Great day for a garden party!

Photos by Charis Prunty/Register

South Dakota State University dedicated its McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center Thursday, on a beautiful evening before a crowd of several hundred people.



Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a free hot dog picnic and SDSU ice cream, along with music from local jazz band Murph and Friends, shown here, and bluegrass band Lonesome Rail.



/ Bill Folkerts, center, examines one of three miniatures of “The Prairie is my Garden,” the sculpture created by Dee Clements for the Education and Visitor Center. Clements presented the maquettes to the Pat and Dale Larson family, Duane and Barbara Reed Harms and Dean and Harriet Swedlund, who gave large gifts to make the new building possible.



/ The dedication was combined with McCrory’s annual garden party, and guests were welcomed to check out the new landscaping behind the Education and Vistor Center, as well as the entire gardens.