St. Paul, MN
We talk a lot about things that are green but in the case of The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, we’re talking about being green with envy! These 1200 acres were developed in 1958 by the University of Minnesota’s Horticultural Research Center in partnership with area garden clubs. Don’t let the name fool you– yes, it’s a complete arboretum with collections of linden, azaleas, buckeyes, birch, etc., but then there are intensive gardens to die for. This is a premier, award-winning attraction and I want this in my town so I can volunteer. Don’t miss the photo of the beautiful visitor center. Soooo jealous. BTW, currently, 150 fruit and ornamental plant introductions, including the Honeycrisp apple and five wine grapes, were developed here! I hope every time I pay extra for a Honeycrisp, some of the money makes it way back to support these gardens
Need a hedge? Do your research here! 
Incredible display gardens including the latest AAS winners! 
Echinacea ‘Kismet Raspberry’ 
Moon Carrot– don’t see this perennial very often! 
The rose garden 
Sculptures, flowers, winding paths… 
‘Big Duck Gold’ Marigold- a recent AAS winner 
Outdoor bonsai of larch! 
A staffer removes all the spent daylily blossoms each morning. 
Daylily ‘Minnesota Sunshine’ 
Look at this visitor center! Beautiful! Plus the cafe includes organic options, the gift shop features work by local artists, there are tons of classes to take, and a tram to hop on. Come on, Purdue. You can do this!
I bet lots of people who go to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum miss the Harrison Sculpture Garden— don’t let that be you! It’s an impressive collection of about two dozen sculptures on three acres at the high point of the arboretum. You can drive right up to it on the Three Mile Drive and see some of the tree and shrub collections along the way. You can also walk, of course. The artworks are inspired by nature– wind, water, animals, plants– and are by artists from around the world. As if the Landscape Arboretum wasn’t already fantastic enough!
One of the things I like best about this sculpture garden is that the plants are labeled with the same importance as the art! One of the things I wish for this part of the garden was a bit more in the way of landscaping.
‘Spirit Dancer’ by Craig Dan Goseyun, member of the San Carlos Eastern White Mountain Apache. 
‘Blutenmotiv’ by Rudolf Belling 
‘Canto a Cinque Voci 2000’ by Rene Kung 
Another angle on this incredible piece. According to Apache tradition, the dancers were taught by mountain spirits to banish evil and bring good fortune.