Seasons - Spring 2021 {Vol. 12 Issue 2}

ANNUAL EXHIBITION

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

EDUCATION FEATURE

Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming

Welcoming New Gardens to the Welcome Center

Curiosity Grows Here!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Spring 2021 Volume 12, Issue 2

SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE VIRTUAL SERIES

Susan Morrison & Bill Cullina

FORWARD FOCUSED The enduring spirit of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has never been more poignant than over the last year. While the world around us continues to brave a pandemic, we remain a beacon of beauty, hope and fellowship. We will always be a place to find a little joy, even in uncertain times.

With this in mind, we forged ahead with the soft opening of our new Welcome Center on January 11, 2021. We marked this milestone with a safe, physically distanced ceremony. I was honored to cut the ribbon and represent the thousands of people who made this historic event possible. While it would have been much more enjoyable to celebrate with our diverse community, I was proud to report that, despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic, we opened on time and in budget.

Our new Welcome Center was designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, architects renowned worldwide for their masterful work. Their considerable talents have shaped the campus of Meijer Gardens in many ways. Let me highlight a few.

Landscape is critical to the botanic garden and sculpture park experience. The new Welcome Center is made up of walls, which are now a part of the landscape of Meijer Gardens. These walls come from the land itself, constructed from granite quarried from Echo Lake, Minnesota and designed to complement our natural landscape. They add to the beauty of the Meijer Gardens experience—when you visit, note how the walls change in color with the light and season.

The architectural aesthetic of the new Welcome Center also complements our existing building, making it even more striking. Massive picture windows inside the new Peter C. & Emajean Cook Entryway frame a stunning view of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. The interplay of natural light and shadows within the entirety of the Welcome Center enhances its beauty while creating a sense of intimacy in the generous space. Thanks to the natural rotation of the earth around the sun, light enters in slightly different ways to work with the architecture, sculpture and horticulture and create places of beauty. All areas of the Welcome Center open to the public have natural light.

We refer to the Welcome Center opening as soft because the Garden Pavilion, which will contain the magnificent Utopia by Jaume Plensa, is yet to be revealed. While it was always our intention to open this space later, the closure of international seaports during the pandemic delayed shipment of Utopia and the opening of the Garden Pavilion until late 2021. I promise it will be worth the wait.

As we focus forward, we remain steadfast to our promise to be always growing, always beautiful and always new. We’ve begun construction of the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden, designed by Julie Moir Messervy, the expansion of the BISSELL Corridor and the renovation and expansion of our sculpture galleries. We’re continuing the work we started last fall on the expanded and redesigned Volunteer Tribute Garden, too.

Over the last 25 years, you have far exceeded our expectations. Our membership and attendance continue to grow, inspiring us to innovate our spaces. The generosity of our members; Fred and Lena Meijer; the extended Meijer Family; and the hundreds of donors who supported the new Welcome Center makes it possible. We are ever thankful, and we celebrate every milestone with you. We look forward to welcoming you, this season especially. It’s such an exciting time.

Gratefully,

David S. Hooker President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Remembering Mary Ann Keeler

HONORARY CHAIRMAN Frederik Meijer (1919–2011) HONORARY MEMBER Earl Holton

PRESIDENT & CEO David Hooker

EX OFFICIO MEMBER President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation

Mary Ann Keeler (August 28, 1925–January 14, 2021)

We are saddened by the loss of our friend Mary Ann Keeler and are remembering her wonderful legacy. Mary Ann’s contributions to the arts in West Michigan have touched countless lives, from playing a vital role in the placement of the Alexander Calder stabile La Grande Vitesse to serving on Meijer Gardens’ Sculpture Advisory Committee, and much more. Her lifelong passion for making art accessible to all people has enriched Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and West Michigan. She will be greatly missed.

Saralyn Coupe Ryan Anderson Tasha Blackmon Linda Chamberlain Chuck Christmas Jocelyn Dettloff Scott DeVecht Suzanne Eberle Joy Fossel Meg Goebel Charyn Hain Shane Hansen Todd Harvey Tamara Hibbitts Nancy Hickey Ronald Hofman Mike Jeppesen Gloria Lara Tim Liang Elisa Lintemuth Jon March

Janet Mason Candace Matthews Mary McLoughlin Mark Miller Laina Mills Mark Mossing Hannah Naltner Bonnie Nawara Doriane Parker-Sims JoAnne Perkins Jim Preston Carlos Sanchez Joe Taber Debbye Turner Bell Kathleen Vogelsang Jill Walcott Maryln Walton Tina Wheeler Daniel Williams Robert Wolford

HONORARY MEMBERS OF SCULPTURE COMMITTEE

Miner S. and Mary Ann Keeler

ANNUAL EXHIBITION

FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING EXHIBITION SCULPTURE HIGHLIGHTS

WELCOME CENTER SCULPTURE

HORTICULTURE ESSAY

WELCOMING NEW GARDENS TO THE WELCOME CENTER ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT

WELCOME CENTER UPDATE

PHILANTHROPY / MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE VIRTUAL SERIES

SUSAN MORRISON & BILL CULLINA EDUCATION FEATURE

CURIOSITY GROWS HERE EVENTS / CLASSES / CAMPS

Meijer Gardens receives funding from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

SPRING BONSAI TO SUMMER CLASSES Cover: Inside the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory DEAN VAN DIS

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

MAR 1–APR 30, 2021 Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

SEP 17–OCT 31, 2021 Chrysanthemums & More!

Spring 2021 Volume 12, Issue 2 March—May 2021 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 © 2021 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Seasons is published four times per year for members.

If you would like to comment on our content, please call membership at 616-977-7689 or email hello@meijergardens.org..

CONTENT

BOARD of DIRECTORS

hello@meijergardens.org

4–5 6–7 8–9 10 - 11 12 - 13 14 – 17 18 - 19 20 - 26

Be sure to check out our Wardian case, located in the Earl and Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor.

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ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021.

All classes, events and programming are subject to change. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information.

Due to current COVID-19 orders, capacity restrictions are in effect and wait times may apply.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS: Additional Member Only Early Hours In addition to current early member hours (which happen on the first full weekend every month on Saturdays from 8 am–9 am and Sundays from 9 am–11 am) Meijer Gardens will also open early for members only from 9 am–11 am every Sunday in March.

See page 12 for more Member-Only opportunities.

NEW THIS YEAR: EXTENDED HOURS Join us for extended hours during April.

Open until 7 pm during April 9 pm on Tuesdays Sundays open from 9 am–7 pm for all guests Tuesday Night Lights Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, Tuesdays until 9 pm Bring your flashlight and search for butterflies with us.

Outdoor Children’s Activities In the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden Monday, March 1—Friday, April 30 Daylight hours only See page 18 for full description.

Volunteers Wanted. Needed. Appreciated. Various jobs and shifts. Mid-February through mid-May. Contact Valerie Maciejewski at vmaciejewski@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221.

Visit MeijerGardens.org/volunteer for more information.

INTO THE GLASS HOUSE

offers a sense of wonder with magical glass houses from four-feet tall to our iconic 50-foot tall Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

INTO THE GLASS HOUSE

FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING Monday, March 1—Friday, April 30, 2021

Spring has sprung inside the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory as we invite you to step into the glass house and explore an enchanting world alive with winged wonders. Come warm up with us.

Every March, they travel by the thousands across the world to take flight and delight the child in each of us during Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming. This year marks the 26th anniversary of our beloved event, which remains the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States and a perennial point of pride at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

With its abbreviated three-week run last year due to the global pandemic, the theme of Into The Glass House returns with an intriguing look into the world of life under glass. From our soaring five-story conservatory to modest artful terrariums, this year’s exhibition captivates from every corner. A focal point will be the Wardian case in the Earl & Donnalee Victorian Garden Parlor, abloom with bromeliads, orchids and ferns.

