Self-guided, in-person tour. Free and open to Wild Ones members and public.
WOTC Member Garden Tour:
A MASTER GARDENER’S JOURNEY INTO NATIVE GARDENING
Master Gardener Robert Hatlevig’s garden story began when he and his wife, Helen, purchased a unique, Midcentury Modern home (originally a parsonage) atop a hill, overlooking a church, in South St. Paul.
For the past four years, Robert has enthusiastically embraced gardening with native plants on his 0.4-acre property, making great progress on the transition from “traditional” gardens to native gardens. While this landscape includes the remnants of traditional, inherited gardens (and a few invasive species to boot), Robert has an inspiring vision to guide the transition of this unique site into a rich, native landscape.
Tour large, sunny native plant gardens rich with pollinator favorites, including blazing stars, milkweeds, coneflowers, anise hyssops and more.
Follow the story of each garden in signage around the yard, including Robert’s ideas for native plantings for the yard’s shady areas.
Discover the creative, inexpensive ways Robert has supplied native plants for his gardens — including a Lawns to Legumes grant.
See how the gardens embrace the resident violets as a living mulch, as well as a visually beautiful “understory" companion to the inherited hostas.
Find out how Robert has included his neighbor in his gardening endeavors.
Please note: This entire property and featured gardens are on a slope; only the driveway and upper yard area are fully accessible.Map with directions will be posted on website one week prior to tour. Parking available on 3rd St N near Luther Memorial Church.
And BIG THANKS to everyone who supported Wild Ones Twin Cities by volunteering and making a purchase at our annual Native Plant Sale!
Over 10,000 native plants were sold through both the pre-ordered and day-of sale, expanding habitat gardens throughout the Twin Cities Metro and beyond!
The event at Wood Lake Nature Center was a great success, and will help us provide free monthly programs, inspirational tours, and educational materials.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Sign up here to help Wild Ones Twin Cities at our summer tours, monthly programs, outreach events and many other chapter and committee functions. Our chapter is 100% volunteer run. Thank you!
Join us for the Nokomis Naturescape Gardeneers habitat gardening session, then enjoy gathering with fellow gardeners for a pizza picnic, conversation, activities, and a few surprises!
NOTE: we change locations for event from garden to picnic area.
Gardening Session: 10 am - 11 am at the Nokomis Naturescape.
(Bring garden gloves and favorite gadening tool.)
Games and Social Hour: 11 am - 12 noon
Regroup at the Lake Nokomis Park picnic area near Woodlawn Ave. and 49th St. Nokomis Park (near hilltop of Nokomis Naturescape Oak Savanna)
Please observe social distancing protocol when picking up your order. If you are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive, please contact us and we'll make arrangements for delivery to your driveway.
Wild Ones Twin Cities volunteers will be present to fill orders and answer native plant gardening questions.
Walk through the forest focusing on both the restored and unrestored portions of the forest. The focus will be on woodland wildflowers, birds, and insects. The wildflowers and shrubs of Wood Lake have for years been hit hard by white-tailed deer. This is the first winter in over 20 years that we have not observed deer so it will be interesting to see how the plants respond.
TOUR 2 • 5:00-5:45 pm - Boardwalk Loop
Walk through the east side forest looking the flowers planted and seeded in the recently restored portion of the forest by the nature play area. We will continue onto the elevated trail that leads to the boardwalk. This elevated section of the trail allows for nice views of water birds (herons, egrets, cormorants, several species of duck, and others) as well as painted and snapping turtles. The loop continues through forest again on the west side.
EDUCATION is our MISSION!
And we are proud to present a new set of informational resources developed by Wild Ones Twin Cities! Check them out, and look for even more new native plant and habitat gardening resources coming soon.
