Wisconsin Wildflowers: Prairie Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)
During hot months, prairies come alive with phenomenal displays of wildflowers and the prairie restorations of the Rotary Centennial Arboretum at Riverside Park are, right now, in full bloom. There you can find this week’s wildflower: Prairie Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus).
With flowerheads that look like small, delicate daisies, prairie fleabane is a member of Asteraceae, the asters. Asteraceae is one of the two biggest families of plants in the world along with Orchidaceae, the orchids. Which family is bigger depends on who’s counting what as a species.
Introducing a Walk of 3 Billion Years
Studying nature is a great way to feel young…comparatively speaking, that is. There are trees that are hundreds of years old as well as turtle and bird species that can easily outlive the humans who care for them. The entire human race is like a newborn when compared to billion-year-old rocks. It’s mind blowing!
Thanks to a generous gift from the Franke family, we’ve created a way to explore this concept of time through nature. We’re proud to introduce a new treasure, a 3 Billion Year Walk through the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum.
Take a Hike, Milwaukee!
One of my favorite things to do is be fully immersed in nature while hiking in the middle of the city. The fact that you can walk from a street full of houses into a beautiful green haven in a matter of moments is so amazing!
I love watching people’s faces their first time out hiking in one of the parks at our branches, especially those who have lived in Milwaukee all their lives but have never seen this natural side of their city. It’s great.
I’d like to invite you to take part in an urban nature hike with me!
Arboretum Donors
The Urban Ecology Center has been working to improve the assets and accessibility of Riverside Park since our founders formed a grassroots group in the early 1990s. The Park Access Project was an outgrowth of our plans to serve more students from the Riverside Park branch. In 2008, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee selected our proposal to create an arboretum to celebrate their centennial anniversary in 2013. Since then, many new volunteers and donors have built on the momentum of the original Park Access Project culminating in the opening of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum in September 2013.
In addition to the $8 million project, a Preservation Fund has been established. Members of the community and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee have generously contributed to seed this endowment in hopes to reach a goal of $3 million in 10 years ($850,000 raised to date), which will allow for the perpetual preservation and maintenance of the Arboretum. Listed below are the supporters to date for this remarkable community effort to improve, expand and maintain the natural oasis of Riverside Park for future generations.
Riverside Park Access Project Donors
A
Alterra Coffee Roasters
Alvin & Marion Birnschein Foundation
Anonymous
B
Brico Fund
D
Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Charitable Trust
G
Dudley, Constance, & Pieter Godfrey
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Anonymous Fund
- Burns-Schrader Foundation
- Trinity Foundation Fund
Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Inc.
H
Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation
K
Susie & Fred Kasten
M
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
O
Charles D. Ortgiesen Foundation
R
River Revitalization Foundation
S
Schoenleber Foundation, Inc.
Stackner Family Foundation
David & Nancy Stone
W
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC
Z
Ziemann Foundation
Rotary Centennial Arboretum Project
A
Anonymous (3)
Antonia Foundation
Assurant Health Foundation
B
Badger Meter Foundation
Brookby Foundation
C
CG Schmidt Inc.
D
Dorothy Inbusch Foundation, Inc.
Ginger Duiven
F
Fund for Lake Michigan
G
Nancy Gloe
Dudley, Constance, and Pieter Godfrey
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Graef
Great Lakes Ecological Services, LLC
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Anonymous Fund
- Jane K. Kaiser Fund
- John and Melita Lane Fund
H
Jen Hagenow
Beth and Fred Heller
J
Jerome J. and Dorothy H. Holz Family Foundation
John C. Bock Foundation
Johnson's Nursery, Inc.