The history of this curious case dates back to 1842, when English doctor and amateur botanist Nathanial Bagshaw Ward innovated what he called a “fern house”. This first glass terrarium came to bear his name. A greenhouse in miniature, the Wardian case uses condensation and evaporation to self-regulate climate without an outside water source. Ward’s invention of this enclosed, sustainable environment forever changed the course of modern botany, farming and commerce in the Industrial Era by allowing safe transport of flowers, plants and crops.

Next stop on the exhibition is the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, home to approximately 60 butterfly and moth species. Look for the Observation Station, where custom release cases reminiscent of Dr. Wardian’s discovery invite you to witness transformation as they emerge from chrysalides and cocoons to stretch their wings and learn to fly. Every week, an expected 1,000 chrysalides make the long journey from tropical regions in Asia, Central America, South America and Africa to Meijer Gardens.

As you meander the walkway, stop to spot stunners like the majestic blue morpho, elegant clearwing and impressive atlas moth, with its incredible 6–12 inch wingspan.

Other interesting stops include the caterpillar exhibition in our Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse and outdoor children’s activities in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. While the exhibition may look and feel a little different this year, we remain committed to keeping you safe and comfortable as you create memories with the whole family. We appreciate your patience as we work through reduced capacity in our conservatory and other new procedures designed with your health and safety in mind. Exhibition details are subject to change, so please continue to visit MeijerGardens.org for the latest updates prior to your visit. We look forward to welcoming you Into The Glass House!

Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming is made possible by

The James & Shirley Balk Café is open again for indoor dining. Come and visit us and enjoy an indoor dining experience under Lena's Garden by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.

Media Sponsors

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation

Howard Miller Company Foremost Graphics Group The Meijer Foundation

Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts

ANNUAL EXHIBITION 5

WELCOME CENTER SCULPTURE HIGHLIGHTS, PART 1 In addition to horticultural displays and architectural details throughout, the Welcome Center will feature prominent works of sculpture by major international artists Jaume Plensa, George Segal, Yinka Shonibare CBE, El Anatsui, Alexander Calder and Marshall Fredericks, whose work began Fred Meijer’s passion for collecting sculpture. Part of the permanent sculpture collection, the placement of these works and horticultural elements reflects our mission as evidenced throughout the Gardens & Sculpture Park. Read on to learn more about a few of the newly placed sculptures and the artists who created them.

EL ANATSUI. NEW WORLD MAP, 2009.

El Anatsui was born in a small town on the coast of Ghana. His father was a Kente cloth weaver, the traditional West African fabric. During the 1960s, when Anatsui was studying art at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, the country achieved independence. In 1975, he moved to Nsukka, Nigeria to assume a teaching position at the University of Nigeria. Now retired from teaching, Anatsui still lives and works in Nsukka. He is now considered one of the most important living artists from the African continent.

El Anatsui’s art is steeped in the traditions of West Africa, including signs and symbols derived from Akan people in Ghana and Igbo in Nigeria. He has incorporated African design into sculptures made from wood, clay or fabric. In the past two decades, he used metal, especially aluminum bottle caps from liquor bottles, to create sumptuous wall hangings such as New World Map, a work that we acquired specifically for the Welcome Center. Although it refers to a map in its title, New World Map is not a specific geographic space. This sculpture is vibrant with color and texture as it expands and contracts across the surface.

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SCULPTURE HIGHLIGHTS

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ALEXANDER CALDER. POLYCHROME LURES, 1975. (Left)

MARSHALL FREDERICKS. LORD BYRON, 1938; CAST 1995. (Right)

Alexander Calder is one of the most important American sculptors of the 20th Century, famous for his large outdoor sculptures placed in city centers and sculpture parks around the world. In West Michigan, he is best known as the creator of La Grande Vitesse (1969), the iconic sculpture in downtown Grand Rapids. Calder was born into a family of artists who wanted him to become a mechanical engineer. He eventually gave up working as an engineer and studied art in New York and Paris, where he became fascinated with the circus. His first sculptures were miniature circuses made with found objects. His breakthrough came in the 1930s with the creation of abstract kinetic sculptures that were suspended and able to move with air currents. By the 1950s, he began to develop large standing mobiles that still looked airy and light but stood on the ground—so-called stabiles.

Dating from late in his career, Polychrome Lures is a synthesis of Calder’s career. It has the suspended parts of the mobile but with a stationary base, and it is therefore referred to as a standing mobile. The brightly colored shapes are reminiscent of the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, whose work Calder first grew to admire when he lived in Paris. The work is a wonderful example of Calder’s whimsical approach to modern sculpture.

Marshall Fredericks is a sculptor with strong ties to the Midwest and specifically Michigan. He studied at Cleveland School of Art, Cranbrook Academy, as well as several European academies and studios. He was a versatile and prolific sculptor whose specialty was architectural sculpture and fountains often commissioned for important civic buildings and plazas. In Michigan and beyond, he may be best known for the sculpture Spirit of Detroit in downtown Detroit.

Fred Meijer acquired his first Fredericks sculpture for his hometown of Greenville, Michigan, based on a Hans Christian Andersen children’s tale. Fred developed a great fondness for Fredericks’ work; when Meijer Gardens opened in 1995, 33 bronzes by the artist were installed on the grounds.

Lord Byron is Fredericks’ homage to the famous 19th-century Romantic poet. The sculptor fittingly portrays the poet as a man of great emotions and inner turmoil, his head thrown back and his hand raised to his forehead.

Visitors can enjoy familiar Fredericks sculptures inside the Welcome Center such as The Thinker and Seven Saints and Sinners, and they will have a great view of the sculptures Siberian Ram, Flying Wild Geese and Wings of Morning, all located just outside the Welcome Center windows in the newly renovated Ram’s Garden.

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SCULPTURE HIGHLIGHTS

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WELCOMING NEW GARDENS TO THE WELCOME CENTER The new Welcome Center is now open, greatly enhancing the arrival, admission and orientation experience for all who visit. This central element of our multi-year Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love expansion project continues our mission of promoting the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts. Let’s take a minute to talk about the new gardens.

Several horticultural highlights can be found in these new spaces, as diverse garden offerings continue to expand in newly opened areas, both inside and out. The new parking lots are not just parking lots, but diverse urban gardens. A newly reimagined Ram’s Garden is in full view from the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Ticketing Center. Mimi’s Garden is a surprise waiting to be discovered within the lower Courtyard Level of the Welcome Center. These examples are all waiting to be explored and enjoyed as part of the expanded guest experience.

The new parking lots have been conceived as a living oasis. Garden islands are designed to channel guests toward the main entry walkway and create an attractive urban garden featuring an abundance of plantings. Over 35 types of trees and woody shrubs have been planted in this area, including unique and hardy specimens like the Swiss stone pine, Pinus cembra, a narrow pyramidal evergreen tree that provides dark green color in the landscape. Native to the mountains of Europe and Asia, this pine has stiff yet soft 3-inch long needles in bundles of five, which are often twisted, with a blue green to light green color. Over 50 perennial plant varieties can be found within these island beds. On the south end of the newest lot is a living wall which has been planted with over 800 perennials. This wall includes North American native Pennsylvania sedge and ‘Undaunted’ muhly grass, as well as hardy perennials like Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’ and Allium ‘Balloon Bouquet’.

The Ram’s Garden has been redesigned to be the striking primary view from within the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Ticketing Center. This reimagined garden space features a textural backdrop of spruce, pine, hornbeam and birch trees.

The layering of trees frames a closer garden tapestry of low perennials in mixed hues of green, blue-gray and white. Pagoda dogwood, Cornus alternifolia, is a tree native to Eastern North America. Several delightful examples of pagoda dogwood frame the Ram’s Garden view. These specimen trees were grown at 8

HORTICULTURAL ESSAY

a nursery in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and are not commonly seen in the landscape. They are an excellent native tree with a unique horizontal branching pattern that forms a distinct tiered habit, often catching snow in the winter. Clusters of white flowers show up in spring, dark green foliage turns a beautiful burgundy red in fall, and blue-black berries create winter interest.

Continuing inside and down to the Courtyard Level, natural light streams in to illuminate the relocated Peter M. Wege Library, new volunteer center and central gathering space. Through the windows is Mimi’s Garden, where the intimate plantings look as though they have been transplanted from a shaded woodland. This new garden space features several very special trees that will mature over time. The understory trees are the familiar eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. Redbud flowers in the early springtime, before the leaves appear, with petite pinkish-purple flowers that emerge along the dark grey twigs. The three larger trees are native pawpaw, Asimina triloba. Pawpaw is native to the eastern and central United States, including south-central Michigan, and it is a surprisingly well-kept secret. The pawpaw trees in this garden have been grown from Michigan seed and will take a few years to mature and produce the ruddy spring flowers which are often hidden amongst the newly emerging chartreuse leaves. The fruit can be scarce, but those who experience it are not likely to forget its delightful aroma and flavor. The lower plantings in this garden are a mix of ferns and woodland perennials with a carpet of groundhugging scotch moss. Scotch moss is actually not a moss at all, though its compact mats of foliage will spread over time and grow to a foot or more in width and just 1–2 inches tall. Tufts of slender leaves cover thin, creeping stems, and small star-shaped flowers are produced beginning in late spring, blanketing the garden floor.

There is so much to experience at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture park. As these new areas open, our gardens will continue to expand and evolve. Plants will provide the first spring flush of color in these areas and gardens will continue to change throughout the season. Our grounds are full of wonder and anticipation as plants transition with color and life.

Essay by Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture

Pawpaw trees planted in the new Mimi's Garden are grown from Michigan seed and will take a few years to mature and produce ruddy spring flowers like those seen here.

HORTICULTURAL ESSAY

9

Inside the expanded and relocated Peter C. & Emajean Cook Entryway.

WELCOME CENTER UPDATE The new year ushered in a new era at Meijer Gardens as we celebrate the soft opening of our highly anticipated Welcome Center. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome you, our members.

January 11 marked a milestone moment in our history, as we greeted our first guests in the new 69,000 square-foot, space. A masterful architectural expression of form and function, the Welcome Center greatly enhances the arrival, admission and orientation experience for guests––whose numbers have grown by nearly 300% since opening our doors in 1995—all the while embodying the artful duality of horticulture and sculpture at play.

It’s an expansion that honors Fred & Lena Meijer’s love for art, gardens and our community. Their vision and tenacity guided every step of our journey, which was only made possible by the generosity of the entire Meijer family and thousands of members, individuals, companies and foundations. We are ever grateful.

The Welcome Center unfolds over two levels. Main Level highlights include an expanded and relocated Peter C. & Emajean Cook Entryway and PNC Portico; expanded and relocated Ram’s Garden; Daniel & Pamella DeVos Ticketing Center; expanded coat room and restrooms; mobility center for complimentary wheelchairs 10

ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT

and electric carts; O-A-K Theater and Garden Pavilion, which will open later this year with breathtaking horticultural displays and a stunning new sculpture titled Utopia by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Adjacent to the Garden Pavilion will be a veranda, entered only through the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden, and an ideal spot for events.

The lower Courtyard Level highlights include an expanded and relocated Peter M. Wege Library, archives and storage; Lievense Indoor Eating Area; and Mimi’s Garden, which features a glass enclosed sunken garden naturally lit from above. Our significant growth also necessitated widening the BISSELL Corridor, to accommodate increased traffic and provide more space for annual exhibitions and better access to sculpture galleries and indoor gardens.

The newness continues across our 158 acres, with the recent opening of the 20,000 square-foot, Covenant Learning Center, an engaging hub for curiosity-sparking learning experiences that fosters creative thinking, integrates technology and broadens our educational capabilities. The Peter C. & Emmajean Cook Transportation Center enhances our popular tram tour experience with more covered spaces, waiting areas, accessibility and restrooms for waiting guests.

The Courtyard Level offers views of the new Mimi's Garden.

Outside, the reimagined Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater offers more seating, concessions, green room facilities and restrooms. The new Frey Foundation Plaza makes a stunning statement as it architecturally and functionally ties together the entrances to the Welcome Center and the Amphitheater—now the only two entrances into Meijer Gardens. The new Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion dramatically grew outdoor gathering space and offers convenient restrooms and parking nearby. Across our campus, we expanded parking areas to provide better access, always beautified by urban gardens.

Internationally renowned architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien have led teams through every phase of planning, design and construction. Their thoughtful approach ensures a seamless flow between our existing architecture and new facilities. They are the visionaries behind the beautiful Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, which contains one of the most significant collection of Impressionist and early Modern art in the world and shares a multi-faceted mission akin to Meijer Gardens’. Tod and Billie’s current projects include the new U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, the renovation of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago.

KIRSTIN VOLKENING

The coming year will be filled with more excitement as we continue to reveal our fresh aesthetic, new spaces, newly acquired sculptures and enhanced visitor experience. We are indeed keeping our promise to be always growing, always beautiful and always new.

Take a look inside our new Welcome Center, see the ribbon cutting and hear from Meijer Gardens President & CEO David Hooker, in this video:

ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT

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The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden offers beautiful views in the winter. Pathways are clear all year round!

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT MUSEUMS FOR ALL We are planning new and unique ways to celebrate Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming with you, even though we are unable to host member parties in person.

Be sure to check your email on these dates for member-premiered content: • March 1: Learn about Wardian Cases • March 15: Look inside the Observation Station • March 29: Listen to a conversation about this year’s butterflies • April 12: Create nectar for you and for butterflies • April 26: Attract butterflies to your garden Our Education and Exhibition departments have helped us create an Art Activity To Go. Supplies along with instructions will be available for you to pick up as you leave the Welcome Center. Offered while supplies last.

We are happy to offer additional early member hours Sundays from 9–11 am during March! Capacity limitations will be in effect based on current COVID-19 guidelines during March and April.

In October of 2020, we began participating in Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). The program encourages all people to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. Meijer Gardens joined more than 500 museums across the country in this mission.

The program provides reduced rate admission of $2 per person for up to four people per visit. Guests must present their SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or WIC cards at the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Ticketing Center.

We are happy to report that we have had over 700 visitors gain admission as a part of this program since we started in October. Thanks to support from members like you, we are able to provide this opportunity to share Meijer Gardens with everyone.

ENJOY OUTDOOR SPACES YEAR-ROUND While we are enjoying winter in Michigan, remember that our horticulture staff clears outdoor paths year round! You can enjoy the Sculpture Park and gardens in every season. Click or tap here for a link to view and download a walking map of our grounds.

Do you wish you had someone to enjoy the sights with you? Gift memberships are perfect any time of the year and for any occasion.

Memberships are active from the date of purchase for a full year so that you enjoy Meijer Gardens inside and out all year long. Contributor level members and above receive a discount on purchases of gift memberships.

Contact the membership department at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org with questions.

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PHILANTHROPY/MEMBERSHIP

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HOLIDAY EXHIBITION SPONSORS: THANK YOU! With the unfortunate cancellation of our signature wintertime fundraising event, Christmas Cabaret, this year we asked previous event sponsors and attendees to consider sponsoring the Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition.

