The Rose Garden at the MN Landscape Arboretum
I. Love. The. Arboretum!
Its official name is the University of MN Landscape Arboretum, and there are SUCH special memories that well up in me as soon as we drive through the visitor gate. (Fun fact: the U of MN Arboretum developed the “Honeycrisp” apple variety, which is my absolute favorite!)
I grew up just a couple miles away from the “Arb,” as we fondly call it. My family has had a family membership there for as long as I can remember.
Mom took us there to explore and play (and develop a sense of awe for nature) ever since we were little.
I learned how to drive on the looping, hilly 3-Mile-Drive. 🙂
I later took my sweet nanny kiddos there to play and picnic.
I’ve taken a couple of their really neat, community ed. type classes there (including food photography a while back!).
Bjorn and I got our engagement pictures taken there. (You can really get a feel for the beauty of this place in Carissa’s photos!)
And, most sweet of all, Bjorn and I had our wedding reception there! (And as part of the reception, we had a 17-person swing band and swing dancing in their Great Hall.)
It’s a really special place to me. I only wish we lived close by so I could wander the paths each weekend with my husband (a fellow plant lover) or walk and talk with my mom. But, it sure is fun to visit the Arboretum as a special outing when we’re in town.
Last weekend, we were visiting my parents and my mom, Bjorn, and I spent some time at the Arboretum on a lovely, hazy, Saturday afternoon.
The Rose Garden is a favorite part of the 3-Mile-Drive, and I love how that drive provides visitors with countless little places to pull over and park so you can wander the various gardens and displays.
I just recently got my new 50mm lens(!!) so it was really fun to run around and capture the lovely roses in the Rose Garden with this lens…until it started to rain!
“Raindrops on roses” sure are gorgeous, though, so I think running around in the rain was worth it. 🙂
We’ll definitely visit the Arboretum again before long! It’s hard to stay away!
What gardens or parks do you like to visit in your area?
Absolutely stunning. <3
Thank you so much, Daisy!! 🙂 We love heading over to the Arborteum! I’m sure you would love it!!!
I love the Arboretum! The tulips in the spring are my favorite ?
Aww! Yes, their tulips are gorgeous! 🙂
These photos are gorgeous. I love raindrops on roses too. 🙂 I haven’t been to the arboretum yet, but I think I need to go soon. I was also just thinking that I need to find a place where I can take photos of flowers since I couldn’t find any stock photos that I liked for an announcement for the church I work for.
Thank you, Crystal!! Yes, the flowers at the arboretum are so well-kept and photogenic. And besides the flowers, the woods and gardens and some fountains are stunning!