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1.  1555 Sumner Street, Wausau

Pamela and John purchased this home in January of 2021, when the ground was covered in a deep blanket of snow. Spring brought a wonderful surprise as the warm weather revealed garden beds and a landscaped pond and waterfall. Pamela and John were not gardeners before this property but, after long days at work, the gardens became their respite, gradually turning them into gardeners. John lays claim to the pond and the garden surrounding it. The pond garden features a hydrangea Pamela brought from her parents’ farm and a bench that belonged to John’s father. The pond teams with goldfish, while the sound of the waterfall provides the perfect background music for a warm summer evening. The hummingbirds love the water and blue balloon flowers on the rock wall. If you look beyond the pond, you can make out an old silo with an apple tree over hanging it. Pamela planted a new garden in the west yard in 2023, which includes beautiful mallows and a Japanese Lilac tree. They have a wonderful sunroom with a large wisteria growing at its corner. Up a story, the deck overlooks the gardens and water feature, with a view of the lights on Rib Mountain in the winter and fireworks in the summer.

Directions from Grand Avenue:

Turn east onto Townline Rd (County Rd N) to the top of the hill (.7 mile), then turn left (north) onto East Hill Dr. Take the first left onto Sumner Street. The garden is the first house on the left.

Directions from Camp Phillips (County Rd X):

Turn west onto Townline Rd (County Rd N) and turn right (north) on East Hill Dr. Take the first left onto Sumner Street. The garden is the first house on the left. 

2.  201 Weston Street, Wausau

Sandy moved here in 2019 and is the only gardener. She learned to garden from her parents and has gardened all of her life, following her mom’s example. She is an organic gardener and composter. Her gardens contain perennials, a raised vegetable bed and annuals along her fence. An unusual thing in her garden is a huge lavender bush that she has had for six years and counting! Sandy has a lovely painting studio where she passes time in the winter painting. There is a sitting area on the back deck, flanked with herbs. Her gardens are dotted with interesting things like driftwood, angels, a lava rock and pink coral berry. Sandy’s husband passed away in 2015. He did stain glass work and she has several stepping stones made from his left-over glass pieces dotted throughout the gardens. Sitting at the corner of her garden she has a “Little Free Libraries Condo.” This is an area with a bench to sit at, a dog hook for the leash and five different age groups of books, each in their own mini library box.

Directions:

Take Sumner St back out to East Hill Dr. Turn right onto East Hill Dr and continue to Townline Rd (County Rd N). Take a right onto Townline Rd and go .7 miles until Grand Ave (US-51 BUS). Turn left (south) onto Grand Ave (US-51 BUS) and go .5 miles to Weston Ave. Turn right (west) onto Weston Ave. Garden will be in .1 mile on the left.

3.  624 Ruder Street, Wausau

The story of this six-year-old garden began with a blank slate and has grown into a thoughtfully-

curated space filled with perennials and colorful annuals. Sheila enjoys every aspect of gardening, from imagining and planting to maintaining and simply discovering something new each day. Inspired by her grandmother, mother, and gardening friends, she is also a North Central

Wisconsin Master Gardener volunteer.

The garden features a diverse collection of hosta, sedum, lilies, grasses, and pollinator-friendly

perennials, with annuals sprinkled throughout. It is a certified Monarch Waystation Garden, providing habitat for butterflies and essential pollinators. The variety of plants ensures colors and textures spanning the seasons. Trees have been planted over the years in memory of loved ones, creating meaningful connection to the space. A Little Free Library greets guests as a nod to her family’s love of reading.

Adding unique character are repurposed antiques from her family farms and flea markets, each

with its own story, creatively used as planters and decor. Painted barn quilts, crafted concrete pieces, and art from family, friends, and local artisans adds to the garden’s charm.

This garden is a living storybook, celebrating a love of nature, heritage, and artistry -- one plant, one memory, and one season at a time.

Directions:

Drive west on Weston Ave .3 miles to Plato St. Turn right (north) onto Plato St and drive .2 miles. Plato St veers left and becomes Ruder St. The garden will be on the left side of

the road.

4.  1021 Broadway Avenue, Wausau

Welcome to a Native Prairie Pollinator Garden! Lynn and John have been gardening here since 2015. John tends to cutting the lawn, taking up the sod for new beds, trimming and the heavy grunt work. Lynn does the rest. Lynn recalls always being interested in gardening. She tells of her grandfather, who conversed with the King of Sweden over the garden fence in the King’s summer home’s gardens. Their gardens hold a vast array of native pollinator plants such as Hoary Vervain, New Jersey Tea, Solomon’s Plume, New England Asters, Queen of the Prairie, Boneset, Gentian, Meadow Rue, Foam Flower, Jack in the Pulpit and Culver’s Root. They grow in reckless abandon and there is very little grass in this city neighbor yard; showing a viable alternative to and a lesson of a pollinator friendly “lawn.” Some of the perennials are almost 10 feet tall and there is a mixed riot of summer color! They have bird baths for the feathered friends and create habitat for the birds and butterflies both.

Directions:

Drive south west on Ruder St, which turns into Plato St. Drive .2 miles on Plato St until Weston Ave. Turn right (west) onto Weston Ave and go .2 miles until Sturgeon Eddy Rd. Turn left (south) onto Sturgeon Eddy Rd and go .1 mile until you reach Broadway Ave. Turn right (west) onto Broadway Ave and the garden will be on your left.

5.  607 Lakeview Drive, Wausau

Sue and Ritchie moved here 45 years ago. They split their gardening 50-50. Ritchie does the fall clean up and heavy work and Sue does the flowers. Sue’s mom enjoyed shrub landscaping and her grandmother had a huge garden and Ritchie was raised on a farm. When they moved in the back yard was all pine trees (they hate pinecones). They slowly started removing them and expanding yard into garden. They collected stones for walkways. Shrubs line the fence line on both sides of their deep lot. Sue loves hydrangeas and collects one a year to add to the shrub line. At the end of the lot are perennial gardens and a darling potting shed constructed by the Amish. Its floor bears painted flowers and its windows are adorned with overflowing window boxes. Everything non-plant in her garden is a gift from someone or upcycled from the trash, nothing is new. She paints often, so the garden furniture is a different color each year. Sue says her neighbors laugh when they hear the paint cans shake. There are benches that belong to her parents and a rusty old man that used to be her mom’s.

Directions:

Drive east on Broadway Ave for .2 miles until you come to Zimmerman St. Turn south (right) onto Zimmerman St and drive .4 miles until you reach Lakeview Dr. Turn left (east) onto Lakeview Dr, go .2 miles and the garden will be on your right.

Live Music with Christina Lynne

201 Weston Avenue
Enjoy music performed by Christina Lynne, singer-songwriter from Wausau, whose heartfelt music blends soulful melodies with deeply personal lyrics. Christina crafts songs that resonate with themes of love, loss, hope, connection, and the beauty of nature.
Christina plays guitar, piano, and ukulele, weaving rich, emotive sounds into every performance.
Christina has already made a mark with the release of two singles, each capturing her unique sound and emotional depth. With a voice that blends raw vulnerability and strength, Christina is excited to continue sharing her music with the world, creating songs that speak to the heart.