Driftless Arboretum/Botanical Gardens at Scenic Valley Farm
- Where: Located at Scenic Valley Farm
- A non profit privately owned with public access
- When: Opening in Summer 2026
Current Projects:
We are working on three water features:
- A fountain in the Shade/Hosta Garden
- A pond/waterfall in the Herb/Sensory Garden
- A pond/waterfall feature near the main entrance
Project Status Nov 11 2025:
We are working (two trips to Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery Lakevile MN) on buying deciduous and conifers trees. perennial plants and shrubs from Bachman’s Landscape Nursery in Lakeville MN. We are expanding our Maple Collection, adding new tree varieties and expanding the Perennial Gardens; Later this week volunteers and I will be working on the pond/waterfall at the main entrance. We are saving our extensive collection of zinneas dried blooms for the seeds. They are available in baggies for people to take.
In the Spring of 2026 there are a couple Arboretum Grants available that we plan to summit proposals.
The Features include:
1. Garden plots with some possible inside a high tunnel
The garden plots will be availailable to the people living in the towns of Kickapoo and Readstown. 10×20′ garden plots raised with 2×12″ wood boards for the sides along with various sized galvanize raised gardens will be provided. A well balanced compost along with water and wood mulch will be available. A yearly fee will be charged.
2. Education growing classes for kids and adults’
TBD
3a. Education classes
“Good Food-Good Health” via nurse volunteer for kids and adults
TBD
4. Herb (sensory) garden
A rock garden with small pond and waterfall with various herbs and sensory plants. TBD
The hole is dug on 7.25.25 for the pond and water fall.
5. Trees and shrubs
There are over 100 mature trees with 40 some varieties over 20 years old, We will eventaully name tags on the trees. Here are some of the trees:
6. Water gardens
Two holes are dug on 7.2.25 and EPDM liners for the ponds have been ordered: Mike Lepke dug the holes.
7. Patio for relaxing and beverages
8. Butterfly garden – outside & inside tunnel
Gardens of zinnias for the buuerflys:
High tunnel is being prepared for the indoor butterfly garden.
9. Rose garden
10. Perennial plant garden – Demo garden
11. Annual plant garden – Demo garden
12. Walkways/Paths
Walkway in wildflowers.
Food Plot of clover and pumplins for the deer.
13. Vertical/raised gardens for flowers, veggies, berries
14. Compost Bins – From recycled food waste
15. Pollinator garden
16. Wildflower garden
17. Vertical Strawberries
18. Evergreen Tree collection
19. Hosta/Shade Garden
20. Edible Berries Collection
In ground day-neutral strawberries with spotted wing drosophala insect neting.
Strawberries grown vertically in stacked pots. Click on Verticalky Growing Strawberries.,
Strawberries grown using vertical stacked pots, Nov 1 2025
Blackberry 2025
A cluster of large berries
Strawberries and lemon drop marigolds
21. Vegetable Garden Demo
22. Solar Therma
23. Recycle Food Waste and Compost
24. Firewood
We are looking for Volunteers for the Arboretum Project. Contact me if you are interested.
A presentation – Aboretum at SVF
We are applying for grants via foundations to help pay for plants, material and labor. And maybe some state grants since all federal scientific grants have been suspended. We have identified grants for every feature ranging in size from $500-$100,000.