MONROE — On Saturday, May 20, work culminated on a yearlong beautification project carried out by a team from the latest class of Green County Leaders. UW Extension and Green County Development Corporation co-facilitate the Green County Leader Program which educates and inspires local professionals seeking to build their leadership capabilities.
Working closely with Monroe Parks and Forestry supervisor Josh Trame, the team coordinated the planting of a native pollinator garden and completed a living tree catalog that highlights trees available through the City of Monroe Terrace Tree Program. The program offers Monroe residents trees for purchase that the city will plant, fertilize, mulch and guarantee for a year. Pollinator gardens feature a mix of native blooming plants that are attractive to and provide habitat for a diverse mix of bees and butterflies. Both components of the project can be found in Twining Park near the bandshell.
“This project was born out of the idea that trees and flowering plants make our neighborhoods a more attractive place to live. The emerald ash borer was devastating to many of our Green County communities, and we hope our efforts will serve as a resource for homeowners who want to participate in the Terrace Tree Program and those who are seeking inspiration for native plantings in their yards,” said team member Matt Sheaffer. Matt was joined by Green County residents Al Aurit, Tim Lucas, Ashley Servin and Matt Schenk in the development and installation of the plantings.
The project received generous support from The Bank of New Glarus, Monroe Truck, AmericInn — Monroe, Woodford State Bank, Badger State Ethanol, Emmi Roth and Colony Brands. The beautiful plants in the pollinator garden were donated by RES — Great Lakes/Taylor Creek Nursery. Brochures for the Terrace Tree Program which include a map of the new plantings can be found at City Hall in Monroe and a display board will be installed later this summer at the pollinator garden. More information on the Terrace Tree Program is available on the City of Monroe website — www.cityofmonroe.org