K
Kaytee Avian Foundation
Krause Family Foundation
L
Sean La Fleur
Ken and Shauna Leinbach
Lynn Lucius and Richard Taylor
M
Marcus Corporation Foundation
Jean McKey and Jerome Houfek
Tom and Monique Meyer
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Patricia and George Mueller
P
Louise Phillips
Prairie Seed Source
Prairie Future Seed Company
R
Verne and Marion Read
Rexnord Foundation
William and Eva Rumpf
S
Wendy Schaffer
Michael and Joan Spector
Staff Electric Co., Inc.
T
Thiel Design
U
U.S. Forest Service
Urban Ecology Center Birders
- Patricia and Gary Ahrens
- W. Paul and Deanna Andre
- Jonathan and Anne Bales
- Kathleen Beaver
- Dennis and Jean Casper
- Ronald Gutschow
- Suzy and Jim Holstein
- Lenore Lee
- Thomas and Kathleen Nelson
- Maryanne and Daniel Niesen
- Peggy Noonan and Julian Taagen
- Jeanne and Larry Prochnow
- William and Eva Rumpf
- Mary Schley
- Dale Snider
- Robin Squier
- Tim Vargo and Jessie Tobin
- Carolyn Scott Washburne
- Jessica Wirth
V
Valley Community Presbyterian Church
W
Walton Family Foundation, Inc.
We Energies Foundation
Wisconsin Coastal Management Program
Rotary Club of Milwaukee Donors: Arboretum Project and Preservation Fund
Those marked with an * have contributed to both the Arboretum Project and the Preservation Fund.
A
Mike Abuls *
William Adams
David Ahern
William Alverson
Debbie Amundson
Keith Anderson
Renee Anderson
Thomas Angerer
Anonymous
JoAnne Anton *
B
Baird Foundation
Keith Baisden
James Barry, III *
David Baum
Rick Bauman, PhD
Stephen Becker *
John Beckwith *
Donna Bembenek
Todd Bentley
Thomas Bentley
Kristin Bergstrom *
John Bernaden *
Frederick Bersch
Timothy Birkenstock
David Bishop
BizTimes
Larry Bonney *
Harvey Brahm
Tom Branigan
Hugh Braun *
Ellis Bromberg *
Christy Brown
Alan Brown
Patrick Brown
David Buck, PhD *
Keith Butler
C
Fil Carini
Kevin Carr
Joseph Caruso *
Jean Casey
Tina Chang
Stephan Chevalier *
Thomas Churchill
Edward Cichurski
Lawrence Clancy *
James Clark
William Coleman *
John Connelly
In Honor of Mario and Cathy Costantini
Margaret Crawford
D
Ryan Daniels
Donald Daugherty
Richard Davidson*
Jonathan Dehlinger, PhD
William DeLind
Lloyd Dickinson
Roger Dirksen
Kenneth Donner
James Dorman
Kenneth Dortzbach
Harry Drake *
John Drosner
David Drumel
David Drzadinski
Elizabeth Duback
Steven Duback
David Dunker
E
Kathie Eilers *
John Emory, Sr. *
Chukuka Enwemeka
Robert Eschweiler
Estabrook Beer Garden
Pam Evason
F
William Feerick
Robert Feind *
Daniel Fetterley *
Jeff Fleming
Patty Flowers
James Ford
In Memory of William R. Forrer
Karen Forrer
Byron Foster *
Richard Frank *
Harry Franke
Harry & Mary Franke Idea Fund
Deborah Fugenschuh
G
Thomas Gale
Pamela Garvey
Danni Gendelman *
Daniel Gentges
Franklyn Gimbel *
Steven Glaser
In Honor of Pieter Godfrey
Charles Gorham
Tom Goris
James Gormley
Jason Graham
Louis Gral
Michael Graverson
Robert Grede
Eckhart Grohmann
Rob Guilbert
H
Scott Haag *
Richard Hackl *
Bob Haig
Craig Haskins
William Hattendorf
Leslie Hauser
Robert Heger
John Hein
Edward Heinecke *
Rae Heiple
Edward Heiser
Jackie Herd-Barber*
Kristine Hinrichs
Peter Hitler *
Christine Holmes *
Randall Hoth *
In Honor of Thomas and Claire Hultgren
Paul Hundt *
James Hunter
Ted Hutton *
I
Mary & Eric Isbister
J
Christopher Jaekels
In Honor of Charlie James
Charles James *
William Jermain
In Honor of Anthony Jurisic, M.D.
