Twenty years ago, we lost fellow Great Waters Group member and ardent environmentalist Ron Mann, who had  participated in Sierra Club leadership in numerous positions on local, state, and national levels.  After his death, a bequest created the Ron Mann Grant that has funded dozens of projects and programs in Wisconsin.

The last Sierra Club trip Ron Mann took was to the national conference in September of 2001.  Having arrived there a few days early for the national meeting, 9-11 suddenly happened, forcing cancellation of further traveling and the conference.  He and a small group of other national leaders were already there and made the best of the situation by staying and visiting Sequoia National Park.  That was good for the soul, as it was his last trip. 

As a young child, Ron became interested in butterflies, raising them in his family's backyard, and later became our local Lepidoptera expert.  His childhood collection of butterflies was later donated to Urban Ecology Center. 

 When he died at the too-young age of 56, memorial donations were directed to Great Waters Group, which didn't have specific plans for the money yet. At the same time, the Urban Ecology Center was drawing up plans for their Riverside Park location and it included a Butterfly Garden.   It was a perfect match of idea and funding. 

Summer of 2002 saw the details drawn and the plants ordered. There was a day of planting at which many community members and GWG members participated.  This little plot of land was suddenly transformed into a place to sit and reflect on Ron, nature, butterflies, and life.  His mother, son, wife, and friends have sat at that peaceful place many times.    

In 2021, it was noted that the Ron Mann Butterfly Garden had gone into disrepair, overtaken by thistles and broad leaves with burs.  One lonely orange columbine survived, along with some milkweed.  Seeking to restore the garden, two GWG members met with a UEC naturalist who came up with a brilliant and specific plan to restore the Garden with colorful, butterfly-loving, and self-sustaining perennials. Although the Garden is promised in perpetuity by UEC, there are special qualifications and restrictions by Milwaukee County Parks, which owns the property.  It will take a lot to rebuild it from scratch.  Help us make this memorial a reality.  

 You can help in a couple ways: 

• Monetary donation.  The expenses for new dirt, stone, and plants will be about $3,200.  In loving memory of Ron Mann, and/or for the love of sustaining butterflies everywhere, and in the spirit of Sierra Club, please consider making a monetary donation.  

You can donate directly to Urban Ecology Center with this link to the UEC Donations page 

Near the bottom of the first page, you will see a comment box in which you can specify where you want your gift to go -- ("Share why you're donating...").  Write "Butterfly Garden" in the notes so the funds get directed to the Butterfly Garden.  

• Donation of your time.  We will need some help planting.  If you are interested in helping to plant the new Garden, please contact Dianne at ddagelen@sbcglobal.net  to let us know how many to expect.         

The date of the planting is Friday, Sept. 16, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.  UEC will provide the materials and all the tools. 

Please bring your own gloves, appropriate clothing and shoes, water and snacks if desired. 

We have photos of the original planting day in 2002 -- so many wonderful friends.  Will you be there again?