7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Cheryl Bowen has made a living out of keeping Kenosha beautiful. A graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in jewelry and metal works, Bowen thought Kenosha would be a short stay before planning to move to Seattle. But the Belevidere, Ill., native started volunteering for the city of Kenosha 15 years ago and became the coordinator for Keep Kenosha Beautiful. She takes pride in the work of all her volunteers, has found a $1,000 bill during a cleanup-day, and has always wished she could plant some palm trees on Simmons Island.

Cheryl will now take your questions:

How did you get involved in Keep Kenosha Beautiful? I started as a volunteer in 1992 and was hired in March of 1994. I wanted to volunteer and work with recycling and waste reduction so I called the city and they sent me to Nina Millsaps. At that time, Nina was both the Keep Kenosha Beautiful coordinator for beautification and litter prevention and the new appointed recycling coordinator for the city. (And she only worked three days a week!) Whew! Nina wrote the grant for Kenosha’s state mandated recycling program and was responsible for developing and implementing the method of collection as well as public education. That is where I came in. I joined the KKB Commission and was eventually hired part-time by the city as the KKB Coordinator when the job was split ( and ... I am still here!).

What is your background? I grew up in Belvidere, Ill., graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor of fine arts in jewelry and metal work (would you like fries with that?) Was in the right place at the right time and landed a great sales job with a wonderful company, met and married Bruce, one of my customers, and moved from the Chicago suburbs to Kenosha in 1979. I considered it a temporary stop before moving to Seattle. So much for that. Almost 28 years later, now, I am single, homeless in Kenosha, and dogless. Homeless because I unexpectedly sold my home to the first family that walked through. Thank you, Kathy Jalensky! Dogless because my Yuper dog shelter dog is staying with friends in Madison during the transition. I am leaving Kenosha and KKB at the end of October and heading north. My new home will be Manitowish Waters, Wis.

Kenosha has some beautiful gardens, how do you and your staff of volunteers keep them so clean and fresh looking? I have (at last count) 88 wonderful, dedicated volunteers who put in many hours of care for 50 special gardens. People become very attached to their gardens. My volunteers really take pride and ownership of their little (and not so little) plots. And I have a new seasonal assistant Kate Keener who at this moment is out with a water truck, tools, and help for our Adopt-a-Spot gardeners. Our garden program has grown too big for one person to effectively handle. Hurray for Kate! We also work with the Kenosha Correctional Center and Muni Court Community service programs for extra help.

What sort of feedback do you get on the area adopt-a -spot gardens? People often yell out their car windows at you. Many stop to thank our gardeners or ask the name of a particular plant.

What is the strangest thing you or your volunteers have found during a clean-up day at a local garden spot? Actually it was during a de-littering of the parking lot across from Mangia’s. It was a personal check for over $1,000 written the week before to a local lawyer.

What is the hardest spot in the city to maintain? It is not an Adopt-a-Spot. I would say it is the formal gardens in Lincoln Park (not a volunteer garden). Gina Bailey is the head of the park greenhouse and she and her crew of “flower girls” plant and take care of the raised and slanted beds. This makes a very labor intensive garden. Gina keeps it in tip-top shape. Adopt-a-Spot designs are generally more free form and low maintenance by use of drought tolerant perennials.

Do you have a favorite spot in the city to enjoy? Any beach. Our lakefront is our best asset.

There are some amazing gardens in the yards of many area homeowners. How does your home garden compare? Sold my home and my mower at the end of May. I will never mow again. I spend zero time on my own garden.

Quite often you’re seen driving around a big city truck or hauling loads of brush, timber and garbage around town. Does the job keep you in good shape? I would be in better shape if I ran beside the truck. I have a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). If the need arises I can drive the tandem dumps. The newer ones are actually easy and fun to drive. The photo of me is the exception and not the norm as many will testify to. I am actually wearing white shorts. (At least for another half hour. I have five different pairs of tennis shoes that I rotate through the laundry. Dirt drifts over the tops of my shoes and into my socks. I use a lot of Oxyclean.

What planter flower do you wish you could grow in Kenosha but can’t because of weather? Well, this would not fit in a planter, but I would love to transplant palm trees on Simmons Island beach for the summer. No, on ALL the beaches. Wouldn’t that be fun?

What’s the No. 1 tip for keeping your house/yard looking good? The size and complexity of plants and gardens is determined by how much time and money you wish to spend on maintenance. Nothing is completely maintenance free.

You’re leaving at the end of this year. What are your plans after moving to northern Wisconsin? Why Manitowish Waters? It is beautiful up there. I have spent the past five winters up north. I love cross country skiing. I can go everyday up there. Some of most beautifully groomed and non-groomed trails are between Manitowish Waters and Bessemer, Mich. (I sound like the Chamber of Commerce.) Spring, summer and fall are kayak time. Vilas County has more lakes than any other county in the state. The Turtle Flowage, Boundary Waters and sea caves on Lake Superior are all close. I will be volunteering a lot of time on northern environmental issues. In particular, prevention of the introduction of invasive plant and animal and ATV species into Vilas County.

What will you miss most about Kenosha? Cheap taco night at the Brat Stop 2, TG’s, The Coffee Pot, Frank’s Diner, and classes at the “Y.” The beauty of the Lake Michigan lakefront, foreign films, the close proximity of two large cities, but most of all ... my friends ... many of which started out as volunteers and this wonderful creative job.

What have been your biggest achievements in your current job, and in Kenosha? My job and my life are intertwined. I would have to say on the 25th Anniversary of Earth Day we fenced off my yard on 22nd Avenue and filled it full of what we calculated would be a year’s worth of garbage and recycling for a family of four. Channel 6 did a newscast from the middle of my lawn. People still ask me about that. I am very proud of the Adopt-a-Spot garden program it is in its eighth year.

What words of wisdom do you have for Kenosha gardeners and green thumbs? Try some unusual plant varieties instead of the old standards.

Have any hobbies besides gardening? What do you do in your free time? I like outdoor activities. I am thinking about taking tennis lessons.

When you’re gone, how will we Keep Kenosha Beautiful? We are in the process of hiring a new coordinator. They will bring fresh ideas and new programs to KKB. Change is good.