A.R. Albert and Villetta Hawley Albert Horticultural Garden hosts community focused Open House in Hancock

The A.R. Albert and Villetta Hawley Albert Horticultural Garden welcomed residents from across Waushara County for a vibrant midsummer open house celebrating horticulture, civic engagement, and community service. The garden, a cornerstone of Hancock’s agricultural identity, was filled with visitors exploring static and garden displays, speaking with volunteers, and learning about new initiatives planned for the coming years, and a tractor tour of the facilities.
The horticultural center traces its beginnings to the early 1990s, when A.R. Albert and Villetta Hawley Albert began transforming a modest parcel of land into a teaching garden dedicated to practical horticulture and community enrichment. Their vision was simple but ambitious: create a space where residents could learn hands on gardening skills, explore Wisconsin’s native plant heritage, and gather for educational programs that strengthened Waushara community ties.
In its earliest years, the garden featured small demonstration beds, a handful of perennial borders, and a growing collection of ornamental shrubs. Volunteers from Hancock and surrounding towns helped expand the grounds, which have become a point of pride for the village. Hundreds of thousands have seen its beauty from the interstate as well.
By the late 1990s, the center had evolved into a regional horticultural resource. School and college groups began visiting for science lessons; civic organizations held meetings in the newly added conference room or pavilion. The garden founders worked with local growers to introduce workshops on soil health, composting, and sustainable landscaping. These early programs laid the foundation for the center’s long standing mission: to make horticulture accessible, educational, and community driven.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the garden continued to grow, adding native prairie plantings, expanding its perennials, annuals, and borders, while developing partnerships with county organizations. Today, the Albert–Hawley legacy remains central to the garden’s identity, guiding its commitment to education, stewardship, and public engagement.

Head gardener Deb Willis led guided tours through the ornamental beds, native plantings, and heritage cultivars that honor the Albert–Hawley legacy. During the tours, Willis unveiled plans for a major expansion focused on food production education. “We’re developing new edible landscape displays to show how homeowners can blend annuals, perennials, and herbs into their everyday gardens,” Willis said. “It’s about teaching practical, beautiful ways to grow more of your own food.”
The upcoming demonstration planned areas will feature raised beds, mixed edible borders, and small space growing examples designed to help residents incorporate food plants into traditional landscaping.
Local organizations anchored the event with displays, information booths, and volunteer outreach.
The Waushara Gardeners showcased late summer floral arrangements, propagation techniques, and a colorful spread of member grown produce. They also promoted upcoming workshops and membership opportunities for 2027. They wanted to note the free seed-sharing event set for March 24 at the WWII building in Wautoma.
The Hancock Citizens Committee highlighted civic projects, beautification efforts, and ways residents can participate in community planning and volunteer initiatives. They encourage vendors and businesses to set up tables for free at the Hancock Small Business Expo on August 29th from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Hancock Community Center.
The Waushara Food Pantry shared information about food security programs, donation needs, and how gardeners can contribute fresh produce to support families across the county.
In addition to hosting public events, the horticultural center encourages local civic groups, school classes, and community organizations to use its conference room facilities, pavilion, and garden spaces for meetings, educational tours, and hands on learning. Groups interested in scheduling time at the center can call 715 249 5961 to arrange visits or reserve space.
The open house blended horticultural education with civic pride, offering citizens a chance to learn, connect, and contribute. With edible landscape demonstrations on the horizon and expanded community access to facilities, the A.R. Albert and Villetta Hawley Albert Horticultural Garden continues to grow as both a teaching space and a gathering place for Hancock and the surrounding region.