A number of public gardens in the Tenney-Lapham
Neighborhood have been created or are maintained by neighborhood volunteer
gardeners to provide for your enjoyment and should make for a nice leisurely
evening stroll.
The following are some
gardens available for your viewing and enjoyment.
The Butterfly Garden in
Tenney Park at the corner of East Johnson and Marston Streets. This was
developed and is still maintained by Allan and Karen Crossley. Included in the
plantings to attract butterflies are asters, purple coneflowers, butterfly
weed, goldenrod, and coreopsis
The Tenney-Lapham Welcome
Garden, at the intersection of East Johnson and E. Gorham Streets, is cared for
by Mary Jo Schiovani and Jim Sturm. Among the many shrubs is a Japanese tree
lilac along with an American highbush cranberry.
The Giddings Park Flower
Garden, at the corner of N. Brearly and E. Gorham, was developed by Brian
McCormick and Rob Latousek in 1995 to showcase native plants of the Midwest.
There are continuous blooms during the growing season, from prairie smoke in
the spring to native asters in the fall.
On the western side of
Christ Presbyterian Church, up the hill on Castle Place, a perennial garden sponsored by Angela
Viticenda. The theme is hardy perennials native to Wisconsin or the American
prairie with a variety of colors and textures in the flowers and grasses used,
with emphasis on providing plants of importance to, birds, butterflies, and
beneficial insects.
The Reynolds Park Comer
Garden, maintained by Bob Shaw, at the intersection of N. Paterson and E.
Dayton Streets. This popular spot provides benches which allow you to sit and
view over thirty different kinds of perennials, including gas plant, Joe Pye
Weed, globe thistle, sedum, and coral bells.
The Reynold's Park Vine
Garden, another garden maintained by Bob Shaw, runs along the chain link fence
on East Mifflin Street. Over thirty different kinds of perennial and annual
vines can be seen, with each I0 foot section sporting a different kind of
annual and perennial vine. Perennial vines include Kentucky wisteria, akebia,
several different kinds of honeysuckle and clematis, and a thornless climbing
rose. Among the annual vines are variegated Japanese hops, Mt. Fuji morning
glory, and moonvine. In June, labels will be placed in the upper right comer of
each section.
The Lapham School
Community Garden, at the comer of Brearly and E. Dayton, was planted with the
help of Lapham teachers and neighborhood volunteers. This educational garden
provides small plots to neighborhood residents along with a teaching component
for the children of the neighborhood.
Jeff Reincke and Karen
Banaszak spearheaded the plantings along the south side of Curtis Court. Linden trees, spireas, and potentillas
are among the eclectic plantings.
The friends and Stewards
of the Yahara River Parkway have been busy digging out honeysuckle and other
non-native species and replanting with a wide palette of native trees and
shrubs along the Yahara River.
And special thanks go to
Jay Huemmer who for years donated money for trees that have been planted in Isthmus
parks.
-Bob
Shaw
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