Jenny Rose Carey in a pink dress and pink hat at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Maddison Wisconsin
Jenny Rose Carey at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.

The autumn is a lovely time for a garden-visiting roadtrip. This year the itinerary was Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. I had been to Wisconsin and Iowa but the other states were on my ‘to be visited list’. There is a map below for those of you who live a long way away from this area. These states, and sometimes some others, are referred to as the Upper Midwest of the United States of America. There are lots of photos this month so scroll through and let me know what you like. I have included links so that you can find out more information.

Upper Midwest, USA. North and South Dakota are on the left, with Nebraska below. Minnesota, and Iowa are located in the center of the map, and Wisconsin on the right next to the great Lakes. Canada is above in pinky-red.

My goal on this trip was to see new states, and to visit some new gardens. I like to see what gardeners can grow in different parts of the world and how they design their gardens. The images and descriptions below are a small slice of what I saw. I have video reels of most of the gardens on my @jennyrosecarey Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jennyrosecarey/

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin

We started in Milwaukee and drove to Madison, Wisconsin to see one of my favorite gardens – The Olbrich Botanic Gardens. I have been to visit in various seasons because my oldest daughter and son in law used to live in Madison. https://www.olbrich.org/

The iconic conservatory and entrance garden at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
The iconic conservatory and entrance garden at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
The central water feature at Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a big hit with visitors.
Large cottonwood tree - Populus deltoides
One of my favorite trees at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens – a large cottonwood – Populus deltoides
A corner next to the potting shed with watering cans, rain barrel and rain chain at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
A corner next to the potting shed with watering cans, rain barrel and rain chain at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Fun planting of Allium and red sedums in rows - at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Fun planting of Allium and red sedums in rows – at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Minneapolis, Minnesota – Michelle – @forksinthedirt

https://www.instagram.com/forksinthedirt/

The next garden was outside Minneapolis that belongs to a friend of mine called Michelle Bruhn who is an expert vegetable gardener. She has written a comprehensive yet easy to use book called Small-Scale Homesteading with co-author Stephanie Thurow. https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510770362/small-scale-homesteading/

Books
Michelle and Jenny Rose in Michelle's garden near Minneapolis.
Michelle and Jenny Rose in Michelle’s garden near Minneapolis.
Michelle's garden contains raised beds and arches to hold delicious vegetables and companion flowers.
Michelle’s garden contains raised beds and arches to hold delicious vegetables and companion flowers.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

This vast garden and arboretum would take days to describe. The tree and shrub collections are magnificent. There is something for everyone on this 1200 acre site. There is a 3-mile drive and a 3-mile walking trail. I loved visiting the dahlia trial garden.

https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum

Dahlias are grown in rows in a fenced-in area. The plant and flower growth is observed and recorded.
Dahlias are grown in rows in a fenced-in area. The plant and flower growth is observed and recorded.
Annual plants are used to colorful effect in this garden at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Annual plants are used to colorful effect in this garden at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
A tiny hummingbird sits on a red canna plant. There was lots of hummingbird activity in this garden.
A tiny hummingbird sits on a red canna plant. There was lots of hummingbird activity in this garden.

Andersen Horticultural Library – Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

I could have spent weeks in the extensive collections at the Andersen Horticultural Library. One of their specialties is seed and plant catalogs, especially from Minnesota companies. Thanks to the lovely librarians I was lucky enough to be able to see some of these. I think that this will have to be a future blog post. Here is one photo of a selection of women-owned seed catalogs.

https://www.lib.umn.edu/spaces/ahl

Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society, Fargo, North Dakota

The Northern Plains Botanical Garden is located just outside Fargo, North Dakota. The gardens were in full bloom on this autumnal morning. There were lots of butterflies and other pollinators. The photo below shows the edible forest garden in the back and the ‘M’ (Marigolds)section of the Alphabet Garden.

https://www.npbgs.org/

The Northern Plains Botanic Garden near Fargo
The Northern Plains Botanic Garden near Fargo
A delightful Hobbit House with a green sedum roof at the Northern Plains Botanic Garden.
A delightful Hobbit House with a green sedum roof at the Northern Plains Botanic Garden.

The Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, East Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum is named for a visionary lady. Mary Jo dreamed of an arboretum in the Sioux Fall area were people could appreciate the local environment and learn about it. Years later her dream became a reality and today visitors are welcomed to gardens and trails where they can walk and learn, just like Mary Jo did on this patch of land.

https://www.maryjowegnerarboretum.com/

Mary Jo Wegner and Bill the dog.
Mary Jo Wegner and Bill the dog.
The entrance to the Formal Gardens at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The entrance to the Formal Gardens at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska

The Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska are quite extensive. There is an eye-catching conservatory at the entrance and then a variety of other gardens. There was a model train garden, a rose garden, an herb garden and more. I was particularly taken with a wild-looking strip of planting alongside the path that was packed with pollinators.

https://www.lauritzengardens.org/

The large conservatory at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska.
The large conservatory at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska.
A wild area of sunflowers at the Lauritzen Garden, Omaha, Nebraska.
A wild area of sunflowers at the Lauritzen Garden, Omaha, Nebraska.

Sunken Gardens, Lincoln, Nebraska

Last but not least is a small but mighty garden in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was started in the 1930’s and was built by the WPA (Works Progress Administration). The garden was renovated in 2005 and today is a bustling site for families, photographers, and weddings. There are many annuals that grow fast in this climate. It was a colorful display and much appreciated by the visitors.

https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Public-Gardens/Sunken-Gardens

The colorful display at the Sunken Gardens, Lincoln, Nebraska
Sunken Gardens, Lincoln, Nebraska
Looking down at the Lily Pond in the Sunken Gardens, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Looking down at the Lily Pond in the Sunken Gardens, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Happy garden visiting. Goodbye for now Gardening Friends, Jenny Rose Carey

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