The Arboretum’s Tulip Tradition Rooted in Art and Heart
- Diana Pierce
- May 14
- 3 min read
At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, spring doesn’t tiptoe in—it arrives in a vibrant burst of color. Yellow, orange, violet, and green sweep across the gardens in a spectacular display featuring 108 varieties of tulips.
 Duane Otto, MN Landscape Arboretum's Horticulturist. Photo: Diana Pierce |
At the center of this dazzling transformation is Duane Otto, the Arboretum’s longtime horticulturist. While his volunteer crew calls him the Garden Guru, Otto quietly prefers another title: Artist in Flowers.
“This will be the 36th year of the tulip displays I designed,” Otto said.
Each display begins with a theme. For 2025, Otto’s inspiration is “Citrus Joy.”
 Annual Garden Area at the MN Landscape Arboretum. Photo: Diana Pierce |
“The colors I’m using are yellow, orange, and green—highlighted with violet,” he said. “It’s kind of like walking into an orange or lemon grove.”
 One of the many violet shades of tulips. Photo: Diana Pierce |
Sometimes the theme supports an Arboretum event; other times, it’s purely Otto’s imagination at play. Either way, planning begins over a year in advance.
“By mid-July, I need to have the theme locked in,” Otto said, flipping through one of his well-worn bulb catalogs.
 One of the catalogs Otto uses for inspiration. Photo: Diana Pierce |
He then reached for a hand-drawn garden grid—his planning tool of choice. Each bed was carefully sketched by hand, with notes marking how many bulbs to plant and where each variety would go.
“This is where it starts,” he explained. “I sketch the layout, order the bulbs from Dutch growers, and by late October, we’re planting.”
Tulips are planted by hand—40,000 bulbs in all—with more than 500 volunteer hours devoted to the task. Otto’s own crew returns year after year, joined by visiting volunteers and corporate teams who dig in, quite literally.
“We lay out the designs, place each bulb, and then we wait,” Otto said. “Come spring—magic.”
Despite the lure of digital tools, Otto remains loyal to pen and paper. Each year’s design is sketched by hand—complete with cutout templates for visualizing each bed.
 Duane Otto's hand drawn planting layout for 2025. Photo: Diana Pierce |
“I’m old-fashioned,” he said. “It’s part of my creative process—and I think it’s beautiful.”
All of Otto’s 36 years of designs have been preserved by the University of Minnesota Libraries, ensuring that his floral artistry lives on for future generations.
The tulip displays are made possible by an endowment from Corrie Beck in memory of her husband, Regents Professor Robert H. Beck. Each fall, Corrie visits to see the plans, and in spring, she returns to see them in bloom.
Tulips may be the star of spring, but Otto’s gardens also feature daffodils, pansies, snapdragons, and more.
When asked where he finds the most joy during peak bloom, Otto doesn’t hesitate.
“The annual garden,” he said. “The paths go right through the beds, the fountain’s running, people are taking photos—it just feels good.”
 Annual garden view at the MN Landscape Arboretum. Photo: Diana Pierce |
And that, he says, is what it’s all about: giving people an experience that inspires.
“Every tulip is labeled,” he added. “Visitors take notes, pick their favorites, and plant them at home. That’s special—there aren’t many places like this.”
Tickets: Recommended for everyone, especially on weekends and busy days.
Hours: Grounds: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Buildings: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
What is your favorite tulip? Have you planted your tulips at home from inspiration at the Arb? Email back and let me know.
Until then,
Diana Pierce
Diana Pierce Photography
P.S. My next Bloom With Me features a tiny endangered flower that is only found in Minnesota and nowhere else on earth.
Follow @DianaPiercePhotography for more floral stories each month!
About the Author: Diana Pierce is a floral photographer and writer who shares her passion for flowers and creativity through her newsletter, Bloom With Me.
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