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New honorarium ideas taking seed

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

One romantic gentleman used an engraved brick in the Rotary Botanical Gardens sunken garden to cement a marriage proposal. Along with benches, trees and bricks, staff at the gardens are offering new options to help people honor, commemorate and celebrate special events and people. These include plaques and plates, planting containers with bronze recognition plates, and naming opportunities for gardens, events and special projects.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Val Kitzman, left, and Barb Cisler were part of a group of friends that collected donations to place a bench and plant a tree in Rotary Gardens in honor of their friend Rita Steil.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Larry and Susan Barton have taken full advantage of the Rotary Gardens gift program by making several donations including this colorful Japanese Maple tree.

A Janesville man and his family bought trees to celebrate his children and family.

A Janesville woman organized 35 people to pool money for a bench, tree and brick in memory of dear friend.

A local young man, who asked his girlfriend for her hand in marriage, proposed by buying a commemorative brick.

Now there are new opportunities to honor, commemorate, celebrate or remember a loved one or special event at Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, said Kelli Cameron, executive director.

In addition to the engraved commemorative bricks of $100 or $300, custom-made cedar benches for $2,000 or $3,000 and memorial trees at $500 each, there are:

-- Plaques or plates to recognize garden development improvements starting at $5,000.

-- Planting containers with bronze recognition plaques for $2,000 or $4,000.

Naming opportunities for gardens, events and special projects also are available.

Cameron said the gardens receive no tax dollars, and organizers hope the new memorials will provide a wider stream of financially support.

"The memorials support the vision and mission of the gardens and are funded by people who understand the need to keep the lights on, for staff to get paid and the offering of educational programs," Cameron said.

Among them are Janesville residents Larry Barton and Barb Cisler.

"Rotary Gardens is a wonderful asset in our community that draws people from all over. What a wonderful way to create a memorial or tribute to associate a chapter of life with such beautiful surroundings," Barton said.

Cisler agreed: "It is a focal point for Janesville and a place to go to celebrate people's lives—the living and the ones who have passed."

To learn more

For more information about memorials at Rotary Botanical Gardens, visit rotarybotanicalgardens.org; stop at the gardens 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville; call Amanda Moucha at (608) 752-3885, Ext. 19, or email her at amanda.moucha@rotarygardens.org.