We were touched by the kindness and generosity of so many sponsors and donors! Thank you to the following people and organizations for your support of the 2020 holiday exhibition: TITLE SPONSOR

EDUCATIONAL Steelcase Inc. PROGRAMMING SPONSOR

CHRISTMAS TREE & HOLIDAY DISPLAY SPONSORS BHS Insurance The I.C.N. Foundation

RDV Corporation

Cascade Engineering

i understand

Steelcase Inc.

Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation

Lacks Enterprises

Superior Ground Cover

Macatawa Bank

Lena, Olivia, Hanna & Alex Tuzzolino

Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation

Doug Meijer Lena Meijer

Everett's Landscape Management, Inc.

Northpointe Bank

Herman Miller Cares

Pioneer Construction

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga

Jim & Marie Preston

Owen-Ames-Kimball

Universal Forest Products Foundation Sharon Van Dellen Wolverine Worldwide

RAILWAY GARDEN SPONSORS Amway University

Priority Health

Aquinas College

Insignia Homes

RDV Corporation

Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation

Mike & Sue Jandernoa

Van Andel Institute

Macatawa Bank

Sharon Van Dellen

DK Security Chris & Deanna Eckert Grand Valley State

Candace & Bruce Matthews Hank & Liesel Meijer Lena Meijer

EXHIBITION DONORS Amway

Charyn Hain

Ray Loeschner

Amy Assenmacher

Ted & Amy Heilman

Macatawa Bank

BHS Insurance

Kristen & Mike Herweyer

Meijer Inc.

Peter C. & Emmajean Cook Foundation

Nancy Hickey

Eileen Shedleski

Ron & Heidi Hofman

Sherwood & Coupe Family Foundation

Andy & Pam Daugavietis Deloitte Jan Deur Gary & Sue Eberle

The following tribute gifts were received between October 1 and December 31, 2020. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while the donors are in regular type.

IN HONOR Dan & Linda Ballast Bradford Ballast Matthew Ballast Natalie Chadwick Jim Koontz Bill & Denise DeVries Cori VanderLey

RAILWAY GARDEN ASSOCIATE SPONSOR

Bill & Marilyn Crawford

QUARTERLY TRIBUTES

J.C. & Tammy Huizenga The I.C.N. Foundation Sarah & Mike Julien

Kathy Vogelsang Maryln Walton

Mary Ann Keeler

Anita Dolce Mike & JoAnne Holton Hilda Dow, In honor of her 90th Birthday Douglas Dow & Pamela Fiebig Ralph Johnston Dean & Wendy Johnston Lena Meijer James & Gail Fahner Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Volunteers Past and Present Patrick & Christine Muldoon

Jean Jesinskas Derek Bross Sharon Ryan Ron LePage Joseph & Lisa Becherer John & Jean Lockwood Ellyn & Jeffrey Wolfson Bill McClimans Mary Forslund Hilda H. Reed Walter J. McVeigh Pamela McVeigh Glen Mollenhauer Mark & Denise Mollenhauer

Nancy Wilson Kathleen Carito

Diana Morgenstern Tara & Tony Hernandez James & Mary Beth Kenyon

Stanley Wisinski Michael & Suzanne Lutz

Eleanor O'Rourke Anonymous

Linda & Steve Wyman Mark & Lisa Brown

Frank Poczatek Arlene Reitz & Anna Carlin

IN MEMORY

Sally Schaefer John Schaefer & Doug Proctor

Beverly Barrett Anonymous

Peter Secchia Joseph & Lisa Becherer

Louise Budnick Blueberry Hills Neighbors Carolyn Clark Marilyn Karston Chet and Lois Kasperlik Kent Garden Club Kevin D. Moss Lucille Szoka

Lorna Sikkema Valerie & Joseph Schmieder Scott & Sue Sikkema

Deirdre Chervenka Paul & Margaret Haviland

Martha Vandereyk Carla Sherman Michele Mallette Sherman

June Clawson Catherine Creswell Mark Dyehouse Anonymous

The Great Gardens Party Planning Committee is hard at work assessing possibilities for this year’s event. For the most up-to-date information on the 2021 Great Gardens party, please visit MeijerGardens.org/ggp.

Maryann Shaunnes Suzanne Shelton Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge William & Saima Upham

David Haughey John Atkinson Stephanie D. Larsen Craig Neckers & Joan Neckers Catherine Osborne

Thelma Simon Anonymous Dr. Christopher and Charlotte Southwick William & Gay Adams

Eileen Winkler Diane Comfort Jane Hondelink Raymond & Virginia Lovett Frances Miller Dave & Linda Newton Robert J. Shaw

PHILANTHROPY/MEMBERSHIP

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SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE VIRTUAL SERIES Gardens have a unique restorative power in helping us to find peace during uncertain times. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this important function of garden spaces into renewed focus. Gardens also play a critical ecological role in supporting local wildlife by promoting biodiversity, and providing opportunities for growing delicious and nutritious food. If you choose to get your hands dirty, garden design can provide a rich opportunity for creative expression. By building and nurturing thoughtful home garden spaces, you can experience the joy of a thriving garden throughout the changing seasons. Join us from the comfort of your own home this spring through Zoom for our first ever Secchia Garden Lecture Virtual Series, featuring Susan Morrison and Bill Cullina as they highlight ways to breathe new life into your home gardens this year.

“I’ve had so many clients tell me their gardens have been their refuge during this crazy year, and that is certainly true for me. Now that many of us have discovered how much peace and tranquility our own gardens can bring us, my hope going forward is that we won’t lose that connection, even as our lives return to normal.”—Susan Morrison

FEE: The Secchia Garden Lecture Virtual Series is free—donations are welcome and appreciated. Registration is required for each lecture at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Log-in information for Zoom Webinar will be sent via email following registration. Please direct any registration questions to Eve Choi at echoi@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3145. Captioning service will be provided for the lecture.

This annual lecture is made possible by the Secchia Family.

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SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE

Join us from the comfort of your own home with Susan Morrison and Bill Cullina as they highlight ways to breathe new life into your home gardens this year. Read on to learn more about this year's Secchia Garden Lecture Virtual Series speakers.

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

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SUSAN MORRISON Susan Morrison is a highly sought-after public speaker, author and owner of Creative Exteriors Landscape Design. Based in the Bay Area of Northern California. Her goal is to help create unique and sustainable gardens that reflect your lifestyle. Susan’s work as a landscape designer has been featured in San Francisco Chronicle, Contra Costa Times, Fine Gardening and Cottages and Bungalows.

As she kicks off the Virtual Secchia Garden Lecture series on March 2nd with The Less is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing your Small Yard, Susan will draw from her experience in innovative landscape design to highlight how anyone can create more beauty The Less is More Garden: Big Ideas with less space in the garden. She will teach you a new technique for Designing Your Small Yard* for determining how to make the most impact with any budget, Tuesday, March 2, 7 pm share strategies for making a small space stand out, and highlight what high-performing and problem-solving plants are best for small Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening garden areas. Her book, The Less is More Garden, will be for sale in for Small and Large Spaces* the DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop.

Tuesday, March 16, 7 pm Be sure to tune in two weeks later on March 16th as Susan presents Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Speaker: Susan Morrison Spaces. During this lecture, Susan will go beyond living walls and share vertical gardening techniques with the power to transform ordinary fences into focal points, beautifully camouflage eyesores and grow vegetables in unique spaces. She’ll dig deeper into how you can add “living art” to any garden design. You don’t want to miss out on Susan’s expert advice for gardeners with projects of every size and budget.

