Chanhassen, Minnesota
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Named as one of the “10 great places to smell the flowers” in America by USA Today, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, as part of the University of Minnesota, is a 1,137-acre resource for horticultural and environmental info and research. Featuring 28 gardens and model landscapes, 45 plant collections, and more than 5,000 plant species and varieties, including the Hosta Glade; Garden for Wildlife; rose garden; herb garden, shrub walk; Spring Peeper Meadow (a model wetland restoration project); Japanese Garden (Seisui-Tei or Garden of Pure Water designed by nationally renowned landscape architect Koichi Kawana); Wildflower Garden (native plants of deciduous woodlands includes collection of Minnesota’s state flower, the Showy Lady’s-slipper and the Dwarf Trout-lily, a plant listed on the federal endangered species list).Located about 22 miles southwest of Minneapolis, also 12 miles of hiking trails, 8 miles of cross-country ski trials, and 1.25 miles of snowshoe trails. Open daily 363 days a year. [ info ]