A Garden That Gives Back
It’s well known that native plant gardens provide ecological and financial benefits. And, they showcase an ever-changing scene where the world can come alive right in front of you. Once established, they require little water, fertilizer, or mowing. Their deep roots stop soil erosion and filter stormwater runoff, while their pollen and seeds feed local birds, bees, and monarch butterflies.
The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association’s Linda Ulland Memorial Gardens is a native plants garden. Located by the Crosslake Campground on the southwest side of the Crosslake roundabout, it is free and open to all byway users, visitors and residents.
This collection of eight garden beds of varying sizes and shapes just underwent a major restoration. The 2024 tornado and nearby road construction combined to push the restoration project to the forefront, with planning launched in fall of 2025.
The $66,000 project was recently completed and has been described by some as a “luster and soul-appeal” restoration. A bright, welcoming feeling from over 900 plants thoughtfully arranged in nearly 2000 square feet of garden beds may have given rise to that sentiment.
Veteran area landscape professional, Bob Horn, played a major role in developing garden bed designs that were part of the original site which opened in 2017. His return to the restoration project provided valuable historic design continuity. The carefully selected native plants and comprehensive restoration layout he developed served as a working guide for Copper Creek Landscaping whose planting staff brought the plan to life. Put this site on your ‘to visit’ list.
Pictured: Corinne Johnson getting a closer look at Garden #1
Still to come is an information panel about Linda Ulland, for whom the Gardens are named, and a plaque acknowledging the local supporters who made this project possible.
For more information about the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association and the Linda Ulland Memorial Gardens:
