Wild Ones Prairie Edge Native Plant Tours
Throughout the growing season, we sponsor native plant landscape tours to inspire and educate our members. Unless otherwise indicated, they are free and open to the public. We are looking for gardens or demonstration sites that are 60% or more natives. If you are willing to have your yard on tour or know of someone that would be willing to share their project, please contact: [email protected]
Room & Board Outlet
Date and Time TBD
Date and Time TBD
Prairie Edge 2025 Tours
free and open to the public
(unless otherwise indicated)
Cullen Nature Preserve
rescheduled to:
Tuesday, June 17th 6:30pm
Meet at 2725 Oakland Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55305 Park in the Meadow Park parking lot on Oakland Road.
Tour Guide: Heather Holm, co-founder of the Friends of Cullen nature Preserve
Ann Cullen Smith placed her 32-acre Minnetonka property into a permanent conservation easement through the Minnesota Land Trust in 2004. She sold her property for about half its value to the City of Minnetonka so the City could operate it as a nature preserve. After her passing in 2015, at the age 106, Ann's property was transferred to the City.
The Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve have done extensive work in keeping with Ann's vision for the property so that it can provide important woodland, savanna, and wetland habitat for wildlife, public education, nature observation, study, and quiet reflection.
For more information or to join in the restoration efforts go to their website: www.cullennature.org
For a more detailed property history: https://www.cullennature.org/legacy.html
For the Habitat Makers video, A Legacy of Stewardship, produced by Jerrold Gershone interviewing Heather (both co-founders of Friends of Cullen) about the property.
rescheduled to:
Tuesday, June 17th 6:30pm
Meet at 2725 Oakland Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55305 Park in the Meadow Park parking lot on Oakland Road.
Tour Guide: Heather Holm, co-founder of the Friends of Cullen nature Preserve
Ann Cullen Smith placed her 32-acre Minnetonka property into a permanent conservation easement through the Minnesota Land Trust in 2004. She sold her property for about half its value to the City of Minnetonka so the City could operate it as a nature preserve. After her passing in 2015, at the age 106, Ann's property was transferred to the City.
The Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve have done extensive work in keeping with Ann's vision for the property so that it can provide important woodland, savanna, and wetland habitat for wildlife, public education, nature observation, study, and quiet reflection.
For more information or to join in the restoration efforts go to their website: www.cullennature.org
For a more detailed property history: https://www.cullennature.org/legacy.html
For the Habitat Makers video, A Legacy of Stewardship, produced by Jerrold Gershone interviewing Heather (both co-founders of Friends of Cullen) about the property.
Climate Resilient Landscape
Monday July 7th at 6:30pm
16563 Grays Bay Blvd
Wayzata, MN 55391
Mary was turned on to the idea of creating a place for native plants in my yard through my climate work.
She was exposed to Doug Tallamy’s, Homegrown National Park movement, [email protected] a grassroots call to action to promote biodiversity by replacing monoculture turf lawn with native pollinator friendly plants.
After the rather frightening removal of all the sod from our front yard, Mary and her husband scattered native wildflower/grass seed and prayed for rain. In our neighborhood of carefully coiffed lawns, neighbors were dubious. Mary was dubious! With the cool, cloudy Spring, the seeds were in no hurry to germinate. Mary called the seed company for reassurance. The front yard of dirt brought side glances from folks too polite to say anything out loud. Mary fretted, conducting multiple visits around the yard looking for anything green! But finally, those little sprouts started to appear. Looking at our bright green yard now with tall native plants and black eyed Susan’s making their summer debut, Mary wonders how she ever could have doubted the power of Mother Nature.
Now, neighbors are curious. They stop and ask questions. The most delightful surprise of all, however, was the twilight dance of the fireflies. As the yard lit up like a Christmas tree, the surrounding yards of sterile monoculture turf grass remained empty of these magical beings.
Historically, a manicured lawn was a way to advertise one’s prosperity. This was then equated with beauty. Over time, however, this has equated to landscapes devoid of nature and to lawn services and leaf blowers roaring nonstop all summer. But if you step back from convention and reorient your idea of beauty to align with that which complements, rather than compromises, nature, you might find a native landscape to be truly beautiful.
After 3 years, a lovely wild garden has taken root to enjoy and to supply the insects and the birds with a habitat where they can thrive. Mary and her husband couldn't be more pleased.
She was exposed to Doug Tallamy’s, Homegrown National Park movement, [email protected] a grassroots call to action to promote biodiversity by replacing monoculture turf lawn with native pollinator friendly plants.
