On Aug. 16 and 17, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will present two popular summer events – the 26th Annual Arboretum Flower and Garden Show, co-sponsored by the Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, and the Minneapolis Men’s Garden Club’s Food, Flower and Foto Show. 

The shows will take place in the Oswald Visitor Center’s MacMillan Auditorium from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. both days and are free with gate admission, according to an Arboretum press release.

In addition, local plant societies will host displays and bulb sales in the visitor center’s McQuinn Great Hall. These include the Minnesota Herb Society, the Daffodil Society of Minnesota and the Iris Society of Minnesota.

The Minneapolis Men’s Garden Club invites amateur gardeners to enter garden specimens into the show. For details, contact Nancy Bjerke at (612) 353-5220 or Audrey Grote at (952) 935-3104 or visit www.minneapolismensgardenclub.org. Amateur gardeners also are encouraged to enter flowers, fruits and vegetables into the 26th Annual Arboretum Flower and Garden Show. Contact Nancy Allison at (952) 881-3946 or nancyallison@att.net.

Other Arboretum events for the Aug. 16-17 weekend include: the Treeology Summer Exhibition with a 1.5 mile Art ‘n’ Trees Trail of sculpture and installations and the Tree-mendous Trees collection of unusual and beloved Arb trees.

Closer to the Visitor Center, check out Grown Home with its living willow furniture and the Tree Discovery Zone where U of M Tree Care Advisors will offer free advice and consults from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 16).

For visitors with children, stop by the Andrus Learning Center for the “Prairie Natives” weekend family fun activity offered from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Arboretum grounds are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 adults; free for members and ages 15 and younger.