[2] The Queen Anne house overlooking the garden was designed for William Arnon Henry, the first dean of the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Agriculture.

To placate him, the university offered Henry a salary increase, vacation time, and an $8,000 appropriation for a house.

Three other deans lived in the house: Harry Luman Russell (1907–1931), C. L. Christensen (1931–1943), and Edwin Broun Fred (1943–1945).

[4] In 1979, the classroom gardens outside the Plant Sciences Building were destroyed to make room for an addition.

Donations from university gifts and student groups provided for initial planning and design.