Noerenberg Memorial Gardens

Our first stop in the recent bus garden tour was to Noerenberg Memorial Gardens located on Crystal Bay shore on Lake Minnetonka.

 
A beautiful place, so peaceful and calm filled with a vast collection of plants in formal garden beds.   The history of this property is very interesting.  It was a gift from the remaining daughter of the man who established a well known brewery, Grain Belt!  He was an immigrant from Germany who arrived here and set about doing what Germans seem to be very successful at, brewing beer!  Yes, he was very successful which resulted in this amazing gift to Minnesota thru his only surviving daughter upon her death in 1975. 


Two Master Gardener volunteers met our group and gave us a guided tour thru the garden beds complete with identifying the plants for us and answering our questions about them.  We saw many plants that we had not seen before and had a wonderful opportunity to recognize some of our favorites in various stages of  their annual growth cycle.  A simply delightful photo opportunity to enjoy!

What a wonderful Day!

And just what is a wonderful day?   Well, it is a bus tour with 43 gardeners, most of whom I know, that I share the fun and passion for flower gardening with!  This meant meeting them to get on the bus at 7:30 AM on a Saturday morning, with a bag lunch, umbrella in case of rain, jacket, plant money in case I find some to purchase and a cell phone and so I can take pictures!  I was also ready to enjoy lots of yummy treats as we ride along thru the day!  We headed north to "the Cities" to take in a Public Garden in Wayzata, two awesome garden nurseries, meet a small garden club to spend a bit of time with and view their public garden bed projects and one of their members fantastic unusual private garden and home!  Once we got moving the treats started off with fresh fruit followed by sweet rolls/donuts and juice to be sure we have the energy to explore the public garden that is first on our stops!  Yes indeed this group knows how to travel!  Later we enjoyed Mary's annual home made sugar cookie treat!   (I hope my husband never has one of those, I'd lose him quickly for sure!)

How's this for a porch pot?

I went with a friend to a 50% sale in Faribault at Donahue's!

Look what I got for $7.50!

Just have to share this sight!

I was stopped by the sight of this on my way into the dental office the other day!

Peony Time at an end!

Rain yesterday took the last of my peony blossoms down!  But, I did rescue a last one to enjoy!

I love these in an open bowl!

These I have been enjoying during the last two weeks:

more pictures of that special private garden

Here are a few more of that special private garden I wrote about yesterday!

Garden visiting!

Recently I had the opportunity to join a car pool tour to Faribault with members of our garden club.  The trip included to visit a favorite garden center and one of the most delightful private gardens of a retired professional gardener!  I jumped at the opportunity for my third visit to this private garden and the garden center that sells the most fantastic hanging baskets I've ever seen for sale!

Yep, I got myself a new hanging basket at 30% off!  Just couldn't pass it up!

Yep, it was delightful to once again enjoy the hospitality of The Koopman's in their gardens!  He is indeed a master of display and pristine gardens!  And their friendly personalities  enjoy sharing their piece of paradise!