76 steps. Count them, from the dock to the Raspberry Island Lighthouse grounds, even more to get to the top of the light. It is a long climb, so rest a moment and recall the words of Lee Benton, the long-time keeper of Raspberry Island Light. “I hope you noticed the beautiful flower gardens around the outside of the house. My wife Anna has a green thumb and loves to plant all sorts of flowers each year.”

As you catch your breath, let the collection of flower and vegetable gardens on the lighthouse grounds carry you back in time. The gardens, planted this year by volunteers from Friends of the Apostle Islands cooperating with National Park Service staff, are more than just something pretty for the eyes. They are a kind of living history, each plant a ticket to the past, an invitation to ponder the life led by the keepers and their families so long ago.

Lighthouse keepers and their families were often cut off from the mainland – its culture, its entertainment, even its supplies which might be delivered just once each year. So, for many, including Anna Benton at Raspberry Island Light, gardening became something of both a past time and a way to ensure fresh food on the table. And, at times, if she was being honest, a bit of a competition: “I hate to admit it,” Keeper Benton was known to say, “but Anna has this little competition with Michigan Lighthouse keeper Ed Lane’s wife, Elizabeth, to see who has the most beautiful flowers.”

It was with this sense of history involved that a group of volunteers from Friends of the Apostle Islands set out on a beautiful blue-sky morning to aid the National Park Service in getting the gardens at Raspberry Island ready for summer visitors.

Volunteers plant Raspberry Island gardens – click to enlarge photos

“This year it was especially helpful to have the Friends assist the park staff in cleaning the flower beds and planting the gardens,” says Fred Schlichting with the National Park Service. “These gardens help recreate how the lighthouse grounds looked 100 years ago when resident keepers maintained beautiful gardens. Friends also paid for the plants and seeds used this year at Raspberry Island.  With less staff and tighter budgets at the Park, the Friends assistance allows us to continue to provide our visitors an authentic experience.”

Vegetables were important in the Raspberry gardens, but so were flowers. The park has records of the species and composition of all some 12 beds surrounded by rocks from the lake. Six volunteers worked with park staff to remove weeds, divide perennials, turn the soil, add compost, plant annuals, and water.

It was a perfect picture day for gardening: blue skies, a gentle lake breeze, no biting insects, and calm seas. “We could imagine the life of a keeper’s wife, excited to be back on the island and anxious to see if her flowers had successfully over-wintered,” said volunteer Erica Peterson.

Vegetables and perennials do well out on the islands, but the clay soil does need some amendment. The park, and with the help of Friends, makes sure the compost coming onto the island is weed free. They have in the past used turkey droppings and now use an organic concentrated conditioner and plant food. Some non-native invasive species have found theirway out to the gardens, like tansy. “We bag and dispose of them back on the mainland,” says Peterson.

Dahlias, zinnias, and marigolds were planted among the astilbes and iris, and squashes, potatoes, onions, and cabbage in the vegetable garden.

Quickly, with the help of many hands, the gardens of Raspberry Island came back to life even faster than expected. So, when the Archipelago came by, the tour boat of Apostle Islands Cruises, the group lined up on the bank to wave a greeting, proud of their work and of the beauty and history that will greet visitors this summer at the Raspberry Island Light.

Anna Benton would have been proud.

Financial support for projects such as the Raspberry Island Lighthouse Garden comes from Friends of the Apostle Islands. To make a contribution and keep the history growing at these and other gardens throughout the park, click here.

We thank our volunteers for their efforts. You too can roll up your sleeves and pitch in to help the islands — planting beach grass, tending historic lighthouse gardens, clearing trails, assisting with events, and more. Sometimes the greatest gift is the gift of time. Sign up here to join our volunteer list.