AIMEE BLANCHETTE, Star Tribune
Did you know that Lady's Slippers are members of the orchid family? Learn more about the state flower during the second annual Lady's Slipper Day, Saturday at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis.
"The lady's slipper is a pretty special flower. It's rare, it's an orchid, and it's difficult to grow. They like particular environments," said Lauren Borer, garden program coordinator.
"They really are something to see. The yellow ones are blooming. The state flower, the Showy Lady's Slipper, is a pink-and-white blossom, and it's just that -- showy. It takes your breath away. It's fun to celebrate something that represents our state."
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is celebrating a time of change in the garden with a month-long schedule of programs, tours and activities.
"June is a really great time to come out to the garden, because spring flowers are nearing the end and we're getting more into our summer blooms," Borer said.
The second annual Showy Lady's Slipper Day starts with a discussion on gardening with native orchids and a sale of the orchids from Winsome Orchids. There will be family activities including storytelling and tours. The tours will focus on the garden's own collection of native orchids, including the yellow lady's slipper and the showy lady's slipper.
Lady's Slipper Day will also include a tour of the Quaking Bog, located across the road from the garden. There are wetland plants growing and blooming in this wetland. Some of the plants that grow there are insectivorous, meaning that they feed on insects.
"It's always a treat to visit the bog, and there's a lot to learn from our naturalists," Borer said.
The garden is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to half-an-hour before sunset, and is free to the public.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment