2022 Open gardens are done for the season. It was a wonderful summer with SO many visitors to the garden spaces. We explored, created, harvested, tasted and enjoyed nature together. Our fantastic interns, Cameryn and Grace made these experiences special and possible. They want to share this message with all of GROW families:

Dear GROW families,

Thank you so much for all the support and fun memories you gave us this summer. We were so happy to be a part of such an amazing experience! There were so many memories made that we just had to share a couple of our favorites.

Gracie: "When one of the kids (in a class from a garden lesson we taught) came to an Open Garden telling us what he learned! It was so cool to hear them retain the information they’d learned and gathered from their times in the gardens."

Cameryn: "There are too many that come to my mind! At one event we had a great turn out and all the kids were exploring the garden. I was pulled to so many areas with kids asking tons of questions. I loved their curiosity about the things growing in the garden. I even saw some educating other kids and parents about what they just learned. It was fulfilling to see them having a fun time while learning in the garden spaces."

It was a bittersweet day with it being the last Open Garden of the season. We had a blast this summer and hope you did too! Please enjoy these pictures as they are just a handful of our favorite moments. We hope to see many of you at the Great GROW Get Together on August 25th!

Your GROW interns,

Cameryn and Gracie

Welcome to our Summer Open Gardens

Each week from June 14th to August 18th we will host Open Gardens from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday evenings and from 8:30 to 10:30 am on Thursday mornings. Please check out our open garden calendar below to see where to find us throughout the summer.

These events are a time to stop into the garden to explore, harvest, learn and connect with nature. You will have the opportunity to take part in a hands-on activity led by a GROW team member at each event. Just like the gardens, the activity will change each week.

Open Gardens are FREE and open to all. You can come late, leave early or stay the whole time. We just hope to see you in the gardens!

Open Garden Passports can also be purchased for $10 each. These passports offer extra activities to enhance your Open Garden experience. They also offer the opportunity to earn stamps for visits and challenges completed. On August 25th you can bring your passport to the Great GROW Get Together to redeem for a GROW t-shirt and as many chances at winning a Grand Prize as you have earned stamps throughout the summer. Passports can be purchased at each Open Garden event.

What is a Garden Passport?

A GROW Garden Passport is your way to track your "visits" to our open garden events and to recognize when you have completed a "challenge" to learn more in the garden.

Bring your GROW Garden Passport to our Great GROW Get Together at the Myrick Park Center on August 25th, 2022 to receive your own GROW t-shirt in celebration of your accomplishments! You will also have your name entered in a GRAND PRIZE drawing once for every "visit" or "challenge" you have completed over the summer.

How can you get your own Garden Passport?
We will be selling passports at our spring plant sale and all of our open garden events. Passports cost $10. With your passport you will receive a coupon for your own GROW shirt to be redeemed on August 25th at the Great GROW Get Together event. You will also get a ticket good for one adult to attend the Great GROW Get Together event (children are free). Collectively these coupons have a $20+ value!

Open Garden Events:
Open Garden Events will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 pm Tuesday evenings and 8:30 to 10:30 am Thursday mornings each week from June 14th through August 18th.

The calendar of Open Garden locations is below. If you need the garden address look below the calendar.

Weather Related Cancelations
In the event the heat index is over 100 degrees or there are severe weather warnings posted during the time frame of an Open Garden we will cancel the event in the interest of keeping our interns, staff and participants safe. Please look to our social media and the calendar below for current updates if the weather is questionable.

Garden Locations:

State Road Elementary School Garden is located behind the school at 3900 Pammel Creek Rd, La Crosse.

Hamilton / SOTAI School garden is located at 807 Johnson Street across the street from the NW corner of the school building.

Hintgen Elementary School garden is located at 3505 South 28th Street.

North Woods International School Garden is located at N2541 Sablewood Rd, La Crosse.

La Crescent-Hokah Elementary School Garden is located next to the food shelf on 436 6th St S.

The Washburn Garden is located at 924 Division Street. The GROW hoop house is found at the back of the garden.

Thanks to Mayo Clinic Health System for sponsoring the 2022 Open Garden Events.