Seasons - Winter 2024 | Vol. 15 (1)

seasons Winter ‘24 (December–January) Volume 15, Issue 1 01 Letter from the President 02 Horticulture 06 Sculpture 08 Learn 09 Adult & Teen Classes 11 Child & Family Events 12 Culinary Arts & Events 14 Membership 16 Philanthropy 20 Organizational Highlights Alexander Liberman. Aria, 1979–1983. Painted steel, 42 feet tall. Nic Sagodic

Extraordinary Ordinary People ….

Just a few weeks ago I had lunch with a wonderful couple—members, volunteers, community leaders, retired. They split their time between their hometown of Grand Rapids and Naples, Florida; he was a successful wealth advisor, she was a much-loved librarian. They serve as leaders in their church, attend and sponsor our Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens series, and LOVE Meijer Gardens.

They even joke about the early days of running into Fred and Lena around town.

We had lunch to discuss “how” they hope to make a difference at our beloved Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. They want to support the concept of connecting children with our Gardens. They want to have a “place”—such as our Treehouse Village in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden—where families can simply gather. They want to connect their children and grandchildren to the joy of this world-class institution, for generations.

They are ordinary people, according to them. I believe, however, they are extraordinary ordinary people.

Why do I bring this generous moment to the fore? It’s simple. As you consider your year-end philanthropic priorities, we ask that you choose to be extraordinary. Perhaps it isn’t here; perhaps you choose to support a program at your place of worship, or another cultural institution, or even one of our world-renowned medical campuses. Being a leader institution, we hope you’ll choose to invest philanthropically in our region and community. If our community is healthy, we are healthy.

Yet we would be honored and privileged to be your place of legacy and trust, for your year-end, long-term planned, or estatebased giving. You can be that extraordinary ordinary person. This institution is filled with extraordinary people—our volunteers, professional team, members, community partners, even general attendees—last year reaching more than 750,000 patrons! Our ask is this: Be extraordinary. Connect with the amazing spirit and promise of hope this cultural organization delivers each and every season. Reflect on how your life has been enhanced throughout the years, from a simple lunch in our James & Shirley Balk Café to a quiet walk in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. This is an extraordinary place filled with extraordinary people. We thank you for being part of our sustainable future by philanthropically investing in our beloved Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

As I close this note, mistletoe will adorn doorways, the glow of the menorah will be in full majesty, and snow will cover our pathways. With that, please accept my personal note of gratitude for your warm hospitality toward the Burke family. I began my tenure as your President & CEO last February, with my family moving our home in June. Our son is a freshman at MSU—Go Green!—and our daughter a senior at Butler—Go Bulldogs! On behalf of Kimberly and me, thank you for welcoming our family to Grand Rapids this past year. We are truly filled with joy to be part of this special community and blessed to be part of this institution. As the year ends, we offer our sincerest hopes and wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a peace-filled new year to all of you.

And on behalf of the entire Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park community—our extraordinary board, staff, and volunteers— happy holidays to each and all!

Gratefully,

Charles Burke, President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park P.S. Should you wish to learn more about our extraordinary ways of being philanthropic, please contact Julia Van Fleet at 616.975.3177.

Letter from the President

Left page, right photo: Roxy Paine. Neuron, (detail) 2010. Stainless steel, 492 x 528 x 624 inches.

Nic Sagodic

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The Power of Plants

By Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture I’ve had a powerful relationship with plants my whole life. I ran into trouble when I was 5 for picking a neighbor’s flowers.

A few years later, my first regular spending money came from mowing neighborhood lawns—and I learned that a small bouquet of flowers delivered when the mowing was done was a great way to earn an extra tip. Growing up, we had a plum tree in front of our house with the juiciest, sweetest plums. Every plum I eat today brings me back to that vivid memory of a front yard tree and the delicious seasonal snack it provided. I eventually went on to study plants and have dedicated my career to that relationship with the mighty plant.

As humans, we are drawn to plants. We’re drawn because of the flower or food, sometimes shelter, and even medicine plants may provide. I can walk through my own yard and point out plants that came from friends and family. A peony passed down from my wife’s great, great grandmother. A hosta, divided and shared with a new neighbor. A tree purchased from a school fundraiser. As a food source, plants provide us and the rest of the animal world with the nourishment fundamental to our existence. Indeed, every plant tells a story of exploration and human connectedness.

