About Blair Street Gardens

Board Members

Ellen Henningsen, President: Ellen has been volunteering with Blair Street Gardens for decades, and has been President since 2013. She inherited her love of gardening from her mother and grandmother. She maintains gardens at her home near Orton Park and at Atwood Community Gardens. She created the corner and median gardens at Orton Park several years ago. Her favorite perennial is the heirloom phlox that came from her grandmother’s garden in Whitewater - now growing nationwide at the homes of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ellen’s favorite annuals are lantana and basil.  She is a fan of knee pads and hori hori knives (a Japanese gardening tool).  Like all gardeners, she is not a fan of rabbits.

Vinay Janardhanam, Vice-President: Vinay discovered Blair Street Gardens in the spring of 2025 after moving nearby the previous fall. He began serving as Vice President in 2026. His appreciation for the natural world traces back to middle school at River Crossing Environmental Charter School in Portage, where he developed a lasting respect for native plants and their role in the ecosystem. He also grew up helping his dad tend a vegetable garden at home. Vinay admits he's not the most reliable houseplant caretaker, but he's found that community gardening suits him much better — it's harder to forget about plants when you walk past them every day. His favorite native plant is the purple coneflower. Outside the garden, Vinay is a software engineer who enjoys running D&D campaigns and playing music.

Liz Zona, Secretary: Growing up on a farm in Indiana with substantial woods to play in, Liz fell in love with nature and native plants. Her favorite flower, the bloody butcher (also known as prairie trillium), was often used in potions her and her brother made from the native plants around the farm. Liz joined Blair Street Gardens in 2024 and began serving as the Secretary. Liz is a novice gardener, but has a passion for increasing green space in the City. In her spare time, Liz enjoys knitting, yoga, anything that gets her outside on the water or in nature, APT, and spending time with her husband and their greyhound.

Michael Friedman, Treasurer: Michael is an environmental scientist who inherited his love of gardening from his mother and grandmother. He lives in the First Settlement District and began serving as Treasurer in 2025 after spending several years admiring the Blair Street Gardens. He has a passion for native plants, especially those that support monarch butterflies, rare bumblebees, and other wildlife. His favorite plants change with the seasons, but presently he is looking forward to the blooms of spring ephemerals like trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, and trout lilies. Outside of gardening, you might find Michael riding his bike(s), trying to photograph bumble bees, or organizing events for the neighborhood. 

Gregory Roliardi, Member at Large:  Gregory moved to Madison from Tempe, Arizona in 2022. He found his love for plants in the desert and since moving to Madison has been taking his time learning the local Flora. His favorite native plant is Jack in the Pulpit. Gregory is an outdoor athlete and since moving to Madison has begun learning to sail with the Hoofers club. One of Gregory's most dearest adventures was when he rode his bicycle across the United States in 2014. Gregory is excited about being a board member with Blair Street Gardens and hopes it helps satiate his need for gardening, learning, and community.