Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary: Visitor Information

Location

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary is located at:

1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy
Golden Valley, MN 55422

Hours

The garden welcomes visitors Tues – Sun from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm, with extended hours on Thursdays until 8:00 pm.

Contact

612-370-4903

About Eloise Butler

Before it became Theodore Wirth, the park was called Glenwood Park. In early 1907, Eloise Butler, a retired botany teacher, and others approached the park board to request space for a botanical garden. The board approved the proposal, reserving three acres of bog, meadow and hillside for the Wild Botanical Garden and allocating a modest amount for paths and fencing.

The garden opened officially on April 27, 1907. Butler cared for it as a volunteer for four years. In 1911, she became its official curator and received a full-time salary. During her tenure, she developed a magnificent place devoted to preserving and cataloguing wild plants, while also providing free botany classes.

The park board honored her in 1929 by naming the garden after her. Eloise died in 1933, at the age of 81, while traveling to work. Her ashes were scattered in the garden, where a pin oak tree was also planted in her memory.

Nearly 60,000 people visit each year to experience the seasonal presentation of native wildflowers across woodland, wetland and prairie habitats. Each habitat supports its own mix of plants, animals and birds.

Winding, narrow trails pass through the Garden’s varied habitats and hilly landscape. The full trail extends over one mile, with several route options for walks of different lengths.

Peak Plant Display Times

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

Martha Crone Visitor Shelter

Within the garden, the Martha Crone Visitor Shelter offers natural history displays, reference materials and friendly volunteers who can help answer questions about the garden. The shelter operates Tues-Sun from 10 am – 6 pm, staying open until 8 pm on Thursdays, April – August.

Visitors arriving by car can use the pay parking lot off of Theodore Wirth Parkway. Parking payment is accepted by credit card or coins, or through the “ParkMpls” app.

The garden operates Tuesday – Sunday from mid-April to mid-October, followed by weekend-only access through the end of October.