Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation

TO WELCOME, INFORM AND INSPIRE ALL THROUGH OUTSTANDING DISPLAYS, PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS, HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

EXPENSES INCURRED ARE FOR SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY RESOURCE AS A PLACE FOR NATURE-INSPIRED DISPLAYS, PLANT AND TREE COLLECTIONS AND NATURAL AREAS; AND SUSTAINING A CULTURAL ATTRACTION AS A DESTINATION TO EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS. THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING CARE OF PUBLIC GARDEN DISPLAYS, AND PLANT COLLECTIONS; PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, DEVELOPMENT OF VISITOR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS AND NATURE-INSPIRED EXHIBITS; LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND A NATURE-BASED THERAPY PROGRAM THAT OFFERS EDUCATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE. IN ADDITION, THE ARBORETUM AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ARE ENGAGED IN HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE AND COLD-HARDY PLANT RESEARCH, PLANT CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. THE ARBORETUM CONSISTS OF NEARLY 1,200 ACRES INCLUDING 50 DISPLAY AREAS AND SPECIALTY GARDENS, 39 COLLECTIONS, AND MORE THAN 6000 TAXA. SPECIAL FEATURES ARE A PINE COLLECTION, AN ORNAMENTAL GRASS COLLECTION, A SPHAGNUM BOG, MAPLE BASSWOOD BIG WOODS, A TALL GRASS PRAIRIE, AND A RESTORED SEDGE MEADOW.THE ARBORETUM WAS SUPPORTED BY OVER 1,196 VOLUNTEERS AND CONTINUES TO BE A TOP VISITOR ATTRACTION IN THE MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL METRO AREA. VISITORSHIP WAS OVER HALF A MILLION AT 591,463 IN FISCAL YEAR 2023. MEMBERSHIP SALES WERE AT $2.65 MILLION AND NEARLY 32,832 HOUSEHOLDS AND GROUPS MEMBERSHIPS. VISITOR SHUTTLES OFFER STEP-ON, STEP-OFF ACCESS INTO THE HEART OF THE ARBORETUM. GROUNDS INCLUDE OVER 20 MILES OF PAVED WALKWAYS AND TRAILS. WINTER TRAILS FEATURE 8 MILES OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS AND 7.5 MILES OF SNOWSHOE TRAILS.APPROXIMATELY 37,651 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH TEACHERS AND PARENTS, AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATED IN HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. ONLINE REMOTE LEARNING TOOLKITS AND WEB-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS CONTINUE TO BE VERY POPULAR BRINGING WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN ON-SITE PROGRAMMING TO NEW AUDIENCES. MOST EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A REDUCED FEE FOR THOSE NEEDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.IN THE SPRING 2023, THE NEW MYERS EDUCATION CENTER OPENED THAT HOUSES ARBORETUM ADULT EDUCATION, EXTENSION HORTICULTURE EDUCATORS AND THE MASTER GARDENER STATE LEADERSHIP TEAM. THE CENTER IS A PLACE WHERE EDUCATION AND HORTICULTURE INTERSECT, SHOWCASING UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA RESEARCH ON GROWING ON FOOD AND DEMONSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS IN THE PLANT-TO-PLATE STORY.THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER CONTINUES ITS INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED COLD-HARDY PLANT RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY, WITH 163 INTRODUCTIONS OF COLD-HARDY FRUIT AND LANDSCAPE PLANTS BENEFITING THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND WORLD TO ENJOY.