Margaret Yeakel-Twum

Margaret Yeakel-Twum, age 65 passed away on September 10, 2020 at her home in Shoreview, MN. She was a deeply curious, hands-in-the-dirt kind of woman. An explorer, a teacher, and an advocate for the value of experiences over possessions. She was a mother, a grandmother, and a friend to plants and people alike.

Born in Austin, Texas in 1955 before relocating to Shoreview, MN during her high school years, Margaret spent her life chasing the awe of the natural world and inviting others to see it the way she did. Her passion for horticulture and ethnobotany led her on journeys through places like Hawaii, Ghana, Belize, Britain, Singapore, and Borneo. These experiences shaped how she lived and what she gave to others: bold curiosity, and an open mind.

Margaret made her mark as a horticulturist at the University of Minnesota and later at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, where she worked for over two decades. While she was a longtime steward of the North Garden, a space filled with plants used in food, medicine, and ritual, her contributions reached far beyond. She nurtured rare and extraordinary species like Vanilla Orchids, Victoria Water Lilies, Cacao Trees, Camphor Trees from Nagasaki seeds and the infamous Corpse Flowers.

Margaret is preceded in death by her beloved daughter Vanessa Yeakel, with whom she shared a deep bond, and by her mother, Barbara Zoubek Yeakel. She is survived and will be forever missed by her son Max Twum (Dana) and grandson Xavier Yeakel, as well as her siblings Barbara Coe, Philip Yeakel (Linda), and Peter Yeakel (Leila). She is also loved and survived by her chosen family: Ann Merritt, Meaghan Stein, and Frank Bohlander (Mark Hall). She leaves behind extended family, close friends, and a wide community of those she inspired, taught, and learned from over the years.

Margaret taught us that life doesn’t have to follow a template. Joy can be found in strange blooms, plant-filled adventures and long conversations under trees with those who you love. She gave us all the courage and inspiration to explore what we thought was cool in this world.

We are all sad to lose her, but if you knew Margaret, you know how lucky you were to have met her.