“ When I walk into a new garden, I feel as if I am on a treasure hunt. Perhaps because I’m a landscape designer, I find myself drawn to the details, whether that’s an unusual plant combination or the accent tiles in a garden wall. Once I’ve fully explored, I like to find a quiet spot to sit and let the mood of the garden wash over me.”—Susan Morrison

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SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE

*

Susan Morrison's book, The Less is More Garden, will be available for sale in the DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop.

( ) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

BILL CULLINA New Englander Bill Cullina is the current F. Otto Haas Executive Director of What do you Mean I'm Not a the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum and has had a long history Perennial!!?!—Native Shrubs in leadership in botanic gardens. Previously, he served as the Head Propagator and Small Trees for Perennial at the New England Wildflower Society/Native Plant Trust, and he earned a national reputation as the former CEO of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden Companionship* through trailblazing new programming initiatives for the institution and Tuesday, March 30, 7 pm expanded facilities with state-of-the art LEED-certified educational spaces. His From Emerald Carpet to Amber experience has fueled many publications and his rich horticultural background Wave: Serene and Sensuous has made him an in-demand public speaker throughout the country.

Plants for the Garden* On March 30th, Bill will challenge us to rethink the concept of a mixed Tuesday, April 13, 7 pm border in What do you Mean I’m Not a Perennial!!?!—Native Shrubs and Small Trees for Perennial Companionship. He will take the familiar—yet Speaker: Bill Cullina often challenging—concept of integrating perennials, annuals, shrubs and evergreens and translate this into how anyone can practically accomplish this in the home garden. With an emphasis on native shrubs and small trees that blend beautifully with herbaceous perennials and annuals, Bill will highlight his favorite fifty “natural mixers” that can help anyone bring form, texture, color and wildlife to perennial gardens.

As he brings the lecture series to a close with From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave: Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden, Bill will showcase what he describes as the canvas on which nature paints its portraits—his favorite texturally rich and visually striking native ferns, grasses and sedges. He’ll illustrate the ways in which the forms and textures of these plants can impart Bill Cullina's rich, complex and enduring elements to the garden. The Virtual Secchia Garden Lecture Series is a book, Native must-see for garden enthusiasts of any level who want to make their home gardens sing this spring!

Ferns, Moss, and Grasses, will be available for sale in the DeVosKeeler Gift Shop.

*

“ From the perspective of mental and spiritual health...it’s clear when you look at the research that walking through nature is a way to reduce stress and anxiety...”

—Bill Cullina from PennToday

( ) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE

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CURIOSITY GROWS HERE! Pssst… hey you! Yes, you. I’ve got some exciting news to share! During this strange and challenging year we’ve been dreaming up something big. As I write this, we’re busy installing a new exhibition in the David & Carol Van Andel Children’s Gallery, on the lower level of the main building, within the Covenant Learning Center. Head down the stairs across from the James & Shirley Balk Café and you can’t miss it.

Curiosity Courtyard: A Garden Discovery Experience just opened in February, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to present it to you. This new space designed specifically for children and families has been 2+ years in the making. In partnership with Museum Explorer and Bluewater Studio, we’ve created a bold, bright and immersive place for indoor exploration and creative play.

Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic The Secret Garden and composed of elements prevalent in English garden design, this new space includes ten engaging activity stations for our youngest guests—and their adults!—to expand their imagination and grow their curiosity. Pass through the grand entry gates, open wide in welcome and promenade along the winding brick path. Stop by the frog “fountain” light table, then make your way to the rose trellis to hone your pruning skills. Stroll to the turf lawn for a game of hopscotch or quoits (a ring toss game popular in 19th century England), then catch your breath during a quiet moment of rest and reflection in the gazebo. Practice balance and proportion with topiary building blocks, and plant and harvest vegetables at the Caretaker’s Cottage. Finally, turn the key and swing open the arched wooden door to discover the walled garden, then enjoy a storybook under the canopy of leafy green you’ll find inside.

As in our previous children’s exhibitions, Curiosity Courtyard features a stunning digitally printed carpet, custom-designed for our exhibition, richly illustrated with mossy stone pathways, vibrant tangles of flowers and an array of creatures and hidden objects tucked into the nooks and crannies to sharpen your powers of observation. Grab an activity card from the pedestal at the center of the hedge maze for a fun scavenger hunt.

In order to ensure a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curiosity Courtyard will open with limited hours and reduced capacity. Periodic closures will take place to sanitize surfaces. Additional information can be found at MeijerGardens.org/ChildrensGallery. As in all our indoor areas, masks are currently required for guests ages 5 and up. We thank you in advance for your patience, understanding and flexibility. Come grow your curiosity with us—we can’t wait to see you!

Essay by Jess Hart, Director of Education 18

EDUCATION FEATURE

Find hidden objects throughout the Curiosity Courtyard inspired by the beloved classic, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson.

HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

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EVENTS Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued.

Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information.

LENA MEIJER CHILDREN'S GARDEN March 1–April 30 Daylight Hours Only

Saturday, May 8 10 am–12 pm

ACTIVITIES DURING FRED & DOROTHY FITCHER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING

JUST FOR MOMS

FEE: Included with admission Butterflies are blooming for all ages in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Activities vary daily.

Check at the Information Center to discover which engaging outdoor activities await you!

Throughout the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden: · Join us Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 am for spring-themed story times about butterflies, moths, gardens and rain! · Navigate the Butterfly Maze, discovering images of Michigan butterflies and moths along the way. · Participate in Monarch's Journey, a life-sized game to experience a monarch butterfly’s journey by using your imagination and completing challenges.

Saturday, April 17 1–4 pm

EARTH DAY—EVERY DAY!

FEE: Included with admission Celebrate earth awareness the Children’s Garden way. Activities will include: · Investigating the world we live in with a unique Naturalist Walk. · Listening to interactive stories all about appreciating the earth. · Exploring vermiculture with a specialist and then playing a unique worm-themed game.

Tuesdays—Fridays, May 4–28 10:30 am

"A-MAY-ZING" CHILDREN'S GARDEN DISCOVERIES!

FEE: Included with admission Observe, listen and learn how May is a time for gardens, flowers, animals and more! Join in the fun with awesome adventures and discover why May is “A-May-zing!” Activities vary daily, and may include: • Mini-naturalist walks exploring plants and taking a closer look at spring changes in the garden • Outdoor games inspired by garden-themed colors • Spring-themed story times about astonishing animals, great gardens, and fabulous flowers • Interactive and playful spring-themed puppet shows highlighting animals and friendships 20

EVENTS

FEE: Included with admission Treat your mom (or another special person in your life) with unique Mother’s Day activities in the Children’s Garden.

Activities will include: · L istening to a variety of stories focused on mom appreciation. · E njoying “Mom and Me” music time. · D iscovering your favorite colors and flowers in the gardens together!

MICHIGAN'S FARM GARDEN

CONTACT Main 616-957-1580 Toll free 888-957-1580 MeijerGardens.org hello@meijergardens.org

Sunday, May 16 1–3 pm

COMMUNITY CLEAN UP

FEE: Free We are excited to partner with LGROW, and local watershed councils to host Meijer Gardens’ first local clean up! Join Meijer Gardens staff members in this volunteer event to clean up local waterways and collect items that will be sanitized for use in a “found object” art workshop at Meijer Gardens the following week. Participation in the cleanup is free, but registration is required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Pricing and registration details for the art workshop can be found on page 26. Call 616-974-5225 with questions or for registration assistance. More information on location can be found online at MeijerGardens.org.

