Wild Ones Twin Cities

    Jul 01, 2009 (Wed)    

Residential Garden Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 7:45 PM
Meet at the home at 4501 Lakeview Drive, Edina, (SW corner of Wooddale & Lakeview Dr.), then to 4815 Lakeview Dr.

4501 Lakeview Dr.: The backyard of this architect and his wife is landscaped almost entirely with woodland, savanna and prairie native plants, shrubs and trees in a more formal design. It began evolving more than 15 years ago and has been expanded and changed since then with an interest in attracting birds and butterflies. Landscape Designer Erik Olsen has remained involved with the design process throughout.

4815 Lakeview Dr.: The lovely side and backyard native prairie gardens of these avid 'birders' started evolving about 4 years ago, and as with all our gardens, are in the process of some changes. Hear good hands-on information about what has worked well and what's ahead.

    Jul 11, 2009 (Sat)    

Go Green with a Splash Party
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
July 11th and 12th
$9.00 entrance fee to Arboretum or Arboretum membership

This two-day educational event will be held in conjunction with the ongoing "Waterosity" exhibit at the Arboretum. Wild Ones will have a booth at the Information Fair from 11:00-3:00 on both days. Come and see us! Don't miss Wild Ones member Richard Bonk's ongoing display "Puppet Pond: A Future for Frogs" at the Arboretum as a winner in the juried competition. Lots of family-friendly activities make this a great destination.

    Jul 15, 2009 (Wed)    

Residential Garden Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Meet at the home at 2128 Bayard Avenue, St. Paul (backyard), then to 391 Mount Curve Blvd, St. Paul (front yard) and lastly to 355 Cleveland Avenue North, St. Paul (whole yard)

2128 Bayard: this charming backyard is the home of Landscape Designer Erik Olsen's parents and was installed over 12 years ago with the intent of attracting birds. Ask the owners about the minimal maintenance needed in this established native yard. It's style is more formal than some native gardens.

391 Mt. Curve Blvd: This beautiful prairie garden, is a great example of how to add biodiversity and reduce lawn in a traditional front yard setting.

355 Cleveland Ave. N: the diversity of native plants, shrubs and trees on this city lot is astounding as is the wildlife (especially birds). It's style is less formal, more free than some native gardens.

    Aug 05, 2009 (Wed)    

Prairie and Woodland Restoration Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 7:45 PM
Meet at Meet at County Rd. 47 and Dallas Lane in Plymouth, Minnesota

Tour of the prairie and woodland restoration of Lake Camelot Park in Plymouth, Minnesota with Paul Buck, the City Forester, as our guide.

    Aug 13, 2009 (Thu)    

Residential Garden Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 9:00 PM
15327 Lake Shore Ave, Minnetonka, MN 55345

Tour a 2/3 acre residential yard with prairie, mesic woodland, and dry woodland areas. The yard has approximately 190 different forbs and grasses and 65 trees and shrubs. Last year the homeowners installed six 55 gallon rainbarrels. This spring, a 25 x 100' portion of the property was restored to its original oak woodland brushland community with plant selections growing within a 1000' radius of the property through a watershed district cost share grant.

    Aug 15, 2009 (Sat)    

Residential Garden Open House
Free and Open to the Public
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
15327 Lake Shore Ave, Minnetonka, MN 55345

Tour a 2/3 acre residential yard with prairie, mesic woodland, and dry woodland areas. The yard has approximately 190 different forbs and grasses and 65 trees and shrubs. Last year the homeowners installed six 55 gallon rainbarrels. This spring, a 25 x 100' portion of the property was restored to its original oak woodland brushland community with plant selections growing within a 1000' radius of the property through a watershed district cost share grant.

    Aug 18, 2009 (Tue)    

Nokomis Naturescape Historic Walking Tour
Free and Open to the Public
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Meet near the intersection of East 50th St. and Woodlawn Blvd. (originally 27th Ave.)

One of a series of walking tours led by Wild Ones member Julia Vanatta. Julia will talk about how settlement and development in Minneapolis changed the landscape near and around Lake Nokomis as she leads guided tours of Nokomis Naturescape's three native plant demonstration gardens. In the event of severe weather, confirm the tour by calling 612-382-2800.

Opportunity to volunteer: Julia would like a volunteer from our chapter to assist her for each tour date. Assistant would help post signs before/after the tour, hand out literature, and help answer questions about Wild Ones. Contact her via email at or call 612-382-2800.

    Aug 19, 2009 (Wed)    

Rain Garden Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 7:45 PM
Rain Garden at 7-SIGMA, 2843 26th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tour of a watershed friendly garden designed with both native plants and cultivars. The landscape designer and site manager will lead the tour, and answer questions about the design, installation, and maintenance of this very large and beautiful rain garden.

    Sep 22, 2009 (Tue)    

Nokomis Naturescape Historic Walking Tour
Free and Open to the Public
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Meet near the intersection of East 50th St. and Woodlawn Blvd. (originally 27th Ave.)

One of a series of walking tours led by Wild Ones member Julia Vanatta. Julia will talk about how settlement and development in Minneapolis changed the landscape near and around Lake Nokomis as she leads guided tours of Nokomis Naturescape's three native plant demonstration gardens. In the event of severe weather, confirm the tour by calling 612-382-2800.

Opportunity to volunteer: Julia would like a volunteer from our chapter to assist her for each tour date. Assistant would help post signs before/after the tour, hand out literature, and help answer questions about Wild Ones. Contact her via email at or call 612-382-2800.