This Dazzling Display of Color and Texture Delight Locals and Guests of the South Pier Inn
Betty Sola's backyard on the Superior Bay is across from the South Pier Inn gardens which she designed and maintains.
Fifteen years ago, “All I really knew was ‘Short ones in the front, tall ones in the back,’ Betty Sola said with a laugh when asked how she became such a masterful gardener. Today, Betty’s gardens are considered by many to be the best tulip and perennial garden in Duluth.
Thousands of tulips are on display with a spring-green Duluth hillside across from Superior Bay. Photo by Shannon Hursh - lifeonthesouthshore.com
The garden grew from a backyard hobby into a one-block stretch of shoreline behind the South Pier Inn on Park Point, which is owned by the Sola family. Beginning with the 3,000-bulb tulips in May and stretching into the late August “Dinner plate Dahlias,” the garden has become a destination for Duluthians and hotel guests to appreciate.
In addition to many species of flora and fauna, “Betty’s Gardens” contain walking paths, Japanese Zen Gardens, and plenty of unique items that have washed ashore on the beach. While the garden looks professional - and straight out of the pages of a magazine - the Solas are impressively self-taught.
The Japenese Zen garden is the centerpiece of Betty's work.
“When we started, this area was all weeds and rubble,” she said. With the help of husband Dale, “We brought in all the dirt; moved all the rocks,” beginning the transformation we see today. Next-door neighbor and friend Patti Peters joined the effort. Over the last 15+ years, and with plenty of TLC, the garden has continued to grow and evolve as she and Patti got inspired. “You know how gardeners are,” Sola noted with a chuckle. “We just keep expanding.”
The Solas’ gardens are enjoyed all spring and summer by guests at the Inn, passersby, and even the Solas’ three cats – Paris, Pepper, and Susie Q – who enjoy an enviable view from their screened-in “cat penthouse.”
Species
Betty’s gardens spring into life in May, when her 3,000+ tulips blossom.
Guests at the South Pier Inn and hundreds of Duluthians enjoy Betty's 3,000 tulips in the spring. Photo by Shannon Hursh - lifeonthesouthshore.com
In the summer, one of the last varietals to arrive on the scene are her glorious 12-inch Dinnerplate Dahlias, which bloom in August. After hosting a garden party for Duluth Rotary Club 25, The Gimlet newsletter reported, “Betty never met a Dahlia she didn’t love.”
"Dinnerplate Dahlia's" can grow to a whopping 12 to 14 inches.
Between that time, however, the garden is awash in the colors and textures provided by various other plant species. For instance, her bright pink Hollyhocks – grown from seeds given to Betty from the Master Gardener at Glensheen - can grow up to 12’ in height, standing tall and straight on thick, fibrous stalks.
The hollyhock seeds were a gift from the master gardener at Glensheen mansion.
Tart cherry trees provide delicious, edible fruit that is perfect for jams, jellies, or eating straight off the tree. Pink and purple Fuchsia are almost otherworldly in their vibrant hues.
There are gorgeous Hydrangeas and Geraniums. An abundance of wild roses offers a lovely color and fragrance. Salvia attracts plenty of pollinators, like hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies.
Red Poppies, lush green ferns, Hostas, Black Eyed Susans, Cloeme, and Cosmos capture the eye with their beauty. There is also Astilboid Tabularis, a curious, extra-large-leafed perennial, which is native to Korea. Betty’s ethereal, fluffy-looking Smoke Tree is another unique addition.
Red poppies grace the shoreline of Superior Bay, with the South Pier Inn and Aerial Lift Bridge in the background.
Here, all of these amazing species – and more - live together in harmony. They can be explored by way of a variety of walking paths Dale has constructed from slate and pavers from old turn-of-the-century Duluth streets, which he has been collecting for over 50 years.
Dale, who is of 100% Finnish descent (and was also the designer of the South Pier Inn), takes pride in the aesthetic of crisp, clean Scandinavian design. All the path’s lines are beautifully straight and true.
Other Unique Finds
The Solas’ gardens also contain plenty of other unique finds; some of which have washed up on the beach directly in front of their house.
For instance, there are three large, terra cotta Fleur-de-Lis. These artistic, architectural flourishes came from the old Holland Hotel, which stood at 501-503 West Superior Street, where the Radisson Hotel operates today.
Remnants of the Holland Hotel washed ashore in a storm. The Solas rescued the artifacts, and now three are featured in Betty's garden.
When the majestic old hotel was demolished by a wrecking ball in the 1960s, its remains were unceremoniously dumped into the bay. However, after a storm several years ago, the remains of a once glorious hotel were washed ashore directly in front of the Solas’ home, and now, they are a beautiful addition to the garden.
Large, beautiful stones with thick, visible veining are scattered throughout the garden paths, too, courtesy of “a friend who is a connoisseur of rocks.” And much of the slate used in their pathways are slabs the Solas found on a beach up the river.
A multi-talented lady
Betty Sola is a woman of many talents. Having studied communications, psychology, and English at UMD, she has a background in marketing and many decades of business experience. For 35 years she has been the CEO of North American Training Institute, which provides web-based clinical training on gambling addiction treatment, educational youth gambling prevention.
Twenty-three years ago, the Sola family, including Betty, her husband Dale, and his sons Steven and Rand, purchased the land at the foot of the Aerial Lift Bridge (adjacent to the west side of the south pier canal) and built the South Pier Inn. At that time they also purchased 11 lots of water and shoreline along Superior Bay, now Betty’s playground for her garden.
A gardener's touch is evident to the guests of South Pier Inn.
The Sola family believes that small businesses are the heart and soul of communities and prioritize working with other Duluth small businesses. Read the Destination Duluth story on the South Pier Inn.
Remarkably, Trip Advisor consistently ranks South Pier Inn as the #1 hotel in Duluth and in the Top 10 for the entire state of Minnesota.
Landscaping at the Inn
The Solas have also invested plenty of time in installing some lovely landscaping at South Pier Inn.
There is a gorgeous slate patio directly overlooking the Aerial Lift Bridge. A rock walking path hugs the 400 feet of private shoreline on the bay. Cherry trees add plenty of bright visual interest … and a delicious snack for guests.
A giant hanging petunia planter adorns the entrance of the hotel lobby and patio.
“Five years ago, the back of the hotel was all just green grass,” Betty said. “We put in a rock path that follows the shoreline and planted ten dwarf cherry trees.” Beautiful hanging baskets of pink and red Geraniums, as well as a show-worthy petunia planter, also add pops of color to the exterior of the Inn.
Many guests view the gardens as a priceless bonus of staying at the Inn as they stroll through on a morning or evening walk.
Pride
For the Solas, who have incorporated over 15 years of trial and error to create these magical gardens, the rewards of their bounty have been well worth the effort.
“Where we are today, it is so rewarding to see everything through other people’s eyes,” Betty stated. “I noticed that some Duluth Plein Air painters were out sketching the gardens one day earlier this summer,” she added. “That just makes my heart sing. This process has been so joyful for me.”
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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.
