View by Season
Spring Garden Visits
Public gardens that feature or contain collections of wildflowers are in blossom in early spring. Wildflowers known as spring ephemerals put on their display before trees leaf out, after which they are often left in shadier conditions the rest of the growing season. Collections of crabapples, azaleas and lilacs are all impressive in spring and early summer. Rock gardens featuring alpine plants typically put on a flush of spring blossoms. Late spring or early summer can be the moment in Japanese gardens when typical plant materials (plum, redbud, lilac and iris) are blooming. Many public gardens also plant bulbs (tulips, daffodils, etc.) for spring display.
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary (the woodland habitat)
Horticultural Display Gardens of the University of Minnesota (wildflowers in Mullins Woods)
Lakewood Cemetery (spring bulb display)
Loring Park Garden of the Seasons (wildflowers in its central bed)
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (spring bulb display, rock garden, Japanese garden, wildflower walk, and spring flowering trees and shrubs)
Noerenburg Gardens (scattered wildflowers and azalea collection)
Summer Garden Visits
This is prime time for almost all public gardens, but particularly the high point for rose gardens.
All Public Gardens are Worth a Visit at This Time!
Summer is the peak season for roses in particular:
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Linnaeus Arboretum (contains the Melva Lind Rose Garden)
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Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (contains two large rose gardens)
Fall Garden Visits
Public gardens featuring trees which display autumn leaf-color changes can be spectacular in fall. Also, ornamental grasses or fall blossoming plants such as dahlias, asters and chrysanthemums are of particular interest during this season. Gardens that include vegetables will be in harvest mode in early fall.
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Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary (prairie area)
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Gibbs Farm Museum of Pioneer and Dakota Life (autumn harvest)
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Horticultural Display Gardens of the University of Minnesota (ornamental grasses and prairie area)
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Lakewood Cemetery (fall leaf color)
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Linnaeus Arboretum (prairie area and fall leaf color)
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Loring Park Garden of the Seasons (fall blooming perennials and ornamental grasses)
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Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (fall leaf color, prairie area, ornamental grasses, and dahlia collection)
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Noerenberg Gardens (fall blooming perennials and ornamental grasses)
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Northland Arboretum (fall leaf color)
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Oakland Cemetery (fall leaf color)
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Oliver H. Kelly Farm (autumn harvest)
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St. John’s Arboretum (prairie area and fall leaf color)
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Stoppel Farm at the Olmstead County History Center (autumn harvest)
Winter Garden Visits
The best public gardens to visit in winter are glass houses and conservatories, since these public gardens are immune to seasonal changes. Another option is to visit good-sized arboretums having collections of trees that can be appreciated even in their leafless, wintery state. Certain arboretums also have cross country skiing trails which route visitors through their tree collections.
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Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (conservatory and outdoor tree collections with cross country skiing trails)
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Northland Arboretum (outdoor tree collection with cross country skiing trails)
