The West Central Research and Outreach Center’s Horticulture Display Garden in Morris, near the University of Minnesota’s campus in this western Minnesota city, is open to the public. It’s not only a beautiful Minnesota garden, but it’s also a fantastic place to learn more about the art (and science) of gardening with hands-on experiences. I find it surprising that more folks don’t know about this little sanctuary. So, allow me to share everything I know about this hidden garden in Minnesota.

For more than 100 years, the University of Minnesota's West Central Research and Outreach Center has been helping farmers, agriculture professionals, and members of the public, educating them on topics ranging from crop and dairy production to renewable energy and water quality.

Part of the center's mission includes horticulture. To this end, the center operates a display garden that is not only open to the public, but it also seeks to educate members of the public in hands-on gardening methods and techniques.

Every year, the center cultivates thousands of flowers, vegetables, and plants that demonstrate the results of the center's horticultural research.

Center staff and volunteers, as well as other community members, then plant everything for growing season.

The gardens are free and open to the public during daylight hours throughout the year.

As you may imagine, they're particularly lovely in the spring, when many floral favorites hit their peak blooming periods.

The center has even managed to cultivate lady's slippers, a notoriously hard-to-grow orchid variety that's popular among wildflower enthusiasts in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

You'll find trails and even a children's garden at the Horticulture Display Garden.

The Pomme de Terre Overlook, which sits on a bluff over its eponymous river, is one of our favorite spots at the garden.

Although the growing season lasts only about half the year, the Horticulture Display Garden is a beautiful place to visit in any season.

Even winter.

For more information about the facility, including hours and location, visit the Horticulture Display Garden's website. While in that part of the state, take some time to explore the historic town of Alexandria, as well. It's only about 45 minutes northeast of Morris.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/enchanting-and-historic-town-mn/

Have you visited this hidden garden in Minnesota? What are some other lesser-known hidden gems in Minnesota that we should know about?