Minnehaha Master Gardeners

Sound Gardening Practices for Minnehaha County, SD

Masters in the Garden – July 9, 2026

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We continue our FREE summer pop-up series, Masters in the Garden, on Thursday, July 9th from 5:30-8:00pm with an evening tour of Laurie and Gary Lippert’s gardens. 🌿

You are welcome to come-and-go as you’re available during this event timeframe.

Spend a peaceful evening exploring a garden on the edge of the Cactus Heights Old Growth Bur Oak Forest, where many of the bur oaks are more than 100 years old. A dry creek bed lined with native plantings borders the back garden, while a harmonious mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals — including Japanese lilac, Minnesota redbud, ‘Sun King’ aralia, baptisia, Joe Pye weed, gas plant, and red-leafed Mukdenia — surrounds the home. Along the way, discover a granite birdbath and a unique hand-chiseled granite lotus water feature. Laurie and Gary Lippert have been creating this garden for 18 years and look forward to sharing it with visitors.

Come join us for the second garden tour of this series and to have the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas for your own gardens!

Masters in the Garden is a series of free pop-up events that occur periodically during the growing season. The public is invited to view a yard & garden in the community for a few hours. The gardener will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas, and discuss the current season’s gardening successes and failures.

Masters in the Garden – June 18, 2026

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We are kicking off our FREE summer pop-up series, Masters in the Garden, on Thursday, June 18th from 5:30-8:00pm with an evening tour of Janice and Richard Dickey’s gardens. 🌿

You are welcome to come-and-go as you’re available during this event timeframe.

This serene property includes about 300 varieties of hostas, shade perennials, and heirloom plants, along with mature trees and distinctive garden décor and structures. Richard is a longtime member of the Minnehaha Master Gardeners, and both Janice and Richard belong to the Sioux Falls Area Garden Club. Their knowledge and creativity have shaped this peaceful garden retreat.

Come join us for this enjoyable garden tour and to have the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas for your own gardens!

Masters in the Garden is a series of free pop-up events that occur periodically during the growing season. The public is invited to view a yard & garden in the community for a few hours. The gardener will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas, and discuss the current season’s gardening successes and failures.

Masters in the Garden – August 18

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You are invited to join the Masters in the Garden at the home of Cami Jacobsen on Monday, August 18.

 

When the Jacobsens moved into their home three summers ago, they inherited the bones of a great and diverse flower garden in their front yard. There were many flowering perennials and sculptural trees and bushes. From ornamental hawthorn trees, to smoke bush trees to pagoda dogwood, the front yard’s structure is very calming. The perennials include a bank of annabelle hydrangea, several colors of phlox, lilies, scented geraniums, black eyed Susan, monarda, and many more.
Moving into the backyard, one finds a massive ancient grape vine, arches with spaghetti squash, pole beans, and grape vines. There are many beds and pots of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. These include a bed of 6 varieties of basil, beds of onions, leeks, zinnia, bachelor’s button, sunflowers, and many others. The gorgeous and prolific vegetable garden was developed this year in the spot where a massive honeylocust tree used to grow.

 

This garden is perfectly located on the southwest side of the house. It is packed with interesting vegetables, These include ~30 heirloom tomato plants, many kinds of peppers, cucumbers, Lacinato kale, onions, shallots, cabbage, napa cabbage, radicchio, cauliflower, beets, carrots, celery, eggplant, pole beans, and spaghetti squash. Just harvested are garlic, rhubarb, and sweet peas.

 

Wrens, cardinals, blue jays, gold finches, and hummingbirds have made the garden their home-or at least their buffet. The butterflies and bees are all over the flowers and vegetable blossoms. There are many varieties of native and bumblebees that have decided to call this yard their home.
Come enjoy this garden oasis tucked into the center of town.

 

Admission is free!

 

Masters in the Garden is a series of pop-up events that occur periodically during the growing season. The public is invited to view a Minnehaha Master Gardener’s yard and garden for a few hours. The Master Gardener will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas, and discuss the current season’s gardening successes and failures.

 

**Note – In the event of rain, the tour is cancelled and there will not be a makeup date.

June Masters in the Garden

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You are cordially invited to tour the garden of Minnehaha Master Gardener Sue Nipe!  This is an opportunity to learn about how Sue created this beautiful space.  Located at 7014 W 56th St, Sioux Falls, SD, the wonderful garden will be open 5-7pm on Tuesday, June 24.  Best of all, admission is free!

This is a lovely garden that is surrounded by a white picket fence softened by Virginia creeper winding between the slats. Gardens are planted all around the house and includes full plantings along the boulevard in the front and side of the house. A pergola covered with Virginia creeper provides a shady retreat near the solar pond. You can enjoy the sound of a solar fountain as you stroll along the paths and discover the garden art magically sprouting among the many varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees. There are various hanging baskets, pots filled with a variety of herbs, and window boxes filled with annuals. Some of the flowers you will encounter include 17 varieties of peonies, Dorothy Rose columbine, Mexican primrose, Jackmanii clematis, Beaujolais lysimachia, multiple colors of perennial geranium, pink and purple salvia, blue false indigo and so much more. Sue’s garden also supplies her with fresh fruits and vegetables including strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes. There are a variety of trees and shrubs including flowering almond, lilac, Japanese yew, dwarf willow, prairie fire crabapple and two large blue spruce. You won’t want to miss this garden in full bloom.

Masters in the Garden is a series of pop-up events that occur periodically during the growing season. The public is invited to view a Minnehaha Master Gardener’s yard and garden for a few hours. The Master Gardener will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas, and discuss the current season’s gardening successes and failures.

**Note – In the event of rain, the tour is cancelled and there will not be a makeup date

Masters in the Garden – Session #3 Transplanting Perennials

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Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: 2615 E Woodland Hills Rd
                     Sioux Falls SD
 Admission: Free!

Join us in the gardens to learn first-hand about 
gardening practices and techniques!

 

What do you do with your hostas when they get too much sun after a tree has been blown down in a storm? Or if your peonies are shaded from a tree that grew bigger than expected? You transplant them to a more suitable environment!
 
At this event, you will be part of the solution as the hostas and peonies are dug and moved to better locations. Learn how to divide and plant hostas and peonies from Minnehaha County Master Gardener Mary Lerssen. There will also be extra plants to share! The event is at 2615 E. Woodland Hills Road from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, September 13.
 
This session is FREE and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.
 
In case of rain, the session will be canceled. For questions, please email info@MinnehahaMasterGardeners.org.
 

Contact Us:

4101 West 38th Street 57106
info@MinnehahaMasterGardeners.org
605-782-3290

The SDSU Extension Master Gardener program provides research‐based knowledge to and develops the leadership abilities of volunteers who, in turn, enable others to improve the quality of their lives by enhancing their home and community environments through horticultural education and activities.