Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary — Attraction in Minneapolis

If you’ve never been - YOU MUST GO! Also, make sure to visit during spring, summer AND autumn. I like to make multiple visits spread throughout the summer too to catch the variety of flowers blooming too. It’s wonderful seeing a different natural flower “show” each time, and for older folks and young kids alike it can be like a fun scavenger hunt to identify and notice / name different flowers too. I can never get enough from visiting here! I love the historic nature of this gorgeous wildflower garden. The trails are very easily navigable and I love the diversity of plants all within such a relatively-speaking compact area. I love showing visitors to the Twin Cities this spot as a good highlight of our stunning park gems and a example of a place to appreciate how you can easily really get away from the hustle and bustle of the urban core without having to travel very far at all. The tiger lilies are my favorite flower that bloom here- you can find them in the summer blooming during July and August, primarily (if not exclusively) within the “oak savanna”/ prairie area of the gardens. Lots of peaceful pollinators busy living their miraculous lives and some beautiful birds come through here too. I highly recommend visiting the Quaking Bog nearby (but outside of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden) if you’ve never...

My former love and I found ourselves drawn together once more, in a physical and spiritual reunion as tender as it was electric. The day unfolded like a fevered dream—our passionate love making rekindled in myriad places: beneath the hush of trees in a secluded park, within the quiet cocoon of her car, the sanctuary of her home, and again, in a different park where the wind seemed to whisper encouragement.

we wandered into the serene embrace of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. There, amidst fragrant blossoms and the gentle hum of the earth, we spoke with the kind-hearted staff who guided us to hidden floral marvels nestled within the landscape.

Then, as if nature itself conspired to leave us breathless, we beheld a vision—twenty turtles basking in stately procession on a single sunlit log, and another twenty gathered beside them on a neighboring perch. The moment shimmered with quiet wonder, the perfect benediction to a day suffused with joy, rediscovery, and the timeless language...

I almost left but glad i didn't... people line up in their cars before it opens. Once the gate is open, you can park in the pay lot, get at least 2 hours on your meter as then you will likely wait to enter. They let groups in at 4 minute intervals... i felt bad for this older couple in front of me as the worker was really challenging them on if they could make it. They do have the trails set up in a one way fashion and you basically need to walk the entire area. If you are just walking the entire trail and good shape, plan a half hour once you get in... if you are stopping to look at plants, birds, squirrels, trees, maybe plan for an hour. They do have a nice option to text a picture to a team member to help with plant identification. If you are planting a native garden, would be nice to walk through here a few times during the year to get an idea of what blooms when and how...