Tuesdays, April 13, 20 and 27 10 am

SPRINGTIME WALKS

FEE: Included with admission The Farm Garden will be the focus for these wonderful springtime walks for preschoolers and their families. Themes include: · Finding out About Farm Animals · How does the Farm Garden Grow? · Old-Fashioned Farm Fun Each week, kids will explore the Farm, participate in kid-friendly activities and listen to fun farm stories. Hope to see you down on the Farm!

BOOK GROUP Tuesday, May 4 1–2:30 pm

READ & EXPLORE ON ZOOM: ART AND GARDENS BOOK GROUP

FEE: Included with admission For the spring meeting of our popular quarterly book group we’ll delve into Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sebastian Smee’s The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art. This unique approach to art history explores the story of four pairs of artists—Manet and Degas, Picasso and Matisse, Pollock and deKooning and Freud and Bacon. Meijer Gardens’ Curator of Arts Education will join us to discuss the particular styles of these artists and the influences of historical events on Modern art. We hope you can join us for a lively and enlightening conversation! Reservations required. This event will take place on Zoom. RSVP to skilroy@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3144.

PETER MCDANIEL

EVENTS Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued.

Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information.

GUIDED DAY TRIPS Friday, May 14 (Adults) 10 am–12 pm

Thursday, May 27 (Adults) 11 am–3 pm

DOWNTOWN MURAL WALK

SPRING FORAGING

INSTRUCTOR: Amber Oudsema featuring discussions by Esan Sommersell and Alan Campo FEE: $25 members, $35 non-members Join Curator of Arts Education, Amber Oudsema, on a guided walking tour to of the murals of downtown Grand Rapids. As a group, discuss your interpretations while exploring visual elements and principles of design. Stop at two special murals to hear from the artists who created them. Esan Sommersell and Alan Compo will discuss their artistic choices and the subject matter of their murals of Ethal Coe and Angeline Kelsy Yob respectively. Explore color, scale and movement on this inspiring spring walk. Expect a significant amount of standing and walking.

Bring a water bottle and prepare for the weather. We will meet at a central downtown location to begin the walk. Register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-974-5225.

INSTRUCTOR: Maggie Conklin ND FEE: $60 members, $70 non-members Meet Maggie Conklin ND, Maven of Heirloom Academy and owner of LadyHawk Nutrition in Douglas, at the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, MI to learn about the abundance of “wild foods” in Southwest Michigan and discover how sustainable foraging can be a powerful way to deepen your connection with the natural environment. A blend of instruction in an outdoor classroom and guided walks highlighting the seasonal identification and ethnobotany of these plants will challenge notions of what many might view as “weeds.” All class participants will receive information and resources to guide future foraging endeavors.

Bring a notebook and dress for the weather. Fee includes a snack, water bottle, boxed lunch and all gratuities. Expect a fair amount of standing and walking. Register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-974-5225.

Alan Compo, Angeline Kelsey "Naw Kay O Say" Yob, 2020.

LEARN FROM HOME With many families homeschooling or learning from home this year, our Education team has created resources to help bring Meijer Gardens to your home classroom! Whether you’re visiting us in person or exploring our resources online, we are committed to presenting fun, interactive programs and activities about gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts. Visit MeijerGardens.org/Learn to learn more about the remote learning resources and “Zooming In” series of virtual visits listed below.

REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES

"ZOOMING IN" VIRTUAL VISITS

Learn how to observe like scientists, write stories inspired by sculptures or explore plant adaptations using our suite of remote learning resources.

These fun, fillable activity sheets use video and virtual tours to explore Meijer Gardens while connecting to art and science content across a wide range of grade levels.

Join Meijer Gardens educators for live and interactive virtual visits to various locations at Meijer Gardens. Together we will practice looking closely, thinking deeply and asking questions to make discoveries about art, horticulture and the world around us. These programs are free and open to learners of all ages. Follow us on Facebook.com/MeijerGardens for more information about these events each month.

AL AN COMPO

EVENTS

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EVENTS & CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR

Questions? Email classes@meijergardens.org. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class.

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information. Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-974-5225.

BONSAI SHOW & WORKSHOPS

More information about these workshops at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.

Saturday, May 8: Vendors 9 am–5 pm, Displays 9–5 pm, Sunday, May 9: Vendors and Displays, 11 am–5 pm

MICHIGAN ALL STATE BONSAI SHOW

FEE: Included with admission Join bonsai artists, aficionados and admirers from across the Midwest to see stunning bonsai on display throughout the Atrium and Huizenga Grand Room. Visit the sales area for a great selection of specialty tools, pots, wire and bonsai trees. Have experts help you find the tree that fits your taste, experience level and growing environment. Be sure to join us on Zoom or Facebook Live to watch free virtual demonstrations from 2–3:30 pm each day. During these virtual demonstrations, this year’s guest artist, Bjorn Bjorholm, will demonstrate repotting, pruning, wiring and other styling technique followed by live Q&A sessions. Bjorn is the owner of Eisei-en, a premier bonsai garden, nursery and school located in the outskirts of Nashville, TN. He was an apprentice under

Master Keiichi Fujikawa at Kouka-en bonsai nursery in Osaka, Japan and continued as an artist-in-residence for three years after his apprenticeship—becoming the first foreign-born working bonsai professional in Japan. Bjorn will also be teaching a virtual “Bring Your Own Tree” workshop on Sunday to help bonsai artists style and refine their trees. Additional workshops, designed for all skill levels, are available during the weekend. Register early—they fill quickly!

Learn more about our vendors and their unique inventories online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar—Ken's World of Bonsai, Lakeside Bonsai, The Flower Market, Bonsai by Fields, Growco Indoor Garden, Linda Ippel, Hidden Hardens, Her Laurels and BC Bonsai

SATURDAY, MAY 8 9:30 am–11:30 am

10 am–1 pm

2–5 pm

BRAZILIAN RAINTREE WORKSHOP

‘TIGER BARK’ FICUS FOR BEGINNERS & BEYOND WORKSHOP

BRING YOUR OWN TREE WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: Jim Beck FEE: $85 members, $95 non-members Experience level: All levels The Brazilian raintree is native to Brazil’s rainforest.

The raintree’s delicate branches, compound leaves with light-green leaflets, naturally contorted trunk and a peeling bark revealing a creamy underlayer makes it a delightful addition for any level of bonsai enthusiast. Beck will provide bonsai pot recommendations and share bonsai techniques for care and styling. Gloves are recommended, as the raintrees have thorns. All materials, including tree, prepared tray and wire are provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Bill Struhar FEE: $80 members, $90 non-members Experience level: All Learn the basics of bonsai working with ‘Tiger Bark’ Ficus. Each tree will be analyzed as a group for different design possibilities. Various bonsai techniques will be used to shape and trim each Ficus to start on the path towards the desired design. Trees will be repotted, and instructions on future care will be provided. All materials, including a Ficus, wire, screen, bonsai mix and bonsai pot are provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Steve Jetzer FEE: $50 members, $60 non-members Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Bring one or two bonsai and work on styling or refining your trees with expert guidance from Steve Jetzer. Steve will discuss each tree, give each student an assignment, and then provide one-on-one assistance. Bring your own tools and copper wire (for conifers) or aluminum wire (for deciduous and broadleaf evergreens).

Bring your own tools and appropriate wire.

1:30–4 pm

DURANTA WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: Mark Fields FEE: $90 members, $100 non-members Experience level: All Duranta is an indoor tropical tree with beautiful golden leaves and purple flowers in the summer. This relatively easy to care for tree has the potential for a lovely bonsai. Each participant will receive a tree with a 1/2" trunk diameter. Trees will be repotted into 6" ceramic pots, cut, and styled. Participants will receive instructions on future care. All materials, including tree, ceramic pot, wire, and bonsai mix are provided.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance and recieve a refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7–29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-974-5225 for class cancellations due to severe weather.

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CLASSES

TIM PRIEST

CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR

Questions? Email classes@meijergardens.org. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class.

(*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information. Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-974-5225.

BONSAI SHOW & WORKSHOPS CONT. SUNDAY, MAY 9

1:30–3:30 pm

9:30 am–12:30 pm

11:30 am–1:30 pm

*VIRTUAL* BRING YOUR OWN TREE WORKSHOP WITH BJORN BJORHOLM

‘SHIMPAKU’ JUNIPER WORKSHOP

Tuesday, March 23 (Adults) 6–7:30 pm

Sunday, April 11 OR April 18 (Adults) 9–11 am

Tuesday, April 13 (Adults) 2–6 pm

VIRTUAL ART APPRECIATION TALK AND GUIDED DRAWING ACTIVITY

SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY

FELTED BIRD PODS

INSTRUCTOR: Bjor Bjorholm, Guest Artist FEE: $50 members, $60 non-members Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Receive expert guidance from guest artist, Bjorn Bjorholm, for the future training of your bonsai in this workshop hosted through Zoom. Students will submit photos of a bonsai in their collection before May 1st, and Bjorn will share and discuss personalized instructions for the future training of each bonsai during this virtual workshop.

Students will be sent a copy of Bjorn’s instructions for their bonsai after the workshop. Registration for this class will close on May 1st.

INSTRUCTOR: Amber Oudsema FEE: $20 members, $30 non-members Join Curator of Arts Education, Amber Oudsema, to add a few tools to your toolbox for interpreting and appreciating art. Learn how the Visual Elements and Principles of Design make up a composition to convey an idea. Discover how artists use different types of media. Then, try your hand at three different drawing techniques in a 30-minute guided activity. Pencils (suggested pencils: a 6 or 8B, a 2 and an H) and paper are required at home for this class.

INSTRUCTOR: Ken Huth FEE: $65 members, $75 non-members Experience level: All ‘Shimpaku’ junipers are one of the best varieties of juniper for bonsai. Ken Huth will provide nicely developed junipers, and he will assist in evaluating the possible bonsai styles for each tree. Trees will be repotted, trimmed and styled into starter bonsai.

Bring a pen and notebook to take notes.

All materials, including ‘Shimpaku’ juniper, 2-3-gallon nursery pot, bonsai mix and wire, are provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Dusty Brown FEE: $30 members, $40 non-members Learn techniques for creating fantastic butterfly photos, including lens selection, background choice, composition, light, and exposure. Enjoy tie alone with the butterflies before public hours begin. Bring a tripod or monopod and a macro and/or telephoto lens. Some photography experience is necessary.

JAPANESE FLOWERING APRICOT WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: Jim Beck FEE: $60 members, $70 non-members Experience level: All Japanese flowering apricot trees are a classic flowering tree used in bonsai. This tree species presents many opportunities for developing into a beautiful bonsai. Trees will be trimmed and styled, but not repotted since it is not the appropriate time of year to repot this species. Bring a pen and notebook to take notes. All materials, including Japanese flowering apricot tree, bonsai pot and wire, are provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Kathy Forzley FEE: $80 members, $90 non-members Create a simple and fun 3-D bird pod using wool, a resist and wet felting techniques.

Your completed bird pod can be decorated or embellished with hand stitching or natural found objects. Hang your pod outdoors for birds to use for nesting this spring or indoors to enjoy as a stylish decorative object!

This class requires the handling of merino wool, use of mild soap (Dawn & Ivory) and rolling wool for an extended period. Not recommended for persons with sensitive skin or upper body restrictions. Some materials provided.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance and recieve a refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7–29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund.

Call 616-974-5225 for class cancellations due to severe weather.

Felted Bird Pods examples.

CLASSES

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CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR Questions? Email classes@meijergardens.org. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class.

(*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information. Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-974-5225.

Thursdays: April 15, 22, 29, May 6 and 13 (Adults) 6–8 pm

Tuesday, April 20 (Adults) 5:30–8:30 pm

LANDSCAPE FOR LIFE*

NATURAL DYES

INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Marquardt FEE: $125 members, $135 non-members Discover ways to make your yard more sustainable and attractive to wildlife while embracing the ecosystem services that nature provides—erosion control, clean air and water, pollination, soil health, wildlife habitat and human health and wellbeing. Each week you will be asked to complete tasks related to building a site plan for your property. Through careful observation and analysis, this class provides the tools you need to enhance the ways you can bring the landscape to life while solving any problems that are uncovered. We will use your actual projects as case studies to explore creative design solutions while drawing upon examples of professionally designed spaces to explore a variety of garden styles. You will also see the sustainable practices and landscapes at Meijer Gardens during a special tram tour. This class is based on a program developed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, US Botanic Garden and the American Society for Landscape Architects and is tailored for West Michigan by landscape architect and native plant enthusiast, Rebecca Marquardt. Includes 10 hours of instruction, a tour including a highlight of the Cherry Promenade in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, and a portfolio with handouts, drawing paper and assignments.

Saturday, April 17 (Adults) 10 am–1 pm

Tuesday, April 20 (Adults) 4–5:30 pm

SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY

THE MOST RELIABLE PERENNIALS FOR SHADY GARDENS*

INSTRUCTOR: Diane Carroll Burdick FEE: $40 members, $50 non-members Learn about the joys of spring photography with a classroom presentation, then walk the garden paths to photograph signs of spring.

Bring a water bottle, your camera and as many lenses as you’d like to work with. Tripod and flash are optional. Best for photographers with some experience.

Tuesday, April 20 (Adults) 10 am–12 pm

IKEBANA-INSPIRED SPRING FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

INSTRUCTOR: Mandi Stade FEE: $55 members, $65 non-members Create a unique floral arrangement based on principles of ikebana, the Japanese art of floral design. No previous experience is necessary— learn about equipment that is needed, how to select branches, flowers and other plant material, and how to arrange them to create a composition that reflects the beauty found in nature during spring. Taught by Meijer Gardens Horticulturalist Mandi State, a certified instructor with rank of 4th Grade Sogetsu Ikebana Teacher. All materials provided.

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CLASSES

INSTRUCTOR: Megan Williams FEE: $55 members, $65 non-members Join Megan Williams of Adventure Textiles to discover the art and science behind achieving natural colors from onion skins, avocado pits, turmeric and more. Learn how to set up natural dye pots and dye with four kitchen materials.

Then, shift some of the colors with an iron modifier. Leave with 21 samples in a small dye recipe book and a set of napkins you dye in class. All materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Barb Balgoyen FEE: $30 members, $40 non-members That shady spot in your garden doesn’t have to be bare! Learn to select and care for the best shade-loving perennials. From foliage to colorful blooms, discover tips to ensure your success all summer long.

Tuesday, April 20 (Adults) 6–7:30 pm

FABULOUS PERENNIALS FOR SUNNY GARDENS*

INSTRUCTOR: Barb Balgoyen FEE: $30 members, $40 non-members Discover perennials with long-lasting blooms, dazzling colors and fabulous foliage. Be inspired by winning combinations for a gorgeous garden from early spring through late fall. Learn tips to ensure your success all season long.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance and recieve a refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7–29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund.

Call 616-974-5225 for class cancellations due to severe weather.

Natural Dyes examples.

Wednesday, April 21 (Adults) 2–4 pm

GARDEN TOOLS 101

INSTRUCTOR: Ian Warnock FEE: $30 members, $40 non-members Join Meijer Gardens Lead Horticulturalist, Ian Warnock, for an interactive workshop to identify and practice using the tools you’ll need for all your gardening projects this year! Ian will share the history of a variety of garden tools before leading you in hands-on exercises with some of his garden favorites.

