Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary

Location

1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy
Golden Valley, MN 55422

Hours

Tues – Sun: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thurs: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm

Contact

612-370-4903

About Eloise Butler

Theodore Wirth was originally known as Glenwood Park. In early 1907, Eloise Butler, a retired botany teacher, along with others, petitioned the park board for space to establish a botanical garden. The request was granted and three acres of bog, meadow and hillside were set aside for the Wild Botanical Garden, along with a modest sum for paths and fencing. The garden officially opened on April 27, 1907. Butler tended the garden as a volunteer for four years, until 1911, when she was officially named curator and offered a full-time salary. She would go on to create a magnificent space, preserving and cataloguing wild plants and offering free botany classes. In 1929, the park board named the garden in her honor. Eloise died in 1933, at the age of 81, while on her way to work. Her ashes were spread in the garden and a pin oak tree was planted in her honor.

Each year, nearly 60,000 visitors enjoy the seasonal display of native wildflowers in woodland, wetland and prairie areas. Each area creates a different habitat that fosters different types of plants, animals and birds.

The narrow, winding trails of the Garden lead you through a variety of habitats in hilly terrain. The trail is over one mile in length, but there are multiple routes for shorter or longer walks.

Peak Plant Display Times

Woodland – April and May – bloodroot, wild ginger, trillium, bluebells, trout lilies
Wetland – June and July – showy lady’s-slippers, native irises, cardinal flowers
Prairie – Mid- to Late-Summer – asters, sunflowers, blazing stars, goldenrods
Throughout – Fall – prairie grasses and autumn leaves

Martha Crone Visitor Shelter

Nestled in the garden is a delightful visitor shelter where you will find natural history displays, reference materials and friendly volunteers who can answer your garden-related questions. The shelter is open Tues-Sun from 10 am – 6 pm (8 pm on Thursdays, April – Sept. 1).

If you are driving to the sanctuary, there is a pay parking lot located off of Theodore Wirth Parkway. Payment can be made via credit card, coins, or in the “ParkMpls” app.

The garden is open Tuesday – Sunday, April 16 – October 15; Weekends only, October 19-20, 26-27.