We hope you enjoyed the beautiful flower baskets that were hung this summer on the light poles throughout downtown Menomonie – but did you ever think about how they got there? And what is involved after they are hung?

The hanging baskets have been a major project of the GFWC – Menomonie Woman’s Club since the Victorian light poles were installed by the city nearly 30 years ago. The project started out on a smaller scale, however, thanks to generous businesses, community and service clubs, churches and individual contributors, 180 baskets are now purchased each summer.

Planning for the project actually begins shortly after the baskets are taken down in the fall. Decisions on a variety of questions, such as the number of baskets and flower choices are made with a local greenhouse for the purchase of the baskets the following spring. For the past 16 years, the baskets have been purchased from Season’s Harvest Greenhouse, located just north of Menomonie.

In the early spring, the club begins work on the mailings sent out to businesses and community residents, requesting donations to cover the costs of the baskets and fertilizer, as well as promotional expenses.

The club has set up a fund at the Community Foundation of Dunn County to accept donations. The club also partners with the City of Menomonie for the maintenance of the baskets throughout the summer, which are watered daily by Street Department staff.

As you can see, this is a huge project and wouldn’t be possible without the involvement of many individuals, businesses and organizations in the Menomonie community.

The club would like to thank the following donors for their generous financial support:

John R. Alexander, in memory of Ardes Alexander; Anonymous, in memory of Wayne and Marie Van Blaricom; Anonymous, in memory of Bill Wikrent; Anshus Jewelers, in memory of John & Audrey Anshus; Lynn A. and Kathleen E. Behling, in memory of Dorothy Prochnow/Mother; Julie Bendel; Alan and Debra Benoit, in memory of Joan Svendsen & Dorothy Benoit; Beta Sigma Phi, in honor of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority;
BMW3 WMG Fund; Jane Butsic; Cedar Corporation; Christ Lutheran Church Women, in honor of Christ Lutheran Church Women; ConAgra Foods; Hector and Betty Cruz; Robert and Barbara Dahlke, in memory of Marie Bauer; Larry & Jan Dahms; Dana E. Brunstrom, CPA; DBD International, Ltd; Philip Diser; Dunn County Genealogical Society, in honor of The Dunn County Historical Society; Richard and Patricia Edwards, in honor of Spring!; Robert Faber, in memory of Shirley Faber; Faze’s Tobacco, in honor of Sidney Bravo, Denny Dirksen & Sina Rous; Cheryl Fine;

First Congregational UCC Women’s Fellowship, in memory of Jean Nystuen & in memory of All Caregivers; Patricia Fox, in memory of Nancy Doane; Celene Frey; Ron and Judy Fry, in honor of Ron & Judy Fry; Suzanne Gaines, in honor of Eleanor Gaines; GFWC-Menomonie Woman’s Club, in honor of Mayor Matthew Crowe; Robert and Laura Giede, in memory of Ray & Eleanor Giede, Mort & Maureen Crowley; John and JoAnn Hatfield, in memory of Betty and Clifford Grohn; Mary Howard, in Memory of Cindy Paulson; Lori Howe, in memory of Sue Roethke; Joe and Judy Jax, in memory of Evelyn Weiss; Kris Jenson, in honor of my parents Ron and Ann Amick; Judith Kirk, in memory of Glenn And Joyce Peterson; Neil and Marie Koch, in memory of Tom Richards & in honor of Kathy Colvin & Margy Ingram; Dennis Kropp, in memory of Diane Kropp; Leipnitz Dental Clinic; Eugene and Mary Lemke, in memory of Nick Rassbach;

John and Linda Lenz, in honor of James (Jim) Anderson; Margaret Leventhal; Mary Ellen Lidgerdin, in memory of Lauren Lidgerding; Cheryl Lowery; Mabel Tainter Theater, in memory of Mabel Tainter; Kathryn Markham; Irma Jean Maves, in memory of David Maves; Annemarie McClellan, in memory of Mary Leach & Florence McClellan; Kelly and Laura McCullough, in memory of Phyllis Neese; Deborah McGrath, in memory of Alvin and Lolly Baldus; Menomonie Lions Club; Menomonie Veterans Honor Guard, in honor of Menomonie Veteran’s Honors Guard; Menomonie VFW Post 1039; Menomonie Women’s Group; Diane Mercil, in honor of Jane Redig -for 25 years of community contributions & service; Patricia Ann Mikesell, in memory of Ron Mikesell; David Moore and Martha Stratton, in memory of Carole W. Stratton; Chrystal Morse, in memory of Mike and Courtney Morrow; Gaylan and Nancy Myran;

Olson Funeral Home, in memory of Olivia Sundby; Dan & Lynda Paulson, in memory of RoseAnn Husby; Kris Pawlowski, in memory of Jenny Elliott; Peace Lutheran Church Women; Paul Peltier; Corinne Person, in honor of the Donald & Corinne Person Family; Gary and Donna Pickerign, in memory of Marion Samuel & Rochelle Hardy; Gerald and Kimberly Porter, in honor of Linda Rundle; Ron and Luanne Prochnow, in memory of Rita Pechmiller; Cindy Quilling; Edward Roethke, in memory of Susan Roethke & Jim Bade; Peggy Rogers Kraemer, in memory of Eva Rogers; Rotary Club of Menomonie; Tom and Linda Rundle, in honor of our granddaughters, Reagan and Sloane; Barbara and John Sand; Michael and Sally Schendel, in memory of Dan & Frances Schendel, Newell & Sophie Weiss; Tom Schmelzle; Kenneth Schofield, in memory of Nancy Schofield; Leland and Jill Schwebs;

Jesse Singerhouse, in memory of Edna Schaefer, Marian Williamson, Mary Jane Singerhouse; Randy and Kay Sommerfeld, in memory of Carol Sommerfeld; Rebecca Staiger, in memory of John Staiger; State Farm Insurance Agency; Jana Reeg Steidinger, in honor of beautiful Menomonie!; Jeanne Stevenson, in memory of Barb Hintz; Susan and Pinckney Hall; Bill and Brenda Swannack, in memory of Nola Witzlib;
Alan and Faye Swenson, in honor of Menomonie Women’s Club; LeAnn and Henry Thomas, in memory of Elmer & Myrtle Prochnow, Wendy Weber, Babbette Jaquish; UW-Stout Foundation & Alumni Association; VFW Auxiliary Post 1039; James and Patricia Walker, in memory of Steve Schrantz; David and Karen Williams; Marie Young.

A special thank you to the Community Foundation of Dunn County, the City of Menomonie and Season’s Harvest Greenhouse for their continued support of this project.

Linda Rundle serves as president of Menomonie Woman’s Club. For more information contact her at [email protected] 

 Donations to the Hanging Basket Project may be made through the Community Foundation of Dunn County.

Source: Submitted article