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3400 Merrill Ave., Wausau

Jim and Carol Kraemer have lived here for 40 years, but

began creating the gardens about 35 years ago,

starting by removing many pine trees. Carol is the

primary gardener, and Jim built the pergola, retaining

walls, bridges and trails.

Carol’s grandfather was her gardening inspiration. He

grew calla lilies, zinnias and dahlias. She has some of

his rhubarb in her garden to this day.

Carol’s favorite flowers are daylilies, and she has 250

different kinds! She loves her 15 different varieties of

peonies. Her first plants were hardy chrysanthemums

and evening primrose.

A perennial bed fronts the house, and a long perennial border edges the south property line. A shady trail under the trees, at the back of the home, incorporates

some of her mother’s hosta.

Seven years ago, they bought three acres behind their home and are establishing a park-like area with trails, trees and a wildflower garden. Their garden is composed of 99% perennials, along with a few vegetables and raspberries.

Directions: From Wausau, travel north on Highway K,

towards Merrill. Stay on HWY K through 2 traffic circles

near the HWY 51 interchange. Then go 1 mile and take

a left (west) turn onto Decator Dr and go .1 mile to

Merrill Ave. The garden is on the northwest corner of

Decator and Merrill Ave. Park on Decator.

5480 Hillcrest Dr., Wausau

Willow Springs Barn and gardens are an amazing feat of restoration and beautification. 

Peggy Griffen and her late husband, Dennis, moved and restored the Town Hall and Round Barn and added the landscaping. There is a memorial garden

on site to remember Dennis.

Peggy became interested in gardening from her mother, encouraged by Dennis and then enjoyed the Master Gardener course and became a Master

Gardener in 2004. Dennis had a passion for gardening design, gathering ideas while visiting Disneyland on vacation with his children.

As you drive in, you will see a huge island bed of daylilies, put in around 2003. Further along the drive you will see a couple of beautiful annual and

perennial beds by the old Maine Town Hall, which has a beautiful outdoor patio area. There is an herb garden, hosta and many annuals. 

Beyond the Town Hall is the restored Round Barn, that often hosts weddings. Next to it is an elevated patio and antiques and annuals. 

Join us for the Master Gardener Summer Plant Sale, plus music, vendors, and food at this garden, hosted at the Hall building.

Directions: Drive back north to Highway K .1 mile.

Turn left (north) on Highway K and go 2 miles. At the traffic circle, continue straight to remain on Highway K .2 miles. Turn left (west) onto Hillcrest Dr and go .6 miles. Then turn right (north) into Willow Springs Garden.Garden will be in .1 mile on the left.

239248 N 72nd Ave., Wausau

Dennis and Tamera Hummer have lived here 33 years, but began creating the garden and

garden structures about ten years ago. Tamera is the gardener and Dennis builds, landscapes and maintains the grounds. Dennis’s dad had a

landscaping business and his sister is a landscaper. 

Their garden is composed of annuals, herbs,  perennials, non-hardy tubers, and shrubs. Their

heirloom hostas are from a friend’s farm from 30-40 years ago.

This garden has a grain bin that was moved by Dennis to their homestead and rebuilt and landscaped. It also has an old water hand pump that is a water feature. They have a lovely terra lock patio. New this year is a compass garden  urrounding an ornate barn cupola. Also new is the medicine wheel garden, featuring native plants from the north, south, east and west areas of the United States. Have a seat on the bench made from vintage steel farm equipment wheels. They decorate their garden with antiques such as pea crates, a barn fan chandelier, chicken feeders, milk cans, ice chest and an old windmill. 

Directions: Turn right (west) onto Hillcrest Dr and go .1 mile. Then turn right onto N 72nd Ave and go .4 mile. Drive down the driveway on your left to the

parking lot. If the lot is full, feel free to park along the driveway.

12525 N 12th Avenue, Merrill

The Skic’s bought this dairy farm in 1977. This 23-year-old garden goes back to Julie’s roots. The old grain bin door is from where Julie grew up and inside they’ve created a bar! There is a pergola over a child’s play area and a sunken fire pit. 

She learned her love of gardening from her mother, who had huge vegetable gardens and flower beds. Julie had hydrangea cuttings from her parent’s hydrangeas that she grows on to continue their legacy. Other unique plants she has are a white magnolia and a red dinner plate hibiscus. Her favorite area is her hosta bed. 

Sprinkled in her annual and perennial beds are dahlia, gladiolus and calla lily bulbs she overwinters. Added to her vegetable garden are perennial vegetables and fruits like black, yellow and red raspberries, lemon balm, asparagus, pear trees and blue and honey berries. 

Julie uses raised beds for vegetables. She had metal accents throughout her gardens, including a bed frame and old hand water pump. She has a water trough with red, white and blue flowers.

The Skics enjoy feeding the birds.

Directions: Go left (north) on 72nd Ave for .5 miles. Turn right at 1st cross street onto County Hwy A for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto County Hwy K. Drive for 1.7 miles. Turn right at the corner of Red Granite Bar/Naugart Dr. and go 2 miles. Turn left 12th Ave and in .6 miles the garden will be on the right (east) side of the road.Broadway Ave and the garden will be on your left.

13151 N 12th Avenue, Merrill

The Luedtkes have gardened here for 20 years. They have divided their garden tasks. Marilyn weeds and cuts the lawn, and Brian built the beautiful pond, stream, and pergola features.

Marilyn learned her love of gardening from her mother. Her brother helped build the gazebo. All the hosta are heirloom plants.

When you enter their garden, you come under archways adorned with lights and garden art. You will see an interesting mix of garden plants of speedwell, asters, ligularia, anise, coral bells, beebalm, sneezeweed, phlox, coreopsis, mallow, and cranesbill. Among the perennials

are shrubs like Alberta Spruce, spirea, potentilla, Mohican viburnum, and hydrangeas. There are several shade trees, a corkscrew willow tree and several apple trees.

Once you exit this area, there stands a pergola, with a cupola, adorned with hanging baskets of annuals and a pair of hibiscus trees. The door to the pergola is guarded by a chainsaw cut wood bear and a wood eagle. Go inside and rest in a comfy chair in the shade of the pergola. Then you witness their creativity by an in-ground pool turned into a patio and fire pit area.

Directions: Go right (north) on 12th Ave for .3 miles. The last garden is on your right.

Entertainment at Willow Springs

Justin Zopel has been a musician around the area for over 40 years. In addition to performing a lively mix of classic cocktail standards on the piano, he plays string music on the violin while accompanied

by his daughter Violet on the cello. Justin Zopel will be playing from 2:00-4:00 pm

on Friday, July 24 and 9:00 am-12:00 pm on Saturday, July 25.

The Centerpoint Chorus of Sweet Adelines, The Neighbors and the Alternative Medicine Quartet will perform from 12:00-3:00 pm on Saturday, July 25.

We will also have garden craft related vendors at Willow Springs both days.