South Dakota Gardens

 Great Plains Zoo: 805 S. Kiwanis Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (605)367-7003.

This 45 acre zoo displays 400 animals representing more than 70 native and exotic species. Naturalistic exhibits include the Penguin Pool, the Primate Complex, the Australian Outback, the Birds of Prey Island, the Children's Zoo, the Asian Cat Habitat, the Wild Dogs of America Exhibit, the Remembrance Garden and more.

 McCrory Gardens and the South Dakota State Arboretum: 6th Street and 22nd Avenue, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007-0996 (605)688-5136.

The 20 acres of formal display gardens include two All America Selections Display Gardens, an All America Selections Judging Garden, the Rock Garden, the Mum Garden, the President's Garden, the Floral Display Garden, the Iris Garden, Irises, Daylilies, Lilies, Ornamental Grasses, Peonies, the Alcove Garden, the Great Lawn, the Woodland Garden, the Rose Garden, the Pharmaceutical Garden, the Centennial Prairie Garden, the Maze Garden, plus 3 planned gardens (the Sensory Garden, the Sculpture Garden and the Cottage Garden). Of the 650 native North American tree species and the 100 introduced species, only a handful survive in the Northern Plains. The 45 acre Arboretum seeks to expand that group, and features collections of 60 species of trees and shrubs.

 McKennan Park: 26th Street and Second Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD (605)367-8222.

This 20 acre park includes a Pillars of the Nation exhibit featuring rocks from every state in the country.

 Rapid City Memorial Rose Garden: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center/Memorial Park, 444 Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57701 (605)394-4167.

This spacious public park includes an All America Rose Selections accredited rose garden.

 Shakespeare Garden: Pardee Laboratories Building, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069.

The garden, with a sculpture of Shakespeare, contains every flower, herb and shrub mentioned in Shakespeare's plays and sonnets.