Planting Week is May 13 – 17: Help start veggie and flower gardens at parks citywide!

Join friends and neighbors to grow gardens for soup and salsa, pizza and bouquets this summer

This growing season, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) invites everyone to help plant, grow, harvest and enjoy themed recreational gardens at neighborhood parks across the city, and at JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden in Theodore Wirth Regional Park.

During Planting Week, May 13-17, help give seedlings a good start in gardens dedicated to:

salsa (tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, onions)

pizza (tomatoes, peppers, basil, oregano)

soup (garlic, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, herbs)

bouquets (zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons and others)

Join us!

Planting Week at neighborhood parks
Tuesday-Saturday May 13-17

At most locations noted below, planting will take place about 4 to 7pm Tuesday through Friday and 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday.

Get details and pick a park near you! Parks with neighborhood recreation gardens include:
40th Street Park | Bethune Park | Bryant Park | Corcoran Park | Creekview Park | East Phillips Park | Lyndale Farmstead Park | Farview Park | Lake Nokomis Park | Longfellow Park | Loring Park | Lynnhurst Park | Matthews Park | McRae Park | Morris Park | Peavey Field Park | Phelps Park | Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park | Powderhorn Park | Stewart Park

Family Planting Day at JD Rivers’ Garden
in Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Saturday, May 17, 10am-noon

Bring the family to this one-acre garden to help plant seeds and seedlings tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, carrots, greens, and more! Gardeners will be there to guide the planting process, children of all ages are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Stop by as you are able or come for the full two hours: 10am – 12 noon.

Growing the gardens this summer

Neighborhood Recreation Gardens will be tended by children attending Rec Plus School-Age Childcare and other groups, clubs and volunteers.

You can help, too!

• Stop by your recreation center or email DClements@minneapolisparks.org about volunteer opportunities.
• Sign up for harvesting, cooking and flower-arranging opportunities throughout summer and into fall.

JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden offers a host of activities throughout the season, including:

• Garden with a Naturalist
• Family Nights
• Campfire & Curiosity
• Produce Market Days (June 16 to October 16)
• Weeklong camps:
  Preserving the Harvest Day Camp (Ages 12-14, August 18-21)

  Bakers & Garden-to-Table Camps (Ages 9-11, various dates)

More info: MPRB Gardens and related activities

Note: Many neighborhood parks have recreation gardens and community gardens. At community gardens, groups and individuals apply each year to grow plants of their choice in an assigned plot. Admire, but please don’t interfere with their gardens.

MPRB’s dozens of formal and informal gardens are managed by horticultural staff and volunteers:

• Get details on garden tours all season at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Longfellow Gardens, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and other locations
• Garden highlights from last year’s month-by-month guide to a bloom-tastic season
• Gardens & bird sanctuaries on the MPRB website
• Thousands of volunteers help keep MPRB gardens looking gorgeous.
  Consider joining them! minneapolisparks.org/garden_volunteers
• MplsGardens is the Instagram account for MPRB’s horticulture staff and a favorite follow in the local garden community