The gardens are funded entirely through donations.
One man’s dream is starting to take shape at the Robert W. Monk Public Gardens in Wausau, Wis.
Monk worked his 20-acre piece of land for years, creating trails, planting and even digging a pond. He had always wanted the property to become a public garden, and left the land in the hands of a board of directors when he passed away in 2009.
The community took up the challenge and volunteers have been hard at work fundraising, building and planting the botanical gardens. When completed, the gardens will have something for everyone from the Wildflower Woods to the Memory Garden to the Kitchen Garden. The project is a big one, and is expected to take 15 years to complete in seven phases.
Although it's far from finished, the gardens are open to the public during construction. Students come to learn about the environment and the grounds are open all day in all seasons.
For more, take the virtual tour, check out the wildlife and plants in the gardens, or donate to the cause on the Robert W. Monk Public Gardens website.