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
We host free monthly tours of residential native plant gardens or local plant communities from May – August.
See below for details of tours June 28, July 26, August 3 and August 8.
June 2023
Wednesday, June 28th-6:30 pm
Tea & Chat about Natives
10346 Englewood Dr. Eden Prairie, MN
Join Lori Tritz for a chat about native plants. Meet in the garden over tea and cookies to gain inspiration, ask for and give advice. Lori has extensive plantings including a rain garden, water garden, permaculture and more. She has her own YouTube Channel @aMinnesotaBackyard with several wonderful videos.
Wednesday, June 28th-6:30 pm
Tea & Chat about Natives
10346 Englewood Dr. Eden Prairie, MN
Join Lori Tritz for a chat about native plants. Meet in the garden over tea and cookies to gain inspiration, ask for and give advice. Lori has extensive plantings including a rain garden, water garden, permaculture and more. She has her own YouTube Channel @aMinnesotaBackyard with several wonderful videos.
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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August 2023
Thursday August 3rd 6-8pm
Open House Landscape & Eco Tour
8956 Braxton Drive Eden Prairie, MN
Open House Landscape & Eco Tour
8956 Braxton Drive Eden Prairie, MN
Tour a midsummer garden with 3 rain gardens, boulevard plantings, a shoreline restoration and hedgerows. Electrify Everything Minnesota will attend to share information about switching your home and appliances from using gas to clean electricity. Electrify Everything helps residents complete home electrification projects by answering questions and connecting residents to financing, utility rebates, and high-quality contractors. The initiative is a collaboration between the cities of Eden Prairie, Edina, St. Louis Park, & Minneapolis. On site we have an air source heat pump for heating and cooling. Also Talk with Tom about all electric vehicles, especially his 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E GT.
Tuesday August 8th- 6:30pm
Tour The Preserve
The Preserve's current journey into supporting native plants and pollinators began in 2018. Built on farm land beginning in 1972, The Preserve has always honored the existing natural environment. It was just recently that our focus turned to suppression of invasive species and reducing the areas of turf grass that had been planted. The Preserve has over 175 acres of land divided between forested areas, walking paths, recreational areas, traditional gardens and native prairie plantings. Thanks to our Board of Directors and grants from Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District, our native areas account for over 8 acres currently and they are increasing every year. BRING YOUR WALKING SHOES! The tour will include an optional 2 mile loop around Neil Lake to see the additional native plantings accomplished through the work of Wild Ones members Jan and Rick Neville.
Parking is available in The Preserve lot at 11221 Anderson Lakes Parkway in Eden Prairie. We will begin our tour of the restored areas from there.
Parking is available in The Preserve lot at 11221 Anderson Lakes Parkway in Eden Prairie. We will begin our tour of the restored areas from there.