Maja Jurisic, M.D.
K
Bradley Kalscheur
Lynnea Katz-Petted
Michael Kellman
Dorothy Kerr
Joan Kessler *
Liz Keuler
In Honor of John & Lucretia Kiely
Paula Kiely
Thomas Kilkenny *
Sarah Kimball *
Sister Camille Kliebhan *
Thomas Klug
Stephen Knox
Karl Koenig
Kipp Koester
Julilly Kohler *
The Kranick Family
Warren Kreunen *
Edward Krishok
Kathryn Kuhn
Ronald Kuramoto
Joe Kurth
L
Roy LaBudde
John and Melita Lane Family Fund
Dennis Laudon
William LeFeber, M.D. *
Jack and Phoebe Lewis
John Lewis
George Liberatore
Bruce Lindl
Sister Edna Lonergan
Kent Lovern *
Frederick Luedke *
Thomas Lutzow
Vincent Lyles
M
Robert MacDonald
Joanne MacInnes Grunau *
Douglas MacNeil *
James Madlom
Steve Magnuson
Robert Mandel
Rick Mandel
Jack Marringa
In Honor of Frank and Frances Martinsek
Michelle Mason
Paul Mathews *
David McClurg
Mary McCormick *
James McKeown
Daniel Meyer
Paul Meyer
Christopher Meyer
James Miller, Jr. *
Jim Milner *
Thomas Mirsberger *
Henry Monaco
Todd Montgomery, Jr., PhD
Detlef Moore *
George Mosher *
Kurt Mueller *
David Murphy *
Patrick Murphy
Frederick Muth *
N
Ann Navin
James Nelsen *
Jeffrey Nelson*
Daniel Nelson, Jr.
Reggie Newson
Matthew Nink
Nancy Noeske
Robert Norton
Barbara Notestein
O
Kathleen O’Brien *
P
Irene Parthum
Sandy Pasch
Julie Pedretti
Jill Pelisek *
Paula Penebaker
Anthony Petullo
William Piernot *
Thomas Plantenberg
James Plunkett
Karen Plunkett-Muenster
Randle Pollard, M.D.
Jamie Pratt
Janet Protasiewicz
Monica Pyne
Q
Betty Quadracci
R
In Memory of Gregory T. Raab
Kathleen Raab
Susan Rabe
William Randall *
Jon Rauser *
Theresa Reagan
Ellen Redeker *
James Reeve, III
Jeffrey Remsik *
John Ridley, M.D.