Garden enthusiasts of all levels can learn from the tips and tricks Ian has gained from 30+ years of experience working as a professional horticulturalist around the world.

CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR Questions? Email classes@meijergardens.org. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class.

(*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information. Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-974-5225.

Saturday, April 24 (Adults) 8–9:30 am

Tuesday, May 4 (Adults) 2–6 pm

Wednesday, May 19th (Adults) 10 am–12 pm

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

CHERRY BLOSSOM PRISMACOLOR PENCILS

HANGING BASKETS FOR THE HOME

Saturday, May 15 (Adults) 10 am–2 pm

Tuesday, May 25 (Adults) 6–8 pm

INSTRUCTOR: Steve LaWarre FEE: $15 members, $25 non-members Join our Director of Horticulture, Steve LaWarre, for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. Steve will discuss what goes into putting this exhibit together each year, how the butterflies are received and what happens once they are here. Get your questions answered over coffee and muffins and get a sneak peek of this exhibition before it officially opens.

Tuesday, April 27 (Adults) 4–5:30 pm

ORCHID SUCCESS

INSTRUCTOR: Wendy Overbeck FEE: $25 members, $35 non-members Learn the simple steps that will ensure success with orchids. Learn how to select the ideal orchid for your home, where it should be grown, the best way to water and fertilize, how to tell if it needs to be repotted, and more. Receive a list of the best orchids for the home and take home a sample of Meijer Gardens’ special potting mix.

Tuesday, April 27 (Adults 21+) 6–8 pm

THE JOURNEY FROM AGAVE TO TEQUILA

INSTRUCTOR: Don Ferguson and Eve Choi FEE: $40 members, $50 non-members Learn more about blue agave and the journey it makes to become tequila. To begin, Eve Choi, Curator of Horticultural and Environmental Education at Meijer Gardens, will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we care for the agaves in our collection and explore what makes blue agave unique. Next, Don Ferguson, Co-CEO of Teeq Tequila, will highlight the craftmanship required to produce this distinctive spirit and host a tasting of three tequila varieties. Light snacks included. All class participants must be 21+ and bring a valid state-issued ID for age verification.

INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Hart FEE: $55 members, $65 non-members Capture the unique beauty of cherry blossoms in a work of art. Start in the classroom, learning techniques like layering and blending for working with Prismacolor pencils. Then, as a group, head out to the Cherry Tree Promenade in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden to document the delicate and fleeting bloom of these exquisite trees. Keep your color pencil kit to take home for continued practice and enjoyment. All materials provided.

ART JOURNALING

INSTRUCTOR: Katie Reitemeier FEE: $65 members, $75 non-members Whether you’re a beginning or seasoned art journaler, this class will enhance your skills in building expressive pages using sprays, stencils, sponging and incorporating easy, stylish hand lettering. Take home a 60-page journal for your ongoing practice. All materials provided.

Saturday, May 15 (Adults) 2–4:30 pm

INK DRAWING IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN

INSTRUCTOR: Lotus Liu FEE: $40 members, $50 non-members Join teaching artist, Lotus Liu, in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden to explore traditional Chinese ink drawing techniques.

Focus on the beauty of the flora in this peaceful setting while you explore this unique and graceful artistic medium. All materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Tony England FEE: $55 members, $65 non-members Create a stunning outdoor 14-inch hanging basket based on “thriller, spiller, and filler” container principles. No previous experience is necessary—learn about equipment that is needed; how to select flowers and other plant material; and how to arrange them to create a composition that complements the beauty of your home exterior.

Taught by Meijer Gardens Horticulturalist and expert in hanging basket design, Tony England.

All materials provided.

COMPOSTING 101 WORKSHOP*

INSTRUCTOR: Luis Chen FEE: $80 members, $90 non-members Join Luis Chen, owner of Wormies VermiCompost and 2019 winner of Start Garden 100, as he shares everything you need to know to start composting at home. After setting the stage with the basics of composting, he’ll highlight bokashi—fermenting your food scraps, how to compost with worms, when and how to harvest your compost and how to best use it in the garden. Create a vermicomposting bin to take home as Luis shows you how to make your own potting soil with the compost that you’ll soon be producing. All materials provided.

Ink Drawing example.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance and recieve a refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7–29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-974-5225 for class cancellations due to severe weather.

CLASSES

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CL ASSES

REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR (*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Questions? Email classes@meijergardens.org. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class.

Schedule of events is current as of February 15, 2021. All classes, events and programming are subject to change. If canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for up-to-date information. Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-974-5225.

Sunday, May 23 (Adults) 1–3 pm

FOUND OBJECT ART

INSTRUCTOR: Tia Wierenga and Amber Oudsema FEE: $30 members, $40 non-members Draw inspiration from the work of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, to create a work of found object art. Join Meijer Gardens staff and volunteers on May 16th for a community clean-up (participation in the clean-up is optional—see page 20 for details), then use the objects collected to construct your own unique work of art. First, discuss Anatsui’s New World Map in Meijer Gardens’ new Welcome Center with Curator of Arts Education, Amber Oudsema. Then, head to a classroom to learn techniques for working with found objects from local artist Tia Wierenga. Create a meaningful composition to take home. All materials provided. All objects collected during the clean-up will be sanitized before use in the workshop.

2021 SUMMER CAMPS Keep an eye out for the summer issue of Seasons for information on our line-up of fun and engaging summer camps for children ages 4–14.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance and recieve a refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7–29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund.

Call 616-974-5225 for class cancellations due to severe weather.

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CLASSES & CAMPS

SPRING BREAK CLASSES Tuesday, April 6 (Ages 6–7 with Adult) 10-11:30 am

Wednesday, April 7 (Ages 4–5 with Adult) 10-11:30 am

EVERYDAY EXPLORERS

WAKE UP SPRING!

FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adult $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adult Create a unique field journal to record your findings and then investigate woods and wetlands.

Learn to identify intriguing plants and examine parts under a microscope.

Paint-stamp an explorer bag to hold your discoveries.

Tuesday, April 6 (Ages 9–10) 10-11:30 am

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

FEE: $25 members, $35 non-members Learn about this unusual group of plants by playing games, observing samples up-close with magnifying glasses and creating a fun art project.

FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adult $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adult Find out why spring is such an important season!

Learn about our friendly pollinators, native Mason bees and make a bee house to hang in a sunny location. Then pot a “bee-utiful” plant in an ice cream cone to plant near your bee house and attract our winged friends. Check out other plant parts and insects using hand magnifying glasses and microscopes.

Wednesday, April 7 (Ages 8–9) 10-11:30 am

IPAD PHOTOGRAPHY

FEE: $25 members, $35 non-members Use the app Book Creator to combine text, images, audio and video into a fun digital keepsake. Take and embellish creative still life images using themed props, action shots, trick shots and videos. iPads will be provided for use in the class.

From every vantage point, the Welcome Center inspires with its integration of architecture, art and horticulture. It is a stage for Meijer Gardens’ sculpture and horticulture collection and is sure to be a landmark for West Michigan and beyond.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.

We are thrilled to have the new Welcome Center officially open. The 69,000 square-foot building greatly enhances the arrival, admission and orientation experience for members and guests. The Welcome Center features Contemporary sculpture as well as horticultural elements throughout.

Located next to Parking Lot A, the Welcome Center compliments the glass architectural lines of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory and serves as a place for members to enter, have the opportunity to view an orientation film and receive information about their visit. The design not only ties together the many parts of Meijer Gardens into a coherent and understandable whole, it also serves to welcome and amaze everyone who enters.

SPRING 2021 Volume 12, Issue 2 HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION

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