State flower blooming in Minneapolis
My trip ever to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is a city park that is managed by the Minneapolis Parks. This cultivated garden highlights the native biomes that can be in Minnesota. The trails in the park meander through wetlands, hardwood forests, prairies and savannas. The collection of species found here is great due to the habitats that have matured here. A boardwalk is perhaps the highlight of trip as it provides a unique look into a more difficult terrain to traverse through. Continuing through the wetland and the boardwalk leads to blooming Showy Lady's-Slipper (Cypripedium reginae), the designated state flower of Minnesota. While I have seen this species blooming in a few different spots in the state, this was by far the easiest population to get through, as no bushwacking required! Less than 5 miles from downtown Minneapolis, this park is a nature oasis surrounded by a concrete jungle! I will be back in the late summer to explore the upper prairie trail to see a full bloom site!
