On Saturday, May 27^th, friends, neighbors and Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA) volunteers planted over 25 species of prairie flowers and grasses in the Michael Swingley Prairie Flower Memorial Garden at 33^rd Street and 14 Avenue in Powderhorn Park. The seedlings planted are native to this region and include switch grass and other grasses, cone flowers, vervain, indigo, milkweed, black-eyed Susans, prairie smokes and other varietals.

Approximately 40 volunteers led by PPNA activist Paula Gilbertson, have been involved with this project – from planing and organization, to raising $4000 in monetary and equipment/supplies donations, to removing grass from the Powderhorn Park hillside, bringing in compost and layering it over the dirt, to planting the prairie flower and grass varieties, along with three oak trees. Mary McGuire-Lerman, a horticulturist, is the planting supervisor, and Gilbertson coordinates the volunteers. She feels the garden will educate people about native vegetation and be a reminder of Michael Swingley’s "love of native landscaping, and naturalizing."

A former chair of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program task force for the PPNA, Swingley participated not only in planning, but oversaw improvements. He acted as a liaison between the PPNA and the park board’s contractors, making sure they met the neighborhood’s expectations. Described as very "persnickety" and detail oriented, he made sure the time spent on the planning process was worthwhile.

A professional landscape architect and teacher, Swingley designed and managed gardens throughout the Twin Cities for over 20 years. He brought his discerning eye and green thumb to gardens such as the Bakken Museum developed by Medtronic founder, Earl Bakken, the Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, Sidney’s restaurants’ herb gardens and many other public locations and private residences. Swingley also spent several years working in New York City in landscaping design.

According to his family and friends, Swingley challenged himself and those around him to do their best, but was known for his frequent intellectual jousting and for making his opinion known. A favorite family tale describes the bold efforts of Swingley and his brother, Joe Swingley, to revive a dying garden in Minnetonka. Without permission, they nurtured the garden into a radiant vision of flora that stopped people in their paths. Swingley had the audacity to send a bill for his time to the property owner, a doctor, and surprisingly, the bill was paid. Over the course of several years, Swingley continued to maintain and improve the garden, and he and the doctor matched wills many times. One day, the doctor ran out to the garden and announced, " I surrender, the garden is yours!"

Swingley was also called in by the Swedish Institute for turf assistance before a visit from the King of Sweden. Swingley took one look at the lawn they had let go dormant and proclaimed, "I can’t work miracles!" But in no time, he had the grass green, and inviting for the King’s visit.

At the dedication of the garden on Saturday, Gilberston and Michael Swingley’s brother, Chris Swingley, rounded up several volunteers, another brother, three sisters and several relatives and friends into a tight circle underneath the clouds. One by one, all present introduced themselves, and shared memories of Michael Swingley.

Council Member Kathy Thurber, who met Swingley in the late 80’s, dedicated a Merit Award from the city of Minneapolis in memory of Swingley, "For enriching our community life with his generous contributions of time and talent in service to our beloved Powderhorn Park."

His sister Valerie Palmer became misty when she spoke of the garden and "thought he would approve." A neighbor, Mary Ann Johnson reflected, "I think he’d be really happy to see us here in the circle."

Gilbertson, who described Swingley as very giving, believes the Prairie Garden "embodies Michael’s spirit." She plans to oversee the garden, with the help of neighborhood volunteers, in the coming years.