Plants have played a significant role in human history, shaping cultures, economies, and societies. They captivate us with color, fragrance, sustenance and utility. The story of humankind is intricately connected to plants: We have been collecting, growing and manipulating them for thousands of years.

and environmental bonds—stories that will demonstrate to all the power of plants and human connectivity.

Food, often derived from plants, is a universal connector. In the center island of this tropical conservatory, within the shade of the taller canopy, are several cacao, or chocolate, trees.

They have thin brown branches and long, narrow light green leaves that often hang straight down. These trees produce small white or pink blossoms directly on their trunk. A chocolate tree will often produce thousands of flowers, yet only a fraction of these will produce the seed pods that are needed to produce rich chocolate. The pods will ripen to colors of gold, crimson, or purple and are filled with a sweet white pulp. Within this white pulp are approximately 50 seeds, or beans, all perfectly aligned in rows like corn. These beans are removed from the pods, fermented, dried and roasted. Once roasted, the beans can be cracked and the outer shell is separated from the inner bean, or nib. These nibs may then be heated and crushed to produce cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Chocolate has a history with the people of Central and South America, spanning over 4,000 years. Long before the arrival of European explorers, red pepper and spices were added to cocoa, creating a stimulating drink used by the Mayan people. Today, chocolate manufacturing in the United States is a $4 billion industry and the average American eats at least a half-pound of chocolate per month.

The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory is the most sizeable of five distinct indoor gardens at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. With a footprint of 15,000 square feet and at five stories tall, it is the largest such conservatory in Michigan. This room has no center support beams; no structure to get in the way of the visitors’ view. The layout feels natural with its winding stream, three small pond areas, curvilinear pathways, bridges and waterfalls. It is easy to lose oneself among the plantings. The plants in this space have stories to tell of the remarkable power to connect humans in various ways, fostering emotional, social,

Growing in the far northeast corner of the conservatory, the breadfruit has large emeraldgreen leaves and a smooth, grey, sinewy trunk.

Green, unripe breadfruits, weighing as much as a gallon of milk, contain 30-40% starch and are rich in vitamin B. Breadfruits are a highly important food source for several areas around the world. In 1769, Captain James Cook was introduced to the breadfruit when visiting the Tahitian islands. Sir Joseph Banks, the great botanist and explorer, was also on that voyage. Upon returning to England, Joseph Banks urged King George III to introduce breadfruit to the West Indies, and in 1787 the king sent Captain William Bligh on the HMS Bounty to return to Tahiti. Captain Bligh and his crew spent six months there collecting and propagating more than 1,000 plants for

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shipment. During their prolonged stay, the crew members became so enamored with the Tahitian climate and lifestyle that they overpowered Captain Bligh in the famous mutiny on the Bounty. Today, breadfruit is grown and eaten throughout the tropics.

Examples of deep-rooted cultural connections abound in the Tropical Conservatory. As one enters the garden, just to the right is a tall, elegant tree with glossy, dark-green oval leaves. This tree is the crown gum. Also known as the sapodilla tree, it provides the building blocks for several products utilized by people. The sapodilla is strong and wind resistant; it grows slowly and can reach heights of 100 feet. Sapodilla flowers are small, bell shaped and cream colored. The eggshaped fruit is rough, with brown skin. When ripe, the fruit is soft, sweet, juicy and tremendously popular in areas where this tree grows. The fruit and leaves are used in traditional medicine; the hard durable wood was used for beams in Mayan temples. Among all these important uses, the sapodilla is most famous for its white, gummy sap called chicle. The Aztecs were the first to collect and boil the tree’s chicle sap. This boiled sap was molded into thick blocks and cut into small pieces to chew—the first chewing gum.

Plants serve as catalysts for human connectivity, bringing people together through shared experiences, cultural practices, and bountiful sustenance. The power of plants lies in their ecological importance and their ability to unite and inspire human communities across the globe. Plants tell a story of exploration and human connectedness. They have shaped societies, economies, and cultures, highlighting the profound interdependence between humans and the plant kingdom. Each species, with its unique properties and history, contributes to the rich tapestry of human experience and interconnectedness with the natural world. The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory is a curious blend of this interconnectedness. The plants in this room tell an elaborate story, so often entwined with the human experience. This grand space provides a means to preserve these plants in a beautiful, fragrant, textural garden, always reminding us of the power of plants.

