Hark – it’s peak tulip season! Though you can probably find beautifully landscaped beds dotting your neighborhood, no one embraces the spring bloom quite like the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.
The arboretum plants more than 39,000 tulips in shocking reds, yellows, oranges, and purples. Have your camera ready to go; this year, landscape gardener Duane Otto experimented with monochromatic beds, as well as beds of complementary warm, cool, and primary colors. He also sought out unique textures, planting fringed tulips, tulips with parrot-like streaking, and tulips with extra petals. There is even an all-white tulip garden in front of the Snyder building.
Tulips aren’t the only flora in bloom either: Keep your eyes peeled for magnolia trees, crabapples, phlox, Bleeding-hearts, rhododendron, daffodils, Armenian grape hyacinth, Virginia bluebells, and sweet plum flowers.
The Arb’s grounds are open by timed reservation only; all visitors must book tickets online before heading to the gatehouse. These are free for members and kids under 15; everyone else pays $15 a pop. Happy 🌷🌷🌷 hunting!
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN; 612-624-2200.
