Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is the oldest public garden in the United States

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The garden and bird sanctuary are located in the middle of the city, which visitors will quickly forget. A trail will take visitors into the garden to enjoy the sounds of birds, insects, frogs and wind in the trees of the 15-acre garden, which is the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation.

The gardens history dates back to 1907 when Eloise Butler, who was a botanist, along with other botanists petitioned the Minneapolis Park Board to create a natural botanic garden and preserve the native flora as the city grew. They were given three acres of bog, meadow and hillside, which they fenced and the gardens opened on April 27, 1907.

In the gardens are three main ecosystems, a wetland, which is known as Woodland Garden with hardwood forest and oak savanna, the wetland area and the Prairie. There are over 500 different species of plant in the garden along with 120 species of bird, the garden receives approximately 60,000 visitors easy year due to the seasonal displays of native wildflowers that grow in the woodland, wetland and prairie areas. A different habitat is created in each area to allow the different plants, animals and birds to thrive and live comfortably.

The trail at the garden is a 2/3 mile trail with 49 interpretive stations allowing visitors on guided or self-guided tours to learn more about the garden and the species in the garden. Natural history displays and reference materials are located in the Martha Crone Visitor's Shelter along with staff and volunteers who are able to help with any questions about the park or how they can plant the species of plants to attract such birds to their home gardens.

The Martha E. Crone Visitors shelter was built in 1969 and donated to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board by the Friends of the Wild Flower Garden in honor of Martha E. Crone who became curator of the gardens after Eloise Butler.

The peak time to display the gardens are; April and May - in the woodland area where bloodroot, wild ginger and trillium, bluebells and trout lilies are flourishing. In June and July the wetland area has showy lady's-slippers, irises and cardinal flowers in bloom, mid to late summer the prairie has asters, sunflowers, blazing stars and goldenrods and in the fall the beautiful colors of the prairie grasses and autumn leaves.

The gardens can be access in many ways, visitors are able to drive their cars and park, but parking is limited, or they can catch the bus, which will drop them off only two blocks from garden gate, signs mark the way, or they can take the Grand Rounds bike route.

Along with the flora at the gardens there are many different wildlife species such as raccoons, chipmunks, rabbits, red foxes, squirrels, moles, frogs, turtles and snakes. Other creatures that have been spotted include deer, muskrats, mink and skunk.