May 23, 2024 Spring Garden Center Tour

The 2024 LAGC Garden Tour  is the 10th Anniversary of our Garden Tours and we are returning to the Scandia and St Croix area that we visited on our first tour in 2014!

Highlights: Meet at the carpool lot in Lakeville or drive directly to Sue and Judy's as fits your schedule! 

Sue W and Judy K have generously invited us to start the day at their cabin near Forest Lake for a meet and greet with fresh coffee and donuts. Sue and Judy's  address will be sent out to everyone who RSVP's for the tour.

After coffee and donuts, our  first stop is at Prairie Restorations, Inc Garden Center in Scandia. They have both wonderful  native plants for sale and a Garden Shop with native seeds, books and gardening items. Their vision is, ”We strive to establish diverse native plant community restorations that provide benefits to pollinators, wildlife, water quality, and people. We produce our own seeds and plants with a commitment to local genetic origin.” Learn more about them here: Prairie Restoration

We continue on to Landscape Alternatives, Inc on Hwy 95. “We raise over 200 species of native wildflowers, grasses, trees & shrubs in several container sizes. Our nursery is nestled on 64 acres of fields, woods & wetlands in the heart of the beautiful St. Croix Valley.” We met with the owner Karl (and the two Kitties on patrol) and he was very enthusiastic about his plants and will give us a tour of his amazing nursery. Learn more about them here: Landscapes Alternatives

Our next stop is Rustic Roots Winery for Lunch. Members will be purchasing their own lunch from the menu at Rustic Roots. We will enjoy our lunch on the patio of the Winery,  enjoy the beautiful and scenic view of the St Croix Valley, and perhaps a glass of Rustic Roots wine. Rustic Roots Wine

Across the road from Rustic Roots is Abrahamson Nurseries, our next tour stop. “Abrahamsons is a full service landscape and design company, garden center, and greenhouse grower. We offer a wide selection of landscape plants, hardscape materials, tools, and garden decor. They have a lovely gift garden center, beautiful large hanging baskets, vibrant annuals and hardy perennials and trees and shrubs.

"Just an amazing large garden center with high quality products," says Lori P.  

Our last stop is Crabtree’s Garden Gate on the Marine St Croix. They are a kitschy shop with bird feeders and feed, clothes, household items, food, knick knacks and an extensive collection of outdoor items for your garden. Their website says “Artful home decor, unique women's accessories, and fun gadgets. Minnesota gourmet treats, coffee and wine. In season they have the LARGEST selection of outdoor garden art in the Twin Cities.”  Crabtree Gardens>> 

At the end of the tour, you and your traveling companions can head back home, or you may want to stop at many interesting Garden Centers in the area along the way. Also, you can follow Hwy 95 south from Crabtree Garden to Stillwater for refreshments and dinner along the beautiful St Croix River Valley.

Tentative Tour Schedule:

***If your schedule better allows,  join us for half the tour, or join at any stop as you can! 

If joining us at noon, join us for lunch at Rustic Roots around 12:30 and continue on the tour to see Abrahamson Nurseries, Crabtree Gardens, and enjoy the scenic St. Croix Valley area.

8:00 am - Members who choose to carpool should meet at the Park and Ride at 20941 Kenrick Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044, USA

9:00-9:30am - Meet and Greet at Sue and Judy’s Cabin for coffee and donuts

10:00-11:00 am - Tour and Shop at Prairie Restoration

11:15am-12:15pm - Tour and Shop at Landscape Alternatives

12:30-1:30pm - Rustic Roots for Lunch

1:35-2:30pm - Tour and Shop at Abrahamson Nurseries

2:45-3:15 pm - Shop at Crabtree Gardens

When  shopping at Crabtree is done, Members will leave for home, or continue sightseeing in the area on their own.

 Carpooling/Driving:

•  If members would like to carpool from Lakeville, they should meet at the Park and Ride at Hwy 70 and Kenrick Avenue (20941 Kenrick Ave) and drive together to Sue and Judy’s. 
• We understand that there are individual situations/schedules that can make it difficult to carpool. Please drive on your own, set up carpooling with members in your neighborhood, etc or whatever way works the best for you! 
•  Members who are not carpooling  are welcome to  join the group at any of the locations as they are able!
• We will be sending the driving details/addresses to everyone who RSVP's.
•  When you RSVP, please  indicate whether or not you plan to meet at the Park and Ride  to carpool and if you are willing to be a driver
• More info on carpooling will  be sent out as we get closer to the date of the tour.
• Please make sure to RSVP in order to receive a more  detailed itinerary of the day, including all addresses and a link to Google Maps for navigation. 
• If you have questions, please contact us at: lagcmn.programs@gmail.com