badgers, foxes, coyotes, countless species of travelerC’s guide to gardens birds, insects, and other wildlife,” he adds. CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY A large part of the ’s mission of Minnesota’s Linnaeus Arboretum at Gustavus Adolphus College education, environmental stewardship, by Stephanie George reflection, and recreation “is simply to get people outside so they can engage with na- ture,” Moeller says. To facilitate this, the arboretum adheres to a policy of no gates, no fences, and no admission fees, keeping N HOUR’S drive to the south- the space open and accessible year-round. west of Minnesota’s Twin The arboretum also hosts numerous A Cities sits St. Peter, home to events, such as bird walks, guided tours of Linnaeus Arboretum at Gustavus Adol- the prairie areas, and lectures by members phus College. Since its founding in 1973, of the college faculty. Its annual spring egg the arboretum has grown steadily and is hunt and Fall Festival—complete with now flourishing as both a horticultural hayrides, live animals, and crafts—always haven and wildlife preserve. Its design draw a crowd. mirrors the natural landscape of Minne- Linnaeus Arboretum provides a myr- sota, featuring the three major biomes of iad of ways for visitors to develop and the state: conifer forest, deciduous for- est, and prairie. It also includes several themed gardens and plant collections, Additional Information giving visitors the chance to experience a Linnaeus Arboretum, 800 W. College Ave- harmonious blend of cultivated and wild nue, St. Peter, MN, 56082. (507) 933- 6181. www.gustavus.edu/arboretum.

n Hours: Daylight hours, year-round. In- terpretive Center open 8:30 a.m.–noon. n Admission: Free and open to the public. n Linnaeus Arboretum participates in the American Horticultural Society Recipro- cal Admissions Program. AHS members showing a current AHS membership card receive discounts on educational pro- grams and events.

Other nearby sites to explore: Aspelund Peony Gardens, Kenyon, MN. Right: Linnaeus Arboretum’s director Scott www.aspelundpeonygardens.com. Moeller leads a group of young visitors through Above: The Johnson Waterfall Garden features a reflecting pond. Top: The historic Borgeson Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul, Uhler Prairie. Above: A trail runs among native Family Cabin was built by Swedish immigrants who settled in the area in the 19th century. MN. www.comozooconservatory.org. conifers typically found in northern Minnesota. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, surrounded by shade trees. Those seeking toration prairies. The Uhler Prairie, MN. www.arboretum.umn.edu. spaces. Over 100 different species of trees further introspection will enjoy the Natu- started in 1988, is the smaller of the two and shrubs from around the world thrive ral Meditation Area, inspired by Chinese at roughly five acres, and is mainly com- throughout the 130-acre property. design elements and feng shui concepts, or posed of native tallgrasses. The newer sustain meaningful connections to the surrounding area. The arboretum’s logo operations of the arboretum and is a the Meditation Gardens with a Swedish Coneflower Prairie is planted with natural world. “If you ask 100 differ - DIVERSE LANDSCAPES also features Linnaeus’s favorite plant, popular setting for classes, educational stone labyrinth completed in 2013. The more than 150 different species across 70 ent people how they like to use the ar- Named after 18th-century Swedish twinflower ( borealis), native to displays, workshops, and other events. formal Lind Garden displays cold acres of former cropland. boretum,” Moeller says, “you’ll get 101 botanist —best known both Sweden and Minnesota. From there, visitors can explore the var- hardy varieties, the Thompson Herb “Visitors now have the opportunity to different answers.” As the arboretum for formalizing the modern biological The Melva Lind Interpretive Cen- ious gardens, collections, and educational Garden contains plants with medicinal experience what the tallgrass prairie was continues to grow over the years, so will naming system known as binomial no- ter serves as a gateway between the arbo- sites. These include the Borgeson Fami- and culinary uses, and Basset Orchard like back in the days when herds of elk the number of answers. m menclature—the arboretum honors the retum and the rest of the college campus. ly Cabin, a mid-19th-century homestead showcases heritage fruit. and bison roamed here,” says the arbore- father of modern botany as well as the Named for a former Gustavus dean and built by Swedish immigrants, and the Several ponds and a wetland preserve tum’s director, Scott Moeller. “We don’t Stephanie George is an editorial intern for TOP: COURTESYTOP: GUSTAVUSOF ADOLPHUS COLLEGE. COURTESYBOTTOM: LINNAEUS OF ARBORETUM rich Swedish heritage at the college and longtime professor, it houses the main Johnson Waterfall Garden, a serene spot LEFT:COURTESY GUSTAVUSOF ADOLPHUS COLLEGE. RIGHT: COURTESY LINNAEUSOF ARBORETUM provide wildlife habitat, as do two res- have elk or bison—yet—but we do have The American Gardener.

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