About
This is the
27th year the Minnesota Water Garden Society has sponsored a tour of
Twin City area water gardens. The 11
sites will be open Saturday and Sunday July 27-28 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. both
days. They are in Plymouth, Bloomington,
Eagan, Savage, Burnsville, Elko and Webster. The tour includes large and small water gardens, waterfalls and streams
that meander or rush down hillsides. The
water gardens are homeowner and/or professionally created. For more information and pricing go to
MWGS.org
Site A
Enter through the gates and tour this truly magical 3.6 acres in
Plymouth. Along with several water features installed over the past 3
years, you’ll see live swans, a secret garden with chess set, aviary, multiple
chainsaw carvings, the peanuts gang, nature trail, and several gardens. Before you leave climb into the two story “Eagle Magic Store” treehouse to view
the property from the tree tops.
Site B 8225 Abbott Ave, S, Bloomington
There are three water features on this property to see. Main Koi
pond is 30'x25' and has two streams, three waterfalls, and a wetland filter.
There is a 15' bridge, large Tres Rios patio firepit area, and a cool
treehouse. The pond is home to 30+ koi. The pond-less water feature in the
front yard is 30'x30' and referred to as the "North Shore". There are
two waterfalls with rivers that converge into one big river emptying into the
basin. There is also a bubbling rock at the waterfall. The last water feature
is a pink granite bubbling rock that sits in a place of honor and is a favorite
watering.
Site C 8219 Russell Ave, S, Bloomington
This pond is approximately 1500 gallons, 2 ½ feet deep and 20
built 20 years ago. There is a 5-tiered waterfall that was made possible due to
the topography of the terraced back yard. The top of the waterfall is
another smaller pond. In the summer the smaller koi live in the upper
pond and the larger koi live in the larger pond. The pond is surrounded
with gardens on three sides and a sitting area on the 4th side.
Site D 8844 Stevens Ave, S, Bloomington
This corner lot is beautifully landscaped with paths to their
two ponds and the channel that connects them. There is a small pallet
bridge that crosses over the channel and provides a nice viewing spot. The
ponds are about 16-20 feet long and a foot and a half deep. There are several
“berms” with various flowering plants and throughout the yard are little
statues and other “whimsie”. Surrounding the patio are fountains, along with a
smaller water feature with a center island that has a tiny castle on it. A
short shallow stream leads to this pond from a whiskey barrel fountain. At
night many solar lights brighten the landscape
Site E 9517 Oakland Ave, S, Bloomington
The love of water got the owner started on water
gardening. That, and her 4 koi outgrowing their aquarium. The 3,000
gallon, 3 feet deep pond with a 3-foot waterfall provides her much enjoyment
and is home to her many koi and water plants.
Site F 11041 Upton Ave,
Bloomington
This backyard pond features high water quality for their
imported Japanese koi. There are three large pumps that help move water over a
25 ft wraparound stream with two small waterfalls. There is an elevated bog
garden with a 10’ wide ‘tumbledown’ style waterfall.
Site G 1530 Covington Lane, Eagan
This site has a pond that is 12x9 feet with a cave for their 35
koi. The bog at the top of the 25-foot stream has 2 beautiful waterfalls. Many water lilies and several Lotus, as well as floating greenery, cana
lillies, taro, and elephant ears provide lots of color to their pond. The
yard has several gardens including shade gardens and sun gardens with lots of
perennial flowers and annuals for constant color.
Site H 4113 136th St, W, Savage
A 10 foot bridge that takes you over the 2080 gallon pond and
offers a nice view of the waterfalls. The main waterfall splits around an
island of rocks and travels down to the pond which is home to many large and
small koi.
Site I 14813 Maywood Dr, Burnsville
Main pond is 15x20 with a waterfall that drops 3 feet with the
pond being 3 ½ feet deep. The natural bog system keeps their many koi, goldfish
and water plants happy and healthy. Their second pond is cement and was built
in 1988.
Site J 8151 255th St, E., Elko
This pond has multiple varieties of naturalized hardy
waterlilies, goldfish and koi. Don’t miss the small koi pond next to the
house deck and the garden room with a bonsai collection. Be sure to look
for original nature inspired garden art
including a 300 lb cement deer, as featured in the Northern Gardener Fall 2023
issue.
Site K 2740 35th St., W., Webster
This backyard has two separate ponds with bogs and
waterfalls in both. They are approximately 4,000 and 5,000 gallons and are home
to several large koi. One of the ponds includes a stream that circles around
from an upper pond/bog area and ends with a waterfall. The other pond is 4 feet
deep so you could swim with the fish on a hot summer day.