Nic Sagodic

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University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions | Gather

Tuesday, November 21, 2023–Sunday, January 7, 2024 Warm up this winter as we celebrate what it means to Gather in colorful community across the world.

TITLE SPONSOR University of Michigan Health–West LEAD RAILWAY GARDEN SPONSOR Warner ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS The Meijer Foundation Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Michigan Arts and Culture Council, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts Life EMS Star 105.7 FOX17

A hallmark of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, our anticipated annual exhibition marks 29 years this November.

This year, University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions spotlights the meaningful ways people Gather for the season.

As you wander our winter wonderland illuminated by 300,000 glistening lights and 42 artfully adorned holiday trees and cultural displays, note the diversity in festivities that bring people together to recognize time-honored traditions.

From feasts and festivals to ceremonies and stories to crafts and carols, folks near and far flock to celebrate in good company.

Seollal, the Korean New Year, falls on the first day of a new lunar year, between late January and late February. During this three-day celebration, families return to their hometowns and perform ancestral rituals. Kwanzaa unites loved ones for a candlelit ceremony, each night from December 26 to January 1. The candleholder, or kinara, symbolizes common ancestry during this weeklong holiday.

From December 14 through January 5, more than 50,000 birders reunite each year across Canada, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean for the annual Christmas Bird Count.

The Inuit, the indigenous people of Canada, come together for Sinck Tuck, a 1,000-year-old festival of folk dancing, gift giving and traditional foods.

In South America, Brazilian cultures gather to celebrate the holiday season through unique Christmas traditions, games and vibrant festivals celebrating the end of the year.

Europeans come together in distinctive ways as well. In France, santons, or little saints, represent villagers from the French countryside bearing gifts for baby Jesus as they travel to his manger birth. In Denmark, a traditional Christmas tree, or

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juletrae, is decorated with ornaments made by entire families at an annual craft day. Polish culture includes the szopka, a Nativity scene that originated as a portable puppet theater used for morality teachings in churches at Christmastime.

After World War I, the art of the szopka was revived in Kraków with a crèche competition that is a family tradition to this day.

Note how new projected patterns of light bring spaces alive, with snow globe effects that spark wonder in kids of all ages. And don’t miss the mighty Moravian Star, towering 15 feet in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, or the Railway Garden and its mesmerizing miniature cityscape bustling with familiar West Michigan and Grand Rapids Sister City landmarks.

Outdoors illuminates, too. Venture out to immerse in the new Winter Glow experience at the DeVos Van Andel Piazza. Gather with family and friends and warm up around firepits with hot drinks to take in this majestic light experience surrounding The American Horse, December 18–22 and 26–30 from 6–9 pm.

Save the date for member must-see events like our exclusive Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 20, Family Parties on December 10 and 11, and an Adult Party on November 27. Visit with the jolly old elf, Santa himself, on select Tuesdays, November 21 and 28, and December 5, 12 and 19, in a whimsically lit Mimi’s Garden on the Courtyard Level of the Welcome Center across from the Peter M. Wege Library. Santa’s Reindeer even make a quick landing in Michigan’s Farm Garden, Saturdays November 25 and December 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Enjoy the sounds of the Original Dickens Carolers, who return to the BISSELL and Gunberg corridors on Tuesdays, November 21 through December 19, to spread singalong cheer and—new this year—World Beat & Cultural Performances, whose spirited sounds will fill the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. There are so many reasons to Gather with us this season!

Right: Nic Sagodic

EXTENDED MEMBER EARLY HOURS Sundays from 9-11 am Exhibition programs are complimentary and registration is not required.

Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition Programming Join us as we celebrate the many ways people gather to uplift hope, warmth, faith, remembrance, gratitude, prosperity and more. Learn from our community partners as they share about their holiday gatherings.

Celebrating the Christmas Bird Count

Sunday, December 3, 2–3 pm Grand Rapids Audubon Club Audubon’s 124th Christmas Bird Count takes place December 14, 2023, through January 5, 2024. Join the local Audubon chapter as they highlight how anyone can join in this tradition to support birds through citizen science and share ways to get involved in the local birding community, year-round.