After the rather frightening removal of all the sod from our front yard, Mary and her husband scattered native wildflower/grass seed and prayed for rain. In our neighborhood of carefully coiffed lawns, neighbors were dubious. Mary was dubious! With the cool, cloudy Spring, the seeds were in no hurry to germinate. Mary called the seed company for reassurance. The front yard of dirt brought side glances from folks too polite to say anything out loud. Mary fretted, conducting multiple visits around the yard looking for anything green! But finally, those little sprouts started to appear. Looking at our bright green yard now with tall native plants and black eyed Susan’s making their summer debut, Mary wonders how she ever could have doubted the power of Mother Nature.
Now, neighbors are curious. They stop and ask questions. The most delightful surprise of all, however, was the twilight dance of the fireflies. As the yard lit up like a Christmas tree, the surrounding yards of sterile monoculture turf grass remained empty of these magical beings.
Historically, a manicured lawn was a way to advertise one’s prosperity. This was then equated with beauty. Over time, however, this has equated to landscapes devoid of nature and to lawn services and leaf blowers roaring nonstop all summer. But if you step back from convention and reorient your idea of beauty to align with that which complements, rather than compromises, nature, you might find a native landscape to be truly beautiful.
After 3 years, a lovely wild garden has taken root to enjoy and to supply the insects and the birds with a habitat where they can thrive. Mary and her husband couldn't be more pleased.
Marilynn and Tom Torkelson's yard with 3 rain gardens, a shoreline planting, a boulevard garden and hedgerows will be a part of the Lawns 2 Legumes tour this year. Come see our 100+ species of native flowers, shrubs, sedges, ferns and grasses at our home: 8956 Braxton Drive Eden Prairie, MN
For Details on other Lawns to Legume Gardens
For Details on other Lawns to Legume Gardens
One Evening- 2 New Native Landscapes
+ Bonus Edible Landscape
Featuring the designs of Melissa Wilsford of Rustic Hill Gardens
First Stop:
Wendy Holdman residence at 6pm
3416 Meadow Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55345
This is a new native landscape, installed in 2024. Previously, this shady yard was overrun with aggressive plants such as Virginia Creeper, and invasives such as buckthorn. Come see the unique use of natural materials in this design and learn the methods used to restore this once-overrun space. You can also enjoy the fledgling growth of a variety of shade tolerant native perennials.
Second Stop:
Diana and Reggie Klein residence at 7:10pm
3610 Druid Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Nearly the full front and back yard of this property was converted into native landscape in 2023. Rabbits and deer have been an ongoing issue, so species were selected for their resistance. Being in their third season, the plants in this mixed shade and sun property are starting to come into their own. As a bonus, you can also see the progress of a number of shade tolerant edibles at this property, and the owner's bursting vegetable garden!
Diana and Reggie Klein residence at 7:10pm
3610 Druid Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Nearly the full front and back yard of this property was converted into native landscape in 2023. Rabbits and deer have been an ongoing issue, so species were selected for their resistance. Being in their third season, the plants in this mixed shade and sun property are starting to come into their own. As a bonus, you can also see the progress of a number of shade tolerant edibles at this property, and the owner's bursting vegetable garden!
Bonus Third Stop:
Bonus: Hannah and Bryan McCarthy - Edible Landscape
3611 Druid Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Those who are interested in touring a mature edible landscape are invited to stop by at the property across the street from the Klein's after the Wild Ones tour. While not primarily a native landscape, a variety of perennials are included - some native, some nativars* - and most notably, this landscape features a large variety of food producing plants, including berries, herbs, medicinal plants and vegetables. Come see how a landscape can be both beautiful and productive!
*Full Wild Ones stance on nativars
Conclusion: "While a nativar will most likely be a better ecological fit for North American gardens than an exotic species from Asia or Europe, it remains to be seen to what extent it can fill the ecological niche and provide the genetic richness of a native plant."
Bonus: Hannah and Bryan McCarthy - Edible Landscape
3611 Druid Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Those who are interested in touring a mature edible landscape are invited to stop by at the property across the street from the Klein's after the Wild Ones tour. While not primarily a native landscape, a variety of perennials are included - some native, some nativars* - and most notably, this landscape features a large variety of food producing plants, including berries, herbs, medicinal plants and vegetables. Come see how a landscape can be both beautiful and productive!
*Full Wild Ones stance on nativars
Conclusion: "While a nativar will most likely be a better ecological fit for North American gardens than an exotic species from Asia or Europe, it remains to be seen to what extent it can fill the ecological niche and provide the genetic richness of a native plant."
