Dear Friends,

As the 2009 season of our special place comes to its conclusion, we can look back with satisfaction on several fronts: the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is beautiful and healthy, the threat of invasive plants is being countered successfully both within and around the Garden fence and volunteer activity is strong, steady and effective. We can be proud that the Friends continue to contribute to many facets of the Garden’s well-being, with funding, human effort, able coordination and advocacy.

One important aspect of our legacy of Garden stewardship has been revived this season in the form of our Student Transportation Grant Program, also known as the “bus fund.” This effort, supported by responses to a special appeal to Friends members initiated last November, provides transportation funding for Minneapolis K-12 classes to facilitate their access to the Garden, where the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board naturalists present an age-appropriate curriculum and Garden tour.

Educators among us, as well as Park Board staff members, have stressed the need for this “bus fund”; many times it is transportation expense that keeps a class visit from happening, due to the schools’ tight budgets and the families’ financial limitations. Many of you have contributed to this endeavor; on behalf of the students and their teachers, we thank you.