We host free monthly tours of residential native plant gardens or local plant communities from May – August.
May 2022
May 4th - 6 pm
Trees, Shrubs and Wildflower Hike at East Creek Trail, Chaska
Hosted by Alan Branhagen, Director of Operations at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
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Alan describes this walk as having an unparalleled diversity of woody plants in such a relatively small area. Alan is the author of several books including, Native Plants of the Midwest and The Midwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-friendly Garden. Mr. Branhagen is an all-around plantsman and naturalist specializing in birds, butterflies and botany.
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Meet at the parking lot off Engler Boulevard and the north end of Old Audubon Road in Chaska. The tour will leave the parking lot shortly after 6pm. Although this hike starts on a paved trail, it leads to a gravel trail and is described by Alan as "mildly strenuous".
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July 2022
Wednesday, July 20th - 6:30 pm
Tour of a Minnetonka Residential Garden Transformation
17149 Chiltern Hills Road, Minnetonka, MN
Anne was a life-long, traditional gardener who wanted to grow one of everything, no matter where it came from. Anne was also an ecologist who understood the problems of a monotypic turf lawn. But when Anne learned the essential nature of native plants and their insects, her garden began to transform.
17149 Chiltern Hills Road, Minnetonka, MN
Anne was a life-long, traditional gardener who wanted to grow one of everything, no matter where it came from. Anne was also an ecologist who understood the problems of a monotypic turf lawn. But when Anne learned the essential nature of native plants and their insects, her garden began to transform.
Wednesday, July 27th - 6:30 pm
Tour of a Minnetonka Residential Native Garden
Note: This tour includes two locations. The tour begins at 6:30 pm at 17109 Stodola Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
David trained as a Minnesota Water Steward with Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. As his capstone project, he and a teammate designed and installed a pair of rain gardens on each side of his driveway in late summer of 2019. David received a 75% rebate on the services and materials cost of the project. The only 'services' expense was a rough excavation. All other expenses were materials. The gardens are fed by a trench installed near the end of the driveway, bringing the runoff from 1200 sq ft of driveway into the 200 square feet of rain garden (100 sq. ft. each side).
In 2020 David planted a native pollinator garden in full sun and also a shade garden under a mature crabapple tree. The shade garden is currently his favorite native planting, especially in spring. Like many people focusing on landscaping for biodiversity and water quality, David does not use chemicals to keep his lawn looking like a pristine carpet of green. In 2020 he seeded an area of fine fescue east of the driveway to see how that performs in his yard.
Note: This tour includes two locations. The tour begins at 6:30 pm at 17109 Stodola Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
David trained as a Minnesota Water Steward with Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. As his capstone project, he and a teammate designed and installed a pair of rain gardens on each side of his driveway in late summer of 2019. David received a 75% rebate on the services and materials cost of the project. The only 'services' expense was a rough excavation. All other expenses were materials. The gardens are fed by a trench installed near the end of the driveway, bringing the runoff from 1200 sq ft of driveway into the 200 square feet of rain garden (100 sq. ft. each side).
In 2020 David planted a native pollinator garden in full sun and also a shade garden under a mature crabapple tree. The shade garden is currently his favorite native planting, especially in spring. Like many people focusing on landscaping for biodiversity and water quality, David does not use chemicals to keep his lawn looking like a pristine carpet of green. In 2020 he seeded an area of fine fescue east of the driveway to see how that performs in his yard.
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Tour of a City Outlot Restoration
Address: 15324 Oric Ave, Minnetonka, MN 55345
In urban environments, natural landscapes that were once biodiverse and contiguous have been transformed to small and often highly degraded fragments. What potential do these sites hold for ecological restoration, pollinator habitat, and public demonstration sites? How does one go about restoring a site such as this? After approaching the city and writing a Nine Mile Creek watershed grant on their behalf, in 2015, Heather and her neighbors began restoring this highly degraded 1/2 acre city-owned lot in her neighborhood. Come on the tour to learn about some of the challenges, opportunities, and amazing outcomes that have unfolded in the neighborhood corner lot restoration. Learn about pollinator habitat enhancement and management considerations, and celebrate the diverse pollinator populations that now thrive in the corner lot.
Heather Holm is vice president of the Prairie Edge chapter. She is a pollinator conservationist and award-winning author of four books.
In urban environments, natural landscapes that were once biodiverse and contiguous have been transformed to small and often highly degraded fragments. What potential do these sites hold for ecological restoration, pollinator habitat, and public demonstration sites? How does one go about restoring a site such as this? After approaching the city and writing a Nine Mile Creek watershed grant on their behalf, in 2015, Heather and her neighbors began restoring this highly degraded 1/2 acre city-owned lot in her neighborhood. Come on the tour to learn about some of the challenges, opportunities, and amazing outcomes that have unfolded in the neighborhood corner lot restoration. Learn about pollinator habitat enhancement and management considerations, and celebrate the diverse pollinator populations that now thrive in the corner lot.
Heather Holm is vice president of the Prairie Edge chapter. She is a pollinator conservationist and award-winning author of four books.
August 2022
Wednesday, August 10th - 6:30 pm
Tour of Prairie and Woodland
Hosted by Judy Hart
Judy, a master gardener with Carver County, has nearly 15 acres of woods/bluffs including 2.5 acres of restored prairie including many forbs to support pollinators. Judy has planted over 100 varieties of native grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs, and has identified at least 10 naturally occurring native forbs in the oak woodland. Enjoy this restored prairie on easy walking trails.
Address: 5670 Dahlgren Rd, Chaska, MN 55318
Hosted by Judy Hart
Judy, a master gardener with Carver County, has nearly 15 acres of woods/bluffs including 2.5 acres of restored prairie including many forbs to support pollinators. Judy has planted over 100 varieties of native grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs, and has identified at least 10 naturally occurring native forbs in the oak woodland. Enjoy this restored prairie on easy walking trails.
Address: 5670 Dahlgren Rd, Chaska, MN 55318
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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