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Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

Home > MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds > Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

In 1907, Eloise Butler, along with other botanists, asked for and received a portion of Minneapolis’ Glenwood Park to set aside for native wildflowers. The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary became the first public native wildflower park in the nation.

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Producer: Britt AamodtEditorial support: Emily KrumbergerMixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

Eloise Butler could roam the woods for hours. She explored meadows, greeting the seasonal flowers. She forded rushing brooks on dead trees. She tramped in long skirts through bogs. Her students at South High School in Minneapolis may not have shared her thrill for nature adventuring, but she still took them on treks through nearby Glenwood Park to discover the plants native to the area. To this botany teacher, every flower and tree was a lesson in itself. So, in 1907 it was no stretch for Eloise with other botanists, to ask for and receive a portion of Glenwood Park to set aside just for native wildflowers. It was the first public native wildflower park in the nation. When she retired from teaching, Eloise became the park's first curator. She hunted the region for other native plants to put in the garden, which in 1929 was officially renamed the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. It was her life's work, and fittingly, at age 81 she died on her way to the park for another day with her beloved wild plants.

MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at MN90.org.