Celebrating Szopka

Sunday, December 17, 2–3 pm Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids

Winter Glow

December 18-22 and 26-30, 2023 | 5:30–8:30 pm DeVos Van Andel Piazza Only a short distance from the main building, venture out to the DeVos Van Andel Piazza to enjoy the NEW immersive and majestic winter lighting experience surrounding The American Horse.

Beacons of colorful light pull you in to begin the journey, color-changing light sabers come alive with undulating and chasing dance-like choreography, playful patterns of light projected onto the hilled topography give the feeling you’ve stepped inside a snow globe or another world, and a custom soundtrack accompanies this theatrical sensorial experience.

Gather outdoors with family and friends to cozy up around firepits and hot drinks, as you celebrate the season at Winter Glow.

Learn the history of szopka —the Polish Nativity scene— and the annual competitions that highlight the craftsmanship behind their design. Society members will talk about how this Polish family tradition and others are celebrated locally in Grand Rapids during the holiday season.

Celebrating Seollal

Sunday, January 7, 2–3 pm Korean Connection in West Michigan Seollal, the Korean New Year, is one of the most important Korean holidays. Members of the Korean Connection in West Michigan will share how families come together to celebrate this holiday and more each year.

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Exhibition programs are complimentary and registration is not required.

Exhibition Tour: Into the Forest

Friday, December 1, 1 pm Suzanne Ramljak, Chief Curator, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Enjoy an intimate journey into the depth of Forest of Dreams with exhibition curator Suzanne Ramljak. Explore the rich associations of the chosen work by 15 artists and trace the thematic connections within the Sculpture Galleries and the larger cultural, historical, and environmental ties.

Patrick Jacobs. Lord of the Fungi, 2023. Diorama viewed through 7.5-inch window. Styrene, clay, paper, foam, wood, acrylic, steel, lighting, BK7 glass. 20x20x20”. Courtesy of the Artist.

Seeking Wonder in Forest of Dreams

By Suzanne Ramljak, Chief Curator Winter has rightfully been deemed the “season of wonder”—a reputation stoked by the hit holiday song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and by winter wonderland tableaux mounted everywhere from storefronts to schoolrooms. Of course, “Winter Wonderland” also happens to be a nickname of this fair state of Michigan. At Meijer Gardens, we’re having our own season of artistic wonder with the exhibition Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture. While the experience of wonder is always welcome, such enthralling encounters gain potency when occurring amid the commonplace: like in the presence of ubiquitous trees, which become magically transformed in this exhibition.

Forest of Dreams continues a curatorial exploration of the marvelous in nature-based sculpture begun with my 2018 show, Natural Wonders: The Sublime in Contemporary Art. Both projects feature multiple artists whose work conjures the extravagance and poignancy of the natural world. Among those included in both Natural Wonders and Forest of Dreams are Roxy Paine, Maya Lin, and Patrick Jacobs, whose captivating 2023 diorama, Lord of the Fungi, is illustrated here.

My essay for the Natural Wonders exhibition catalogue (Rizzoli Electa, 2018) addressed the agency of wonder in environmental conscientiousness. The following excerpt from that catalogue applies equally to the works in Forest of Dreams and the two titles can be interchanged, easily supplanting Natural Wonders with the Forest of Dreams: “ Another basic means of bridging the chasm between humans and nature is through increased education and information.

However, much mainstream commentary about the environment is couched in terms of ecological crisis and accompanied by mind-numbing doses of facts and figures. Though important, such appeals to reason and analysis suffer from a lack of affect. Precisely because environmental issues are so dire, they require modes of address and manners of speaking that are sure to engage and arouse. This question returns us to Longinus and the rhetorical sublime he coined. For Longinus, the adjective ‘sublime’ signified the potency of artifice to persuade and motivate listeners. In a visual arts context, the same sublime dynamic applies, with beholders being moved by affecting demonstrations.

“The works selected for Natural Wonders are all endowed with an enticing seductiveness. Their powers of persuasion stem from the artists’ ability to act as impresarios of nature. More than just glamorous natural spectacles, these works use aesthetics toward ethical ends. American philosopher Henry David Thoreau held that ‘the perception of beauty is a moral test’ and bemoaned that ‘nature has no human inhabitant who appreciates her.’ 1 Thoreau declared it our duty to perceive nature’s beauty, and these artists assist with this critical aim.

