BACKYARD GARDENS

Grow things that will be cherished and enjoyed.
Hardy perennial trees and bushes provide fruit for years. Pick a few of your favorite and build a guild.  

All gardens and gardeners benefit from flowers. They light up smiles and invite visits from beneficial insects pollinators.
Native Flowers 

Dried flowers (such as Strawflower, Bachelors Button, & Pearly Everlasting) are great because they make long lasting bouquets.

Tall flowers (Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, & Larkspur) for along fences, in front of trees, and in the back of garden beds.  

A great technique for those who like to plan & stay organized. 

Depending on location, UW extensions is involved in a variety of nature based education programs including ecology, gardening, nutrition, animal care, and more.
A great place to start is looking at calendars of events and connections with your local 4H program, Master gardeners, or reaching out directly to UW-Extensions in your county. 

Master gardeners are all over the area, be sure to look up the closet one to you.
In Marinette County the Northern Lights Master Gardeners maintain a demonstration Garden at Harmony Arboretum, a public park well worth the visit. Check their schedule for events such as Native Plant Sales, Prairie Walks, and Children’s Gardening Events! 

Modern technology can be a community building tool. It can also be overwhelming because of the amount of gardening influencers. Finding ones that are in your climate, focus on the basics, or  provide ideas for unique projects can be a great source of inspiration. Never forget the internet is full of unrealistic expectations though, so don’t worry if your project comes out messier. Most importantly, always check other, more reliable resources, for safety and nutrition information relating to your social media inspired projects, especially if children will be participating.