Monk Botanical Gardens

The Monk Botanical Gardens--a 501(c)(3) organization--operates a public botanical garden and provides associated educational, recreational, and social activities for the region. 

Vision: Connect people to plants for a sustainable future.

Mission:   Monk Botanical Gardens cultivates well-being in people, communities, and the environment with experiences that engage, educate, and inspire.

We Value

Stewardship:  We promote environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and the protection of our natural resources.  We commit ourselves to understanding how our actions create change in the world.

Awareness:  We offer experiences to the public that inspire increased appreciation and understanding of plant communities and the relationship between these plant communities and people.

Inclusiveness:  We provide a welcoming educational garden for a diverse population of people; Monk Gardens is a place for everyone.

Respect:  We have a culture of cooperation and support among staff and volunteers working together to carry out the organization’s mission.

Excellence:  We excel at innovation, creativity, collaboration, reliability, and accountability.

Aesthetics:  We provide a variety of beautiful gardens and plants that engage visitors because of their unique landscaping, design, and plant selection.

Inclusivity at Monk Gardens: Monk Botanical Gardens cultivates an equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture that welcomes and respects visitors, staff, and volunteers of all backgrounds and identities. Just as our gardens and landscapes require regular care to remain biologically diverse, and engaging, we continually re-examine our professional values and modify our practices to weed out barriers to being culturally diverse and inclusive.

The Monk Botanical Gardens occupy a 30-acre property on the West Side of Wausau, Wisconsin, at 1800 N. First Ave. They are named for the family of the late Robert W. Monk, who donated 21 acres of the land for development of an outstanding public garden. Officially incorporated as a nonprofit institution in 2003, the Monk Botanical Gardens seeks to promote understanding of the aesthetic, economic, and ecological role of plants.  An Executive Director, staff and a board of directors oversees the development and management of the Gardens.

Since the creation of the site, many improvements have been made to the property through generous donations of time, talent, and funds. The Wildflower Woods and Memory Garden, and the spectacular Treehouse in the Piney Woods and the Kitchen Garden and “Potager”, have been completed. Phase I of two phases has been completed in the Meditation Garden.

In 2017 and 2018, an additional 9 acres was purchased through a generous donation from Ruth Schuette,  This additional land acquired the total acreage within the fenced area, including Robert Monk’s family home and some out buildings and a 2-acre lot on campus drive.  The Board and Staff are currently revising the 2005 Master Plan to include these new parcels of land.

Thousands of children, students, and adults currently participate in events all year long at the Gardens. We are an official Monarch butterfly, chimney swift and geocaching site.