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Arboretum
Arboretum Week: Spring at Lakewood
April 21 - April 26
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Celebrate spring and the importance of birds and migration at Lakewood, a Level 2 arboretum in the heart of Minneapolis. Throughout the week of April 21-26, we are highlighting this beautiful season with a series of self-guided activities, talks, and tours. Stop by the Welcome Center during regular business hours to pick up printed tours and materials, or click on the links below to pull up the materials on your phone or print them at home.
Our gates are open 7 days a week from 8am – 8pm.
On this page: Self-guided activities | Nature Journeys | Events | Visiting guidelines | Donate to Tree Preservation | Arboretum
Did you know that Lakewood is an accredited Level 2 Arboretum?
Since 2023, Lakewood has been an accredited arboretum, among the three largest in the state. Lakewood has carefully classified our trees and woody plants. Additionally, we offer public programming around nature, like our Arboretum Week and we employ dedicated grounds staff.
Where is the arboretum?
This is a common question, and the answer is everywhere at Lakewood! All of Lakewood’s 250 park-like acres make up the arboretum.
Arboretum Week Self-Guided Activities
Stop by the Welcome Center Monday – Saturday and pick up a self-guided activity designed to encourage exploration of Lakewood’s grounds including our flora and fauna.
Coffee and relevant reading materials will be available in the Welcome Center throughout the week.
Nature Journeys
Explore Lakewood through this episodic series of map-driven stories. Each episode will feature a new topic and will dive into different individuals at Lakewood, special locations on our grounds, or just a more in-depth look at the flora and fauna that make Lakewood a hidden gem for nature-lovers in the heart of urban Minneapolis.
Nature Journey List
Our Nature Journeys are powered by Storymaps, an interactive map-driven tour program that incorporates multimedia into traditional tours. The Storymaps can be completed as a whole series or individually. Following the episodes in order creates a unique walking experience around the northern and western sides of Lakewood.
Many of our Nature Journeys involve learning about birds and animals that may not be visible at that exact time, so we encourage anyone out on a journey to read, learn, and imagine while out on the grounds.
Click on the individual episodes below, or explore the whole collection here.
Ep 1: Welcome Center Gardens
Explore Lakewood’s new Welcome Center and learn more about the ecological significances of the sustainable landscaping design surrounding this building. We encourage you to enjoy this journey while onsite at Lakewood.
This journey is primarily focused on plants and birds that may be spotted around the Welcome Center. The landscaping around this building is still growing so please watch where you walk!
Nature Journeys Ep 1: Welcome Center Gardens
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 2: Introduction to the Lakewood Arboretum
Journey around the northwest corner of Lakewood and enjoy the beautiful tree canopy that amplifies our connection to nature. Learn about Lakewood’s heritage and future as a place where trees are cared for, learned from, appreciated, and protected.
This journey take a closer look at Lakewood’s ground team and how they preserve the natural beauty of the grounds.
Nature Journeys Ep 2: Introduction to the Lakewood Arboretum
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 3: Migration and Conservation
Dive into migration at Lakewood. Learn more about how birds and trees play an important role in urban nature.
This journey takes you on a brief tour around Lakewood’s oldest section – Section 2, while admiring trees and carefully looking for birds.
Nature Journeys Ep 3: Migration and Conservation
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 4: Look and Listen
What sights and sounds are present at Lakewood? One of the most important parts of learning about nature is the ability to carefully and quietly observe your surroundings. In this journey we’ll explore orioles, monarchs, Lakewood resident Les Kouba and more.
Nature Journeys Ep 4: Look and Listen
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 5: The Wildflowers of Jo Pond
From Milkweed to Monarchs – we’ll take a closer look at the wildflowers surrounding Jo Pond and the resident insects that call these plants home. This journey highlights plants and animals, while also sharing stories about Eloise Butler and Dr. Thomas Sadler Roberts.
