Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Heritage Trees, Gardener Cary George, White Oak, American Wild Plum, Black Cherry, Hemlock

at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary

The Garden Boasts Nine “Heritage Trees”

by Cary George, Gardener*

The Minneapolis Heritage Tree Program has been in existence for many years; however, I would guess that few citizens are aware of it. Primarily it recognizes the largest tree of each species known to exist within the city limits of Minneapolis.

A smaller but no less important category of Heritage Trees includes those known to have cultural and historical significance. An example of the latter category is the towering bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) located between Hwy. 55 and Glenwood Ave on Wirth Parkway opposite the old Loring Cascade (a man-made outcropping of rock that once was a waterfall). This bur oak was selected by former Park Board Superintendent David Fisher as the Park Board’s official logo. While the list of trees for the Heritage Tree Program is quite extensive, only four trees appear on the list for historical or cultural reasons. Most have been selected for size.

Trees of historical significance can honor a community leader, an event in the city’s history or virtually anything that has had impact on the development of Minneapolis. For example, a possible candidate might be the winterberry (Ilex vericillata) planted in honor of Ken Avery upon his retirement as curator of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. It seems to me this category has been sorely lacking nominations. The election, retirement or death of prominent figures in Minneapolis’ cultural, educational or social life all could make good candidates for tree plantings. Trees planted as dedications of schools, libraries, really any public building or landscape also might be noted with a heritage designation.

Above: Cary George with the Heritage White Oak.

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden has nine Heritage trees noted for their champion size although interestingly none are listed for cultural or historical reasons, including the white oak that commemorated the curatorship of Eloise Butler (located in front of the Martha Crone Shelter behind the memorial plaque).

The large number of nominations within the Garden is due both to our extensive surveying of every tree and shrub and the very nature of a wild botanical garden with representations on nearly every tree and shrub species in hardiness zones 3-4.

Left: Cary George with the Heritage Black Cherry. Right: The Hemlock grove at the back gate with the Heritage Hemlock.

Heritage Trees in the Garden include:

MOUNTAIN MAPLE (Acer spicatum) - west trail near station #12
BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra) - West trail near station #16
JACK PINE (Pinus banksiana) - southeast of the front gate.
PONDEROSA PINE (Pinus ponderosa) - Prairie Garden, north side
AMERICAN WILD PLUM (Prunus americana) - Prairie Garden, first hillside
BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina) - just inside north gate.
WHITE OAK (Quercus alba) - west trail near station #18
SIBERIAN CRABAPPLE - (Mallus baccata) - west trail near station #13
CANADIAN HEMLOCK (Tsuga canadensis)- inside north gate.

The key to making meaningful additions to the Heritage Tree Program will be focusing on the trees in your neighborhood (in Minneapolis only); yards, parks, railroad right-of-ways or wild areas. Look around. Arm yourself with a good tree guide. The Stokes Series and the Peterson Guides are both excellent and easy to use.

Many tree species are not on the current Heritage list, and many of the current listings are relatively small in size for the species, so there are good opportunities for making additions.

The Park Board Forestry division would like to have more citizen input, so don't hesitate to call or write if you need help with identification in order to nominate a Heritage Tree. You can teach them at : Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Forestry Division, 3800 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis Mn. 55409 Phone: (612-370-4900.

Left: The Heritage American Wild Plum in the Upland Garden

*Cary George was Gardener at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden from 1987 through 2003. Cary was the fourth person to be charge of the Garden since its founding.

This article was originally published in The Fringed Gentian™, Winter 2000, Vol. 48 No. 1.