Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in a Minnesota wildflower reserve located in Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Golden Valley (on the west side of the Twin Cities metro). This urban oasis is an incredible treasure for both wildflower lovers and birders (it's also a bird sanctuary). And every spring, the garden's blossoming flowers and migrating birds put on a spectacular show for all to see.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is located within Theodore Wirth Regional Park.

Although it's technically located in Golden Valley, it is part of the city of Minneapolis' acclaimed park system.

The wildflower garden is open seasonally between April 15 and October 15.

And when it is open, it's staffed by naturalists and volunteers who are happy to tell you what's blooming, where to find it, and to answer other questions you may have about wildflowers, birds, or phenology.

Skunk cabbage - named for the funky scent it emits to attract pollinators - is one of the first flowers to unfurl itself from the ground.

Because it's capable of producing its own heat, you may even see skunk cabbage poking up from beneath a layer of snow.

In April, white flowers, like bloodroot, begin to blossom and blanket the forest floor.

It takes less energy for plants to produce white flowers than pigmented flowers, which is why these plants are able to produce blossoms when the weather is still a little chilly.

Dutchman's breeches are another early spring flower to keep an eye out for.

Even among other white flowers, it's hard to miss the big, three-petaled blossoms in a blanket of trilliums, which start to bloom in early May.

By then, the bluebells are also blooming, their blossoms lending bursts of color to the increasingly-green undercanopy.

Finally, the stars of the show - lady's slippers - start to unfurl their flowers. The yellow variety comes earliest.

The showy lady's slipper is a diva flower that likes the stage to itself, so it usually waits until mid-June to bloom, after other varieties have stopped flowering.

It's the Minnesota state flower, as well, so it's appearance is often awaited and always a popular time of year at the sanctuary.

In May, keep your eyes out for colorful warblers as they migrate through the sanctuary.

Many species of these beautiful birds bring their bright plumage and musical songs to the garden every spring.

Take your time at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary to enjoy what's in bloom any time you visit. It won't take you long to see why it's one of our favorite gardens in Minnesota! The best way to take in all the park has to offer is a stroll along its easy, three-quarter-mile nature trail. Visit the park's website for hours and more information on events and activities. You may also want to bring a guide to wildflowers in Minnesota, as well as a good pair of binoculars to help you get a glimpse of the birds you encounter while you're in the garden. If you find yourself with some extra time, head across the street to visit one of the only bog ecosystems in this part of the state - Quaking Bog is also located in Wirth Park.

Have you visited Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Minnesota? What are some other Minnesota flower reserves we should know about?