As summer gives way to autumn, native wildflowers, wildlife, plants and pollinators are available to explore at one of the most popular gems of the Minneapolis Park System. The Eloise Butler Wildlife Garden and Bird Sanctuary, which is part of Theodore Wirth Regional Park, is offering a full schedule of free fall outdoors events and activities for every member of the family.
“We are lucky to have one of the oldest public wildflower gardens in the US; it was established in 1907,” said Maria Montero, naturalist at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. “We invite people to come connect to nature. They can explore on their own or join in on some of the programs we are offering through mid-October.”
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary sprawls over 16 acres. Operated by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, it showcases more than 600 plant species, 130 bird species and habitat for other native wildlife.
Upcoming free fall programs include the opportunity to go birding with a naturalist on Saturday mornings from 8:30-10 am, nature-themed story time for children on Saturdays 2–2:30 pm and on Thursdays 10-10:30am, and a naturalist-led tour of the only bog in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 2, 4-5:00pm and Sunday, September 17, 2-3:00pm.
“Through September, we have daily morning garden walks that last 45 minutes, from 11:00 to 11:45 on Thursday through Sunday. It’s also offered in Spanish on Saturday,” Montero said.
Visitors can also join in on an FBI Walk—that’s Fungus, Bacteria and Insects. A naturalist will spotlight “nature’s recyclers,” the fungi, bacteria and insects that sustain our ecosystem during a twilight walk on Thursday, September 14 from 7-8 pm.
Another evening program is also popular with visitors.
“We’re planning a full moon walk on Thursday, Sept 28 from 7 to 8 pm. That’s a fun evening program to watch the moon rise and learn about nocturnal animals that are active at twilight,” Montero said. “We’ll be in the meadow habitat where all the blooms are happening.”
To find out more about these activities, you can go here for a link to the Eloise Wildflower Garden web page and a list of all the gardens in the Minneapolis park system.
Eloise Butler Wildlife Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Part of Theodore Wirth Regional Park
1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(Garden entrance is off Theo Wirth Parkway immediately south of Glenwood Avenue)