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An oasis of Minnesota wildflowers located a short drive or ride from downtown Minneapolis is celebrating its spring and summer blooms on Sunday.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

 is located in Wirth Park. It was founded in 1907 by Eloise Butler, whose goal was to have a representative of each flower species found in the state.

"It's a botanic garden that's maintained to feel wild, and then we plant thousands of plants each year to enhance those original plantings and to move things into the future as well," said Susan Wilkins, garden curator at the Wildflower Garden. "To the lay visitor, you would never think that anyone was probably doing anything out here because it feels so natural."

"We're situated just a mile from downtown Minneapolis, and it feels like you're taking a walk out in a state park somewhere," she said.

The garden contains wildflowers that are native to Minnesota and adjacent states. Three biomes converge in Minnesota: deciduous forests in the south and central, prairies in the west, and coniferous forests in the north and east.

Among the flowers in bloom in mid-June: the showy lady's slipper, the state flower of Minnesota.

"I look forward to every season at the garden. It changes so much. I think that's what visitors find really rewarding, is to come back throughout the spring, summer and fall months when we're open and to see what's in bloom and to notice how the birds that they're seeing change as well," Wilkins said.

Minnesota Sounds and Voices: Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

A bee census performed in recent years found 104 species of bees in the 15-acre garden.

"I think that's really remarkable, and the reason why we do (have so many bees) is because of all of the plant diversity that we maintain and curate," Wilkins said.

Sunday's family activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The garden is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset through Oct. 15, and on weekends only from Oct. 16-31.

Lifestyle

Environmental News

Emily Bright

Author

An oasis of Minnesota wildflowers located a short drive or ride from downtown Minneapolis is celebrating its spring and summer blooms on Sunday.


Susan Wilkins is Garden Curator at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. She spoke with MPR's Emily Bright.

'Remarkable' Minneapolis garden celebrates state's wildflowers

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