Master Gardeners of Manitowoc County members Bernie Zimmer, Carol Lallensack, Eileen Kummer, Linda Brandel, Marilyn Starzewski, and Steve Lankton have been very active researching plant materials appropriate to the Franciscan Gardens and designing the composition and layouts for a spring installation.
To date, eight of the nine gardens available have been sponsored. The designers have been working with the sponsor’s interests and within the dictate that all plants selected will provide forage and habitat for birds and wildlife. That selection criteria favors the use of native plantings and requires a marked shift in gardening ethics.
For example, whereas gardeners usually are trying to eliminate insects from garden plants, the Master Gardeners are selecting plants that host the broadest array of them. Bugs are food for birds, and many insects are essential pollinators. Plants are also selected for their berry and mast production, and the nectars which feed hummingbirds and pollinators. Typical to most gardener’s intents, all plant selections will be favoring those of the highest aesthetic qualities.
When the gardens have been installed and are available as displays, each will be featured on the website with its plan, plant list, and a statement of the designer’s intent. It is hoped that visitors to the Arboretum will be inspired to create similar installations on their own properties throughout the Western Great Lakes Flyway.
