Here Are The 16 Most Beautiful Gardens You’ll Ever See In Minnesota

Beautiful gardens in Minnesota are vastly underrated, and the benefits are real. Allowing a space to breathe, they are peaceful, and captivating, and lack the bustling, noisy crowds of other popular destinations. You can only catch most of these public gardens for a few months of the year, but they are worth the effort for the spectacular variety they provide. Check out some of the best gardens near me.

1. Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park: St. Paul

This stunning conservatory is home to more than 260 varieties of plants from six different continents. You'll also find a gift shop and a bonsai tree collection, flower shows, classes, and concerts at one of the most beautiful gardens in Minnesota.

2. Munsinger Clemens Gardens: St. Cloud

What started out as a sawmill are now lovely gardens located along the Mississippi River across from St. Cloud State University. Take a walk along the winding brick pathways and admire the approximately 75,000 plants. Don't rush off; sit on the bench awhile and watch the butterflies.

3. Longfellow Gardens: Minneapolis

This pretty greenspace offers gorgeous flowers, history, art, and a place to gather. Discover more on the Longfellow Gardens web page.

4. Normandale Japanese Garden: Bloomington

We may never make it to Japan, but this garden ensures we get a glimpse of the gorgeous scenery. It showcases authentic Japanese features, including a garden wall and entry gate, a waterfall, two shelters, three islands, three lanterns, four bridges, and a Bentendo (hexagonal structure)

5. Glensheen Mansion Gardens: Duluth

These gardens include 22 acres with seven of those on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The extensive formal gardens go from the house to lake paths that meander through the woods. Mansion tours are also available.

6. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Chaska

This 1,200-acre arboretum showcases nationally recognized tree collections. The paved paths allow for easy access to the beauty, including the Three-Mile Walk, or take the Three-Mile Drive instead.

7. August Schell Brewery Gardens: New Ulm

The success of this taproom and brewery in Minnesota is going on more than 160 years. The owners are making good decisions and they even preserve one of the prettiest gardens around.

8. West Central Research and Outreach Center’s Horticulture Display Garden: Morris

This expansive garden showcases hundreds of annual flowers, perennials, native plantings, ornamental grasses, hostas, and more. Plan a picnic or an outing to enjoy the pretty blooms and walking paths. The garden is handicap accessible.

9. Lyndale Park Rose Garden: Minneapolis

Did you know this is the second-oldest rose garden in the country? The layout has remained the same since the spring of 1908 when it was first planted, with 62 rectangular plots in its central section planted with hybrid tea and grandiflora roses. This spectacular space showcases more than 3,000 roses of over 250 varieties!

10. Noerenberg Gardens on Lake Minnetonka: Wayzata

Sitting along the picturesque shore of Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka, which is already beautiful, Noerenberg is one of the finest formal gardens in Minnesota. It features ornamental shade trees and a stand of conifers and "Northern Lights" azaleas, along with shrubs, vines, and other plants.

11. Enger Park Gardens: Duluth

The royal history behind this park is fascinating as it was dedicated on June 15, 1939, by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway. A variety of gardens are offered here, such as a hill planted in dwarf conifers, a Japanese garden, and a white birch and poplar grove that blooms full of 4,000 daffodils every spring.

12. Duluth Rose Garden

Part of the Leif Erickson Park, this garden offers brick walkways to connect the rose beds where you can sit on benches that resemble stone sofas. Six formal acres house a fountain and gazebo, and more than 3,000 roses and 12,000 non-rose plantings.

13. Loring Park Garden of the Seasons: Minneapolis

This lovely landscaped garden has a large, circular bed as its centerpiece containing birch trees and a nice variety of wildflowers and annuals. The surrounding plants include shrubs, evergreens, ornamental grasses, and perennials. Walk along the brick paths and admire the beauty.

14. Muriel Sahlin Arboretum: Roseville

This relaxed and serene eight acres features artfully placed large stones, theme gardens, walkways, and a fountain. Enjoy the large shelter and the gravel and brick paths. Discover more on the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum web page.

15. Millennium Garden: Plymouth

This garden offers flowers galore, a variety of trails, trickling fountains, walkways, and a winding labyrinth.

16. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Theodore Wirth Park: Minneapolis

The fascinating history of this park is worth reading alone as it is the oldest public wildflower garden in the country. Go see more than 500 different herbaceous and woody plants contained in three unique habitats.

Beautiful gardens in Minnesota are worth visiting. Which one of these is your favorite? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you need a place to stay while traveling around to these incredible places, reserve a room on Booking.com.