Gardens of the Twin Cities-SSP

Gardens in the Twin Cities

Begin this tour at the Normandale Japanese Garden, located on the Normandale Community College Campus.  It is a Japanese Garden Created for Minnesota.  More than 300 plants, shrubs, and trees have been carefully selected to grow in Minnesota’s harsh climate. The architect, Takao Watanabe, and gardeners chose Minnesota-hardy plants that can survive extremely cold temperatures.  Visit the Japanese Garden and experience the beauty all around you. In addition to discovering the wonderful plant life and intentional landscaping, you’ll see around 20 colorful koi that swim from lagoon to pool, under bridges and around rocks.  Wander through the garden and linger to take it all in.  You will truly feel like you have landed in the heart of Japan on this visit. Lunch is Patrick’s Bakery and Café. 

Menu:  Soup and Sandwich Special: California Chicken Strip Sandwich - Walnut Raisin Bread with Honey Djon Dressing, Baked Chicken Strips, Oven Roasted Red Peppers and Lettuce, Minestrone Soup, Coffee Tea or Milk, Mini Pastry for Dessert.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary.  This is the oldest public wildflower garden in the US.  In 1907, Eloise Butler and three other botany teachers in Minneapolis asked that a small portion of the then Glenwood Park, now Theodore Wirth Park, be set aside as a “wild” garden.

Trip is Thursday, June 17

Register by: Fri, May 14

Location    Departure     Return      Registration

TPAC          9:00 am         4 pm       XXXX-WSP-F26

SSP            9:15 am           4:15 pm    1626-SSP-S27

IGH            9:30 am          4:30 pm   www.ighmn.gov/register