Minneapolis Parks are in Bloom!

This is one of the best times to visit Minneapolis’ popular public display gardens.  They are planted throughout the park system for education and enjoyment of Twin Cities’ residents and park visitors, in addition to their obvious beauty.   Maintained through the efforts of MPRB staff and volunteers, the garden displays range from traditional roses to native prairie grasses.  Admission to all gardens is free and they are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

In addition to an arboretum, the Lyndale Park Rose Garden complex has four gardens.  It is located at 4124 Roseway Road in southwest Minneapolis. 

• Rose Garden – This 1.5-acre plot is actually the second oldest public rose garden in the U.S., visitors can enjoy the color and fragrance of thousands of roses, the “Queen of Flowers.”
• Peace (Rock) Garden – Hardy alpine plants and dwarf conifers are featured in this 2-acre garden. It also showcases peace stones from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and the Spirit of Peace sculpture.
• Annual-Perennial Garden – Look for a wide variety of annuals and perennials blooming in these gardens, which are located on 1-acre between the Phelps and Heffelfinger fountains.
• Perennial Trial Garden, Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden – The garden is one of five perennial trial gardens in the state. Plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies can be seen in another section of the border.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lyndale Park Garden on the northeast corner of Lake Harriet. It’s in full bloom just in time for the centennial celebration, which will occur on Sunday, July 27.

But wait!  There’s more! 

The Loring Park Garden of the Seasons adds a splash of color to downtown Minneapolis.  The gardens are located at 1382 Willow St. on the north side of the Loring Pond bridge.  Designed by a team of Loring Park neighbors, the garden design features wedges of color gardens around a central spoke. Planted with hardy Minnesota perennials, ornamental grasses and annuals, the garden is a delight throughout the growing season. Visitors can relax on benches that surround the garden to best enjoy the display.

Minnehaha Falls Park is home to the varied Longfellow, Pergola and Hiawatha gardens.

• Longfellow Gardens – The display garden in the park system features annuals and perennials that thrive in bright sunlight and windy conditions. The garden is located on East Minnehaha Parkway between Minnehaha Ave. and 38th Ave. S, above the Highway 55/Hiawatha Ave. tunnel.
• Minnehaha Pergola Garden – The garden displays plants native to the Midwest. The sunny runway features primarily prairie plants. The shady areas beneath the pergola showcase native woodland plants. Nearby beneath the sculpture, “Through the Eyes of Taoyateduta,” prairie plants have been installed to provide a great backdrop for the view of Minnehaha Falls. The garden is located just east of Minnehaha Ave. near the Princess Railroad Station.
• Song of Hiawatha Garden – The garden features a circular stone inscription of a portion of Longfellow’s famous poem “The Song of Hiawatha.” Sunny perennials and annuals accent this garden, located on the east side of Minnehaha Falls near the refectory.

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is an urban wilderness in Theodore Wirth Park.

The 15-acre Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is abloom with wilderness beauty, including Turk’s-cap Lily, Clustered Bellflower, Wild Bergamot, and Partridge Pea. The Wildflower Garden is located at Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Ave.

For more information on the gardens in the Minneapolis park system visit the official garden website.