CHASKA, Minn. — A half-million people can't be wrong, can they?
That's how many visitors trek to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum ever year, and it's not exactly a mystery why. In this installment of our ongoing series KARE in the Air, our trusty drone takes us over the stunning 1,200 acres that make up Minnesota's unofficial state garden.
Founded in 1958, the arboretum features a seemingly endless variety of beautiful display gardens. Among the species are unique versions of iris, hostas, wildflowers, dahlias, clematis, grasses, and cultivated and hardy shrub roses.
And even when summer ends and flowers fade, there are 22 nationally-recognized tree collections. We're talking ash, birch, larch and lindens, as well as the biggest showoffs this time of year: maples, which are native to Minnesota and are likely our best trees for the brilliant fall colors.
After the leaves fall, the beauty of the Landscape Arboretum continues with its ever-popular holiday lights display and winter tea events.
The University of Minnesota says the earliest established portion of the Arboretum - the Horticultural Research Center - began in 1907, and has developed many cold hardy crops including the Honeycrisp apple, winemaking grapes and ornamentals like the Northern Lights series of azaleas.
For more on all the opportunities offered in Chaska, check out the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum website.
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Watch more KARE in the Air:
Check out amazing drone video of Minnesota's most beautiful and iconic spots in our YouTube playlist: