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Tours
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River Boat Cruise | Garden Tour | Open Gardens
River Boat Cruise & Dinner
Thursday, July 11, 2024
We have reserved a private charter of the St. Croix River from Stillwater River Boats on the Anastasia riverboat, or a similar sized boat, which will comfortably fit our guests. This single paddlewheel boat offers a second level alfresco bar and 1st level dining area. Which is perfect for NALS guests pre-registered for this event. Take a close-up view of our river boat on the Anastasia 360 Tour page.
Our buffet dinner will consist of hamburgers and pulled pork with potato salad, baked beans, fresh seasonal fruit, sandwich trimmings included. Water will be provided. Soft drinks, juice and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. We plan to return to the Hilton Minneapolis St. Paul Airport Hotel around 9:00pm.
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, a unit of the National Park System, was established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968. This act was intended to preserve rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is located in northwest Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota and is comprised of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. It is one of a group of eight rivers in the country which first received this recognition. For over 200 miles, the St. Croix and its tributary, the Namekagon, flow through some of the most scenic and least developed country in the Upper Midwest.
Five gardens are included on the Saturday bus tour, with five or more gardens on the open gardens tour the next day. Although space is limited on the bus tour, any conference participant can enjoy the open gardens tour on Sunday.
Garden Tour
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Lilyland is a joint venture by former NSLS President Forrest Peiper and former NSLS Treasurer Bill Bauer. It offers an endless number of lilies displayed in Lilyland’s rented growing acreage. Forrest and Bill not only hybridize but they also have a wholesale Martagon business. Take your time studying the thousands of lilies at Lilyland! Learn more in the June 2023 Quarterly Bulletin pp. 39-42.
Ute and Joe Balduyck began their garden in 1994 with a catalog flower kit, but the back yard just keep growing. Their 2,080-gallon pond is the centerpiece, which even includes a light house. A 5,000 gallon/hour pump filters and runs the waterfall. There are many large Koi as well as their small offspring in the pond. There are numerous lilies, day lilies and other perennials. It is a small backyard with lots to see.
K & D Gardens of Denise and Karl Halderson is our next stop of the garden tour. Denise is the current NSLS president. She and husband Karl operate K & D Gardens from which they sell Lilies. Because their gardens overflow with lilies you are sure to find ones you will love. They also have many daylilies.
Arneson Acres Park and the Minnesota Lily Hybridizers’ Garden. Enjoy a box lunch at Edina’s horticultural park where the NSLS has a garden featuring most of the lilies which were hybridized in Minnesota. You can eat outside in the gazebo, or inside in the Arneson House Terrace Room. Stroll the park’s 20 gardens and don’t miss the Tranquility Garden at the far end of the park. Restrooms are available in the Arneson House, in the greenhouse closer to the gazebo as well as on the bus.
Of special interest is the Lily Garden. Located west of the greenhouse, you will find the North Star Lily Society's "Minnesota Hybridizers' Lily Garden," which was dedicated in 2007. The garden contains lilium hybridized and registered with the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain by dedicated lily enthusiasts here in Minnesota. The garden is dedicated to the memory of their passion for lilies. This garden is maintained by the North Star Lily Society and will offer future educational opportunities for the Society and the gardening public.
Dianne and Dan Latham have over 400 varieties of plants including 50 varieties of lilies, you will see everything from Minnesota natives to tropical plants from other zones. The tropical plants are carefully overwintered in Latham’s heated garage. Dan has a 5 tree Honeycrisp apple espalier as a backdrop to his gazebo and Dianne delights in her 1,000-gallon Lotus reflecting pool where many American toad tadpoles are raised each year.
Tim Zimmerman’s Pollenless Lily Hybridizing. Come to discover what is new in hybridizing pollenless lilies. Enter this one-acre yard at Tim’s perennial garden featuring a fountain. In addition to lily beds for hybridizing pollenless lilies, Tim also has fruit trees and shrubs including the ‘Evans Cherry’. You can venture out into his woodland garden and then stop at his hen house which is a rich source of fresh eggs. Tim is the City of Edina Horticulturalist. Learn more in the June 2023 Quarterly Bulletin pp. 33-34.
Open Gardens
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Mike and Jean Heger Garden. Before retirement, Mike owned and operated Ambergate Gardens for nearly 30 years from which one could purchase many unusual perennials. He coauthored Growing Perennials in Cold Climates and is one of the speakers for the 2024 NALS conference. His garden has many unusual perennials and incudes a succulent display. Mike and Jean live not far from Rick Rodich so be sure to see both gardens if you are in the area.
Rick Rodich has over 75 varieties of lilies including 18 species of lilies. He hybridizes Asiatic lilies and species primary cresses. He also has many rare and unusual rock garden plants, iris, shade perennials, shrubs and conifers that you won’t want to miss. He has 850 species, varieties and cultivars, which he segregates into nine planting areas. Rick lives not far from Mike Heger, so be sure to see both gardens if you are in the area. Learn more in the June 2023 Quarterly Bulletin pp. 38-39.
Sharon Moline and Mike Little Garden consists of 5.25 acres which includes a pond having a four-foot waterfall. There are many interesting garden art pieces scattered throughout the gardens. Their shade and sun gardens have many varieties of lilies and other plants including a large straw bale garden for vegetables. They also make wine by purchasing grapes from Washington State each year which they are always happy to share. Their horses graze on about three of their acres.
Karen Wright Garden. If you are departing the conference driving south, don’t miss Karen Wright’s garden located on Lake Washington just outside of Mankato. Karen has completely re-landscaped the property and removed much turf grass. She established multiple gardens including a shoreline native/pollinator garden, a Hosta garden, as well as raised vegetable beds surrounded by hundreds of lilies and other perennials. Karen's son, Grant, hybridizes Asiatic lilies in a fenced-in area on the property.
Conrad Miller and Lloyd Clark Garden. If you are departing the conference driving east, don’t miss their garden in Sparta, Wisconsin. Their farmstead overflows with orienpet, Asiatic and trumpet lilies. Read more about Conrad’s hybridizing efforts in the December 2022 edition of the Quarterly Bulletin pp. 29-34. Conrad specializes in hybridizing tall, fragrant lilies. Learn more in the June 2023 Quarterly Bulletin pp. 43-44.
Dennis Olson Garden. This .84 acre property has many garden rooms, each with a theme. In addition to three fenced lily gardens, there is an extensive fairy garden, fruit trees, cactuses, an oriental themed garden, a small pond, a large vegetable garden with Blueberries and Raspberries as well as a shade garden including Lady’s slippers. The mixed fencing and various gates with gnomes lurking everywhere add a folk-art charm to the garden. Note that visitors may need to park on a side street because driveway parking is limited and there is no parking on Excelsior Blvd. in front of the home. Learn more in the June 2023 Quarterly Bulletin pp. 36-38.
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