Leo Ries
Allen Rieselbach *
In Memory of A.D. Robertson *
David Rohlfing
Rotaract Club of Milwaukee
William Rotter
Charles Roy *
James Ryan *
S
Andrew Sawyer, Jr. *
Kim Schaffer *
Roger Schroeder
Philip Schultz
In Honor of Philip and Elizabeth Schultzbank
Dean Schultzbank
Nancy Sennett *
William Sheahan
Robert Sholl
Thelma Sias *
Kelly Skindzelewski
Robert Slater
Philip Smith *
Roger Smith *
Gordon Smith
George Solveson *
Tracey Sparrow
Robert Spitzer*
Valerie Stefanich *
John Steinhafel
Jerry Stepaniak
Daniel Switzer
T
Dennis Tamcsin *
John Teevan *
John Thiel
Dick Tillmar
U
Sheila Unni, M.D.*
Fritz Usinger *
V
Jan van den Kieboom
Jose Vasquez
Jennifer Verbrigghe
Daniel Vliet *
Philip Vollrath *
W
Sean Walker
John Walker
Richard Wanta
In Memory of Sheila Ruth Wharton Wasserman
Kyle Wasserman
Arthur Wasserman, PhD
J.D. Watts
John Wermuth
Wendy Werner
Jude Werra
Paul Westphal
Rick White *
George Whyte, Jr. *
Adam Wiensch
James Wiensch
Thomas Wigdale
Velvalee Wiley
In Honor of David and Debbie Willis
Nicholas Wilson *
Lee Wolcott
Karen Wolfert
Peter Wolters *
Y
David Young
Z
Bill Zaferos
Don Zien
Tributes
In Memory of Kathryn Duiven
Ginger Duiven
In Memory of Pieter Godfrey
Anonymous
Jen Hagenow
Tom & Monique Meyer
Kathleen Raab
Verne & Marion Read
In Memory of Pap Joe, Aunt Charlotte, Malinda Beck, & Mother Elise
Alice Jo Star & Mark Clausen
In Memory of Mark Smith
Edward & Kimberly Apfelbach
Carol Butchart & Paul Moran
Robert & Christy Ciecko
Kristine Devitt & David Franczyk
Carolyn & Brian Esswein
Sarah Koepke
Patrick & Katherine Kressin
Edward Loving
Nancy & David Martin
Elizabeth & Mark Miller
Steve & Lori Nalefski
Christopher & Mary Palmisano
Joseph Pepitone
Erin & Emily Ruth
Ronald & Jean Schmidt
Jessica & Erik Schmitt
Robert Smith
Sandra Smith
Carmel & Mark Sweet
Christin & Oscar Wille
Lawrence Witzling
Deep Roots Native Tree Sponsorship
In the fall of 2012, we launched the Deep Roots: Native Tree and Plant Sponsorship Program. This program helps us transform post-industrial land into a flourishing native ecosystem.
Nurture Sponsorship
Scott & Kathleen Yanoff
Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin
In Memory of Walburg Hanstein
Else Ankel
In Memory of Carol R. Jacobson
Lianna Bishop
In Memory of Ruth Zobel
Penny & Chuck Cruse
In Memory of Mr. Schwartz
Penny & Chuck Cruse
In Honor of Mary Gemlo
Lucy Greer
In Honor of Tresca Meiling and Patrick Bader
Carol Dede
In Honor of Marlowe R. Nortrom
Janet & Marlowe Nortrom
Biodiversity Sponsorship
Claudia Koehler
In Honor of Kat Grinker
Michael & Sharon Grinker
In Honor of All the Wonderful Arboretum Volunteers
Megan Kelly
In Honor of Her Children
Rebecca Neumann
Canopy Sponsorship
In Honor of Liam Wellenstein
Anonymous
In Honor of Todd Dunsirn & Kimberly Forbeck Family
Mary & Duane Dunsirn
In Memory of William James Morby
Joshua & Rose Morby
Olmsted Sponsorship
In Honor of Paul C. Mueller & Anne Mueller Rose; In Memory of David Holton Mueller & Amy Elizabeth Mueller
Patricia & George Mueller
In Honor of John McCarthy
Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Inc.
In Honor of Bridget, Rachel, & Sarah Whaley
Kevin & Patty Whaley
Visionary Sponsorship
Evelyn Ericson
In Honor of Maddy Cook
Ron & Joan Cook
In Honor of Matthew
Eva Hagenhofer & David McLimans
In Honor of Ethan Patrick Meister
Daniel Mount
In Honor of Danni Gendelman
Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Inc.
In Honor of Helen Huchinson Woodburn
Judith Woodburn
In Memory of Marge O’Callaghan & In Honor of Linda, Kathy, & Family
Jim Schleif & Bill Morley/Renee & Mike Dries
Riverland Property
In June 2011, Pieter Yates Godfrey, neighbor, dear friend, and partner in the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum project, unexpectedly passed away. His absence left a void in the community and unanswered questions about the future of his business and property. Located in the center of the Arboretum and sandwiched between the Milwaukee River and the Riverside Park branch of the Urban Ecology Center, we have a vested interest in its future. With the generous support of the following donors, we were able to purchase this property in December 2013, preserving the natural sanctuary that Pieter, the Urban Ecology Center, the Milwaukee Rotary Club and many community members have worked so hard to create and improve. We look forward to the prospect of further engaging the community to reactivate this property in alignment with the mission of the Center.
A
Anonymous (2)
B
Brico Fund
Cheri & Thomas Briscoe
The Brookby Foundation
Robert & Kathy Brumder
E
Barbara & Robert Elsner
F
Feitler Family Fund
Anne & Dean Fitzgerald
Foley & Lardner, LLP
G
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Burns-Schrader Family Fund
- Leesly B. & Joan Hardy Living Trust
- Joseph Gromacki
J
Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, Inc.
K
Juli & Mike Kaufmann
L
Nancy & Arthur Laskin
Sally Lewis & Kathleen Rivera
M
Joe & Laura Mantoan
N
Bill & Marian Nasgovitz
P
Phoebe R. & John D. Lewis Foundation
R
Miriam Reading & Richard Miller
S
The Sigma Group
Bruce & Janine Smith
U
David & Julia Uihlein
V
von Briesen & Roper, S.C.
Reclaiming Riverland
While some activities outdoors are winding down (at least until there is enough snow to get out on skis or snowshoes), activity has increased on the land situated in the midst of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum. If your plans bring you to the Arboretum this winter (it’s a great place for a walk in any season!), you will see a demolition project underway. This work began in December and will extend until March 2015.
Baby Parks and Plantings
In the spring of each year, all sorts of adorable baby animals can be seen. This spring, I saw baby Great Horned Owls (called owlets), baby White-footed Mice (called pups, pinkies or kittens) and baby Brown Snakes (called snakelets or hatchlings). We don’t usually pay close attention to “baby” plants, but they’re showing up now too!
The Arboretum’s First Spring
Every spring, Center staff members have a friendly competition of “firsts.” As the snow melts, folks vie to be the first person to see a red-wing blackbird, chipmunk or spring flower. But the most important “first” to me is found in the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum. This is the first year we’ll begin to see the results of our hard work last fall.
All of Wisconsin’s ecosystems are represented in the Arboretum, from soil make-up to wildflowers to tree species. This amazing new asset for the city was built for everyone to enjoy.
New Year, New Land
I knew the call would come eventually, I was just hoping it would take a little longer to happen. When it did come, however, I was incredibly thankful that it left an opening and was not final.
“Ken, we’ve decided that we need to sell the property and have some interested buyers who have offered some very attractive numbers to us,” she said, “however, we’d love it if there was a way for the Center to have it. We cannot give it away but we might be able to give you time. How long do you think you would need to make a run for it?”
Together, We are an Ocean
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” — Ryunosuke Satoro.
I love the community we’ve built at the Urban Ecology Center! I am constantly amazed by the dedicated and passionate people I meet here. Here are four affirming vignettes – all from one day!
First I had a meeting at Menomonee Valley:
Come Celebrate!
It’s finally ready and YOU are invited to celebrate a beautiful new public gem: The Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum opens on September 28th, 2013! The journey leading up to this event has been rich with energy, dedication, challenges and vision. Glimpses of this vision began in the early 1990s when a group of neighbors imagined what it would be like to transform Riverside Park into a safer, ecologically robust outdoor classroom. They formed Friends of Riverside Park, which later evolved into the Urban Ecology Center. New park surveys and attendance records now show that within the last year there have been over 125,000 visits from students, families, adults and neighbors to the 15 acres of Riverside Park. The arboretum adds 25 acres to the existing park. Come celebrate our new 40 acre outdoor classroom!
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