Nature Journeys Ep 5: The Wildflowers of Jo Pond
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 6: The birds of Jo Pond
Jo Pond – Lakewood’s onsite lake, is home to a number of birds, bugs, plants, and animals. With it’s close proximity to nearby Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Roberts Bird Sanctuary, it’s easy to see why wildlife love this area.
This journey takes a closer look at the birds and bugs who call Jo Pond home.
Nature Journeys Ep 6: The Birds of Jo Pond
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Ep 7: Thomas Sadler Roberts and the Birds of Lakewood
This journey shares personal stories about Lakewood resident Thomas Sadler Roberts and his important role in identifying and conserving birds in Minnesota. This journey is meant to be more reflective and self-guided, with the only stop being at the monument for Roberts. We encourage you to learn about his life and birds while at his grave, and then take a quiet stroll around the grounds.
Nature Journeys Ep 7: Thomas Sadler Roberts and the Birds of Lakewood
(This will open Storymaps on a new window)
Living Memory Tree
While you’re in the Welcome Center, consider grabbing a ribbon for our Living Memory Tree. This treasured tradition started in 2019 and has been a popular memorialization offering since its launch. Write a name or memory of someone being remembered and tie it to the tree, amongst thousands of other ribbons, and memories, in this beautiful community memorialization practice.
Anyone can design a ribbon; you don’t have to have family at Lakewood or be remembering someone at Lakewood. However, we do ask that you use our ribbons to help preserve the grounds and keep the tree safe.
Events
Birdwatching 101: Getting Started and Getting Better
Discover how easy it is to get started or to get better at birdwatching at this fun and informative presentation in the Welcome Center.
Birding at Lakewood
Join Lakewood as we welcome back educator Amy Simso Dean for an informative and peaceful birding walk around scenic Jo Pond.
Nature Resources
Focus on the Seasons Photo Contest
While you’re out exploring our grounds, consider taking photos to submit in our Focus on the Seasons Photo Contest.
Use this self-guided nature scavenger hunt to learn more about identifying plants and animals at Lakewood.
Download and explore Lakewood through the eyes of our community on the iNaturalist app, and submit your own discoveries as well.
Identify birds as you hear them and learn more about each species with this interactive phone app.
Visiting Guidelines
We welcome all guests and visitors to explore our grounds whether you have family here or not. As you learn more about urban nature inside Lakewood’s gate, please be mindful that we are still an active cemetery with frequent burials and families visiting loved ones. Even with our park-like design, Lakewood is first and foremost a cemetery, and we ask that all visitors respect those who are grieving or visiting graves.
- No loud music or external speakers; keep voices to a respectable volume.
- If you bike, please park your bike at the front gate and walk on our roads.
- Dogs are not allowed, with the exception of registered service animals.
- Please do not litter; trash cans can be found in or near all of our buildings.
More information about etiquette, hours, parking and more is available in Lakewood’s Visitor’s Guide.
Interested in supporting the preservation of trees at Lakewood?
Consider making a donation to the Lakewood Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation has been supporting our ongoing efforts to replant trees after a devastating loss of Ash trees to the emerald ash borer. Your donation supports in tree preservation and general preservation efforts across Lakewood.
Learn more or make a donation by visiting the Lakewood Heritage Foundation’s page.
More about Arboretums
Learn more about Lakewood’s vision to become an arboretum.
Arbnet.org offers a four-level classification that encourages organizations to think about and carefully track and preserve their woody plants and trees.
What are the levels?
Level 1: Smaller publicly accessible sites with at least 25 woody plants and at least 1 dedicated employee or volunteer.
Level 2: Has at least 100 species of woody plants, employ paid staff, and have enhanced public education programs and a documented collections policy.
Level 3: Has at least 500 species of woody plants, employees a collections curator, has substantial educational programming and actively participates in tree science and conservation.
Level 4: The highest level. Publishes highly sophisticated research and employs tree scientists who specialize in conservation and education. Locally, we have the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as our only level 4 arboretum (the only arboretum in Minnesota that ranks higher than Lakewood).
