Lyndale Park

Lyndale Park, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a horticultural sanctuary nestled on the northeast shore of Lake Harriet. As part of the Chain of Lakes Regional Park, this park is renowned for its series of themed gardens, which include the Peace Garden, Rose Garden, Annual-Perennial Garden, and Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens. The gardens not only showcase the beauty of nature but also act as an educational tool, illustrating the diversity of plant life in Minnesota’s climate. The park is open year-round, although its gardens come to life primarily between mid-April and mid-October.

The Rose Garden, one of the oldest municipal rose gardens in the United States, covers 1.5 acres and features an array of both wild and cultivated rose varieties. Highlighting this space is the Heffelfinger Fountain, an ornate piece brought from Florence, Italy, and a test garden for All-America Rose Selections. Adjacent to the Rose Garden is the Peace Garden, originally a rock garden, redesigned to mimic Wisconsin’s bluff landscapes with alpine plants, conifers, and historical stones. It also includes peace symbols such as Japanese peace stones and a yatsu-hashi bridge.

The park also hosts the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, a vibrant space that attracts pollinators with vivid flowers from mid-June until frost. The Annual-Perennial Garden, featuring robust plants that thrive in Minnesota’s climate, is complemented by decorative fountains, like the bronze Phelps Fountain adorned with turtle sculptures. Public art installations and pathways weave through the park, encouraging visitors to enjoy peaceful strolls or engage with natural beauty.

As part of the Minneapolis Parks’ focus on sustainability, the park employs green practices ranging from eco-friendly landscaping to water conservation efforts. Lyndale Park, adjacent to Lake Harriet and the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary, is not just a visual treat but also a hub for local events, including the Pollinator Party held annually in July.