Garden Center!

We were in Twin Cities on the 4th. Drove by this garden center. It's awesome! I would guess it covers 400 - 500 acres.
In this photo, it's about 3/4 of a mile from where I am standing to the far end. Behind me it goes another couple blocks. It is spread along both sides of this road. To the right is their landscape area. Lots of boulders, ever kind of bark & mulch & rocks you can imagine.
My wife's, cousin's, son worked for this place about 10 years ago. At that time it was an old barn with 2 hoop houses attached! I think it was the barn in the 3rd picture.
Bernie

Their sign.

This is the barn I think was orginal garden center.

This is the landscape area.

Another shot of the garden center.

Bernie, do you remember where this is? DH and I are thinking of taking a short trip into MN since we aren't going to get much of a vacation this year due to time constraints. Somewhere in MN there's an arboretum,(I think I spelled that wrong), that we want to see too, but can't remember where we saw the ad or where it is. I need to do some online searching.

If we do come that way, I'd love to stop and see you too. It would most likely be either the last week in July or the first week in August. Is that too late to see garden centers there? I know it is here, since they shut down after everyone has done their planting. If it is, maybe we should wait until next year and try to come in the spring?

It's located at the intersection of I 494 & Hwy #52 in the SE part of the cities. Open year around.
Landscape Arboretum is on the west side of the cities; www.arboretum.umn.edu/
We are SW of the cities about 100 miles. You go down Hwy # 169 through Mankato, then it turns to Hwy # 60 (4 lane).
Follow that for about 30 miles. We are exactly half way between Madelia & St.James. You go south, (left), off of #60
on County road #109. We are only 1¼ mile from the highway.
Other things to visit on the way. Minnesota Valley Greenhouse at Jordan, Brewery Creek at Belle Plaine,(they have 100's varieties of herbs), Drummers in Mankato.
These are all along the highway as you come from the cities to us. (Drummers you would have to look for in Mankato. It's near the mall, across from Home Depot & Menards.)
If your here on Tues. or Thurs. afternoon, you could stop at our Farmers Market in Mankato, 3:30-6PM. or Sat 8Am till noon.
We would be happy to have you stop by. Let us know ahead & we will cook up something!
Bernie

Thanks Bernie! I'll run this by DH and see what he says. If we do come that way, I'll let you know. I'm off to explore the arboretum link you gave. I would love to see that.

They show their website address on their sign: http://www.gertens.com/

Looks like an informational site!

Gerten's is in Inver Grove Heights and the MN Landscape Arboretum is in Chanhassen.

Gerten's is on the East side of the metro area and the Arboretum is on the West side of the metro area; 45 minutes to an hour and a half apart (depending on traffic conditions. there is major construction on I-494). You can travel on I-494 to get to both places and the Mall of America is in between them (You can see the Mall as you drive on I-494).

Gerten's is a great place. They have almost anything you would ever want. Gerten's is the Twin Cities' largest Garden Center (but there are many others that are must-see, too). You need to go to Rice Creek Gardens in Blaine (25 miles North of I-494). Rice Creek specializes in Rock Garden Plants and they have some nice display gardens set up.
Mike

Oh, sounds good. Thanks for all the information.

DH and I are still debating this issue. I want to go to MN, but DH is still trying to figure out a way we can get more days off at the same time. He would love to go to Oregon. We'll just have to wait and see.

Old thread, but for those that remember it...now you can do more than talk about this place, you can give your thumbs-up to them here: http://davesgarden.com/go/view/1506/ I'm sure they (and newbies) would appreciate the kudos!