As we celebrate 30 years of Green Bay Botanical Garden, we’re looking back at the people, ideas, and moments that helped shape what the Garden is today.

In this series, founding member Lee Hansen shares firsthand stories from the early days — offering a glimpse into the vision, challenges, and community support that brought the Garden to life.

After each of our Garden symposiums, we conducted evaluations asking for feedback and what attendees would like to see next. One idea came up again and again: a place where people could buy plants from a variety of vendors.

As our Board of Directors reviewed those evaluations, a question surfaced: what about trying a garden fair? Some thought it was worth a try. Others weren’t so sure it would work.

One of our members, Polly O’Brien, and her husband volunteered to chair the first Garden Fair. Having previously developed Green Bay Artstreet, they brought valuable experience, and our Board was very happy to have that kind of leadership in place.

The next big question was: where could we hold it?

We selected the Old Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot in downtown Green Bay. I’m happy to report — both as an organizer and as a vendor representing Schroeder’s Flowers — that it was filled with people, plants, demonstrations, music, and food for two full days in June.

It was such a success that after three years, we needed more space. We moved to Green Isle Park, where we held Garden Fair for two years. The first year there was challenging, with cold weather and rain, but we still had strong participation.

After those five years, we secured the land for what would become Green Bay Botanical Garden — and Garden Fair found its home here for many years to come.

Attendance averaged more than 12,000 people each year. Garden Fair quickly became one of our most successful fundraisers and a major driver of membership.

We welcomed over 100 vendors annually, including local garden businesses and plant societies. Our NEW Rose Society had a booth selling roses each year — it became their largest fundraiser! They were just one of many groups that participated, helping support their own work while also giving back to the Garden.

Local businesses were incredibly supportive as well, often donating proceeds back to the Garden.

We were also fortunate to have strong community connections to help spread the word. Paul Hartman, one of our founders, and I both hosted weekly TV shows that we used to promote Garden Fair. Paul also wrote a weekly gardening column in the Green Bay Press-Gazette, which helped build awareness, attendance, and enthusiasm year after year.

As a business owner, I always enjoyed having a booth at Garden Fair. It was a great opportunity to introduce new products, answer questions, and connect with customers. Many vendors shared how meaningful it was to be part of something bigger — the early growth and development of the Garden.

Each year also featured a live auction, which became a favorite for many attendees. With the support of local businesses, we were also able to host raffles that contributed to our fundraising success.

One year, Dar and Les Stumpf generously donated a Ford truck to be raffled at the 1992 Garden Fair. Needless to say, it drew a lot of attention and was a tremendous success.

Thanks to the generosity of our vendors and supporters, these efforts made a lasting impact. I’m still enjoying some of the plants I purchased at those early auctions.

Garden Fair is a great example of what can happen when a community comes together. It helped build membership, generate funding, and create excitement for what the Garden could become.

This year, we’re celebrating its 30th anniversary. Another important event in our early years was the Garden Walk, which also played a key role in building support and visibility. I’ll share more about that in my next column.