Pets on the Payroll

Jennifer Polanz

As a special Easter treat, we have a bunny! Submitted by Zannah Crow, educational horticulturist at Heyden’s Gardens in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Here’s what she wrote:

Mr. Velvetini (“Tini”) is a minor celebrity at Heyden’s Gardens in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Tini has been in residence at the garden center since 2019 and he has an enthusiastic following.

Tini is a Mini Rex Rabbit and his plush coat is similar to a chinchilla. We’re accustomed to hearing customers exclaim “Oh, my gosh! He’s the softest rabbit I’ve ever touched”! Children frequently describe his coat as “like a blanket” and one woman described petting him as being like “putting your hand in a bag of flour.”  

Tini is an exceptionally social and friendly rabbit, and seems to enjoy his interaction with visitors. He’s a welcoming presence at our garden center and brings a sense of fun to the shopping experience, especially for children. As one of our customers said, “Every garden center should have a resident rabbit”! GP