Get an exclusive look at the private (and hard-to-find public) gardens of the Eau Claire Master Gardeners!
Join us for a guided trolley tour through the beautiful Mount Washington neighborhood, where local Master Gardeners will provide a masterclass on creating stunning examples of sustainable, native plant gardening.
Our tour begins at Libby Stupak’s remarkable half-acre garden, a property that proves you don’t need a traditional turf lawn to have a breathtaking yard. The front yard bursts with natives, nativars, and cultivars, while the shaded east side and sun-dappled back hillside showcase prairie plants and shade-tolerant species. The tree canopy includes oak, cherry, hackberry, ironwood, pagoda dogwood, serviceberry, and more. The Stupaks even extended their conservation efforts to neighboring lots, clearing invasive buckthorn throughout the area.
From there, we’ll visit Ellen Terwilliger’s beautiful garden where you’ll see how native and non-native plants, trees, and shrubs can coexist to provide inviting habitats for birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Then, we’ll stop at a vibrant public pollinator garden where Master Gardeners did the hard work of removing invasive species and replacing them with native sedges and shrubs, creating a haven for local pollinators.
There will be a bathroom stop at the Mount Washington ski jump between gardens. Throughout the tour, your guides will lead conversations on the beauty and benefits of low-maintenance native lawns, composting and soil health, and practical strategies for identifying and removing invasive species. Plus, you can ask Master Gardeners your most pressing questions on how to create, or improve, your own garden! You’ll leave with links to resources from the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership and Eau Claire Master Gardeners, and a packet of native seeds to get started in your own yard!
These Master Gardeners have opened up their private yards for only three tours all season. You do NOT want to miss this exclusive opportunity to see how the experts garden. Reserve your seat today!
WEATHER: Depending on weather, be prepared for the trolley to be set up enclosed with sliding windows, or open-air with brass railings (and roll down curtains in case of rain). Appropriate clothing layers for heat/humidity or cool breezes is a good idea. There will be some walking in flat fields.
