a work in progress and someday will be spectacular.

Our thanks to all who are connected to the project!

Visit the Friends of the Oak Savanna Facebook page. 

Mineral Point Elementary School Garden

Uplands Garden Club members Ryan Fox and John Sharp and the grade schoolers have to be commended for the beautifully terraced, elevated planters full of vegetables! The peas were blooming and ready to harvest and we’ve never seen radishes that big! For anyone who has never seen soybeans up close, they are a sight to see too, especially when they bloom---in August.

The garden is located behind the Mineral Point Elementary School, off of Cothern Street.

Visit the School Garden on Facebook.

June 2014 Meeting: Tour of Orchard Lawn Gardens and Gundry House

Orchard Lawn gardens

Our June meeting was held at Orchard Lawn, a historic site maintained by the Mineral Point Historical Society. It features the restored Gundry House mansion and 9 acres of carefully manicured gardens and grounds.



We toured the lovely horseshoe-shaped gardens that ring the lawn in front of the Gundry House. The baptisia were especially impressive as was the fringe tree that was in full bloom.

The gardens were tidy as could be thanks to the volunteer efforts of Garden Club member Jenny McNeil. Kudos to Jenny!

Roger beside the Fringe Tree

Berty explains the history of the Gundry House

Afterwards, garden club member Berty Miller, who is also a volunteer docent at Orchard Lawn, gave us a tour of the Gundry House. Berty pointed out many historical details in the house and talked about the extensive research that has gone into the ongoing restoration of this historic mansion.

Thank you to Berty for an enjoyable and informative tour!