Friends of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

08/14/2026

What a difference 10 months, and a small group of determined volunteers, can make!

This is the North Meadow, the last area Eloise poured her love into, and likely the area where she fell ill on the day she passed away.

It’s a seepage zone, where water still emerges from the ground. The first photo shows it completely overtaken by buckthorn, along with an old pile of buckthorn debris from a previous attempt.

More details are in the photo captions.

To help, join our email list here: https://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/sigup.html

Check yes for Greater Eloise Stewards.

To donate: https://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/support.html

08/12/2026

Merch!

08/10/2026

We had a great turnout on a humid day. We freed up more space for future savanna and woodland plants to grace the feet of this ancient white oak once again. Added benefits include enhanced views of Anwatin pond below, and of several stately snags (standing dead trees) that dot the area. This will become an amazing area to observe wildlife.

To help, join our email list here: https://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/sigup.html

Check yes for Greater Eloise Stewards.

To donate: https://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/support.html

08/05/2026

Monkey flower and boneset in the North Meadow, where buckthorn once filled the space.

08/03/2026

Today, we celebrate what would have been Eloise Butler's 175th birthday. From her beginnings in rural Maine to becoming one of Minneapolis' most influential naturalists, educators, and the namesake of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, her passion for native plants and the natural world left a legacy that continues to flourish today.

Take a journey through the milestones of her remarkable life and see how one woman's vision helped shape a Minneapolis treasure that still inspires visitors more than a century later. 🌿

Join us at Utepils Brewing tonight, August 3 (5-8 pm), for a hazy IPA named after Eloise and wildflower-inspired mocktails!

08/03/2026

Join us tonight in a community celebration of Eloise's 175th birthday at Utepils from 5-8pm!

08/03/2026

Check out the morning announcements for today, Aug 3rd:

Tell us what you’re celebrating this week. Whether it's a milestone in your career, a family achievement, a community event, a birthday, or something good happening in your neighborhood, we want to hear your stories. Share your joy and let's spread some positivity together with MPR News' Morning A...

07/31/2026

Did you attend one of the recent firefly nights, or moth night at the Garden? Did it bring you joy? Tell us your story!

It's Moth Night with MN Master Naturalists at the Garden tonight, July 30!

Join Ryan Tomazin and friends to learn about moths from 8:30-9pm and look for moths in their company from 9pm-10pm at a few mothing stations they will set up along the trails in the Garden.

We have heard that the moths are a little few and far between this week at other sites, but you never know what you'll see unless you stop on by!

The Garden will close at 10pm tonight. Please enter through the south/main front gate near the Garden's parking lot after 8pm, the north/back gate will be locked at 8pm.

Image is of a Virginia ctenucha moth on yarrow.

07/28/2026

🌿 Celebrate Eloise Butler’s 175th birthday with us! 🌿

This year, we're honoring Eloise Butler's 175th birthday by investing in the future of the Garden she envisioned and created. Swipe to see three ways you can support Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary's future today – including TWO different birthday parties!

The Friends of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden have recently launched the Celebrate 175! Campaign to raise $175,000 to support the making of a new welcoming entrance and Council Ring at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary.

Thanks to generous early donors, they’ve already raised $100,000—help them reach the remaining $75,000 by November 2026!

Learn more at friendsofeloisebutler.org