We host free monthly tours of residential native plant gardens or local plant communities from May – August.
July 2023
Wednesday, July 26th - 6:30 pm
Tour of Three Residential Properties on the South Shore of Duck Lake
At 6:30 pm the tour will begin at 16820 South Shore Lane, Eden Prairie, MN and then move to 16742 South Shore Lane and lastly, 17040 South Shore Lane.
At 6:30 pm the tour will begin at 16820 South Shore Lane, Eden Prairie, MN and then move to 16742 South Shore Lane and lastly, 17040 South Shore Lane.
TOUR SITE ONE: 16820 South Shore Lane, Eden Prairie
Rod and Nancy have been slowly converting turf to perennial beds and trees and shrubs for 30 years. We love the birds and the bees. On the tour you'll see a rain garden that was installed at the curb to catch street water in 2010. Using their own labor, they received a cost share grant for plants from the city of Eden Prairie. Then the tour will take you to the lake where we hired Natural Shore Technology, Inc. to design and install a native shoreline 5 years ago, so it’s looking “good and wild now”! They have also been working to make their 1970's house sustainable, and were given a Sustainable Eden Prairie Award last year.
Rod and Nancy have been slowly converting turf to perennial beds and trees and shrubs for 30 years. We love the birds and the bees. On the tour you'll see a rain garden that was installed at the curb to catch street water in 2010. Using their own labor, they received a cost share grant for plants from the city of Eden Prairie. Then the tour will take you to the lake where we hired Natural Shore Technology, Inc. to design and install a native shoreline 5 years ago, so it’s looking “good and wild now”! They have also been working to make their 1970's house sustainable, and were given a Sustainable Eden Prairie Award last year.
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TOUR SITE TWO: 16742 South Shore Lane, Eden Prairie
In an effort to halt shoreline erosion and improve water quality, James and Maryanne installed a lake shore restoration project in 2016 with grants from the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed district (RPBCWD) and the City of Eden Prairie through their Landscaping for Water Quality Rebate. We hired Natural Shore Technologies to do the work.
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The project was begun July 2016 with removal of boulders and railroad ties followed by two herbicide treatments to eradicate canary grass and invasive plants. In August, plants were installed and an herbivore fence erected in effort to keep out muskrats which have caused damage to other projects across the lake. Over the years different species have become dominant while others that were have declined. Watching how it has evolved over the years has been very rewarding and educational.
TOUR SITE THREE: 17040 South Shore Lane, Eden Prairie
These homeowners have two projects to showcase! The Campbells both enjoy both native plant projects, which help improve the health of Duck Lake, increase their property value, and bring more native plants to the neighborhood!
PROJECT #1 - Lake Shore Buffer
In September of 2018, a lakeshore buffer project was installed using a variety of native plants from Minnesota Native Landscapes. They did all the preparation and planting work themselves, with much of the project cost funded by the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District.
In September of 2018, a lakeshore buffer project was installed using a variety of native plants from Minnesota Native Landscapes. They did all the preparation and planting work themselves, with much of the project cost funded by the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District.
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PROJECT #2 - Curb Cut Rain Garden
In the Summer of 2020, the Campbell's property was chosen as a Rain Garden site, as part of a new partnership with the City of Eden Prairie and the RPBC Watershed District. Barr Engineering coordinated most of the actual project work, digging a significant hole in the front yard, placing drain tile, building cement steps and planting the native plants.
In the Summer of 2020, the Campbell's property was chosen as a Rain Garden site, as part of a new partnership with the City of Eden Prairie and the RPBC Watershed District. Barr Engineering coordinated most of the actual project work, digging a significant hole in the front yard, placing drain tile, building cement steps and planting the native plants.
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Photo Gallery of Past Garden Tours
Do You Know of a Garden That We Could Tour?
Every summer we sponsor native plant landscape tours to inspire and educate our members. We are looking for gardens or demonstration sites that are least 70% or more native. If you are willing to have your yard on tour or know of someone that would be willing to share their project, please contact: WildOnesPrairieEdge@gmail.com