“They also initiate us into the glories of wonder, again with a moral dimension. In her book, The Ecology of Wonder in Romantic and Postmodern Literature, Louise Economides argues for ‘wonder’s aesthetic and philosophical significance as a set of ideas with important ecological ramifications.’ 2 At the center of wonder is an open receptiveness, conveyed in the word’s Germanic root of ‘wound.’ Economides positions wonder at a remove from the sublime, which she sees as condition governed by fear. Unlike the sublime, which shudders and gasps, wonder stretches outward and sighs.

“The cultivation of wonder was once a well-developed practice. In carefully curated cabinets of curiosity, the choicest of specimens and elaborate oddities—from rocks to relics, mollusk shells to miniatures—were arrayed to excite a sense of discovery. Flourishing in Renaissance Europe before strict divisions between science and art, these wondrous displays, sometimes room-sized, offered both edification and an imaginative field day. With its marvelous assortment of artifice and nature, the Natural Wonders exhibition can be viewed as a grand curiosity cabinet brought to life.”

See https://bit.ly/NW_OnTheBrink to view the full essay “On the Brink: Surveying the Contemporary Sublime” in Natural Wonders: The Sublime in Contemporary Art. Visit https://bit.ly/ForestOfDreams to learn more about Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture.

1 Henry David Thoreau, in Writings of Henry D. Thoreau (Book 5), Patrick F. O’Connell, ed. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997), 120–22; and “The Ponds,” in Walden (Las Vegas: Empire Publishing, 2017), 5.

2 Louise Economides, The Ecology of Wonder in Romantic and Postmodern Literature (New York: Palgrave Macmillian, 2016), 19.

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Learn

Master Lecture Series: Secchia Garden Lecture

Visit MeijerGardens.org for complete Events and Classes descriptions.

Unless otherwise noted, programs are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.

Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the event or class. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the event or class. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the event or class. Payments cannot be transferred to other events or classes. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.

Plant Shows Orchid Show Saturday, January 27 | Display 12–5 pm, Sales 10 am–5 pm | Sunday, January 28 | Display and Sales 11 am–4:30 pm | FEE: Complimentary Presented by the Grand Valley Orchid Society

Enjoy a stunning variety of beautiful, unusual, colorful orchids exhibited by enthusiasts from across the state. Learn how to grow these beauties by attending a free talk or stop by the Grand Valley Orchid Society’s information desk to pick up a culture sheet and receive growing tips.

SAVE THE DATE! What We Sow in Cultivating Our Places with Jennifer Jewell Tuesday, March 26, 7 pm | FEE: Complimentary The arrival of spring ushers in the perfect time to gear up for gardening! Whether you’re a long-time garden aficionado or starting to garden for the first time, the changing season provides a chance to rediscover the potential of a space, no matter its size—large yards to small containers. This year’s Secchia Garden Lecture will inspire us to view our gardens as more than collections of plants: It will reveal how gardens and gardeners can be intersectional spaces and agents for positive change in our world.

Books in Bloom! for 2023 continues as our talented Horticulture staff creates floral arrangements inspired by the Peter M. Wege Library book collection. Visit the library to view and be inspired by this work of floral art. The arrangement will be on display for about one week.

We are excited to welcome Jennifer Jewell to Meijer Gardens for the 2024 Secchia Garden Lecture. Jewell is an interviewer, writer and regular keynote speaker at national gardening conventions. She is creator and host of the national award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden, which has several times been recognized by Garden Communicators International as Best OnAir Talent and Best Overall Broadcast Media. In 2023, Jewell was honored with the American Horticultural Society’s Great American Gardener B.Y. Morrison Award for horticultural communication—joining the ranks of recent Secchia Garden Lecture speakers Dr. Doug Tallamy and Melinda Myers, also recognized with this prestigious award. Jewell’s greatest passion is elevating the way we think and talk about gardening, the empowerment of gardeners, and the possibility inherent in the intersection between places, environments, cultures, individuals, and the gardens that bring them together beautifully—for the better of all lives on this generous planet.

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Peter M. Wege Library Read & Explore: Art and Gardens Book Group Tuesday, December 12, 1–2 pm This winter, our book discussion will delve into the often-unseen traces of nature in the city. Kelly Brenner’s Nature Obscura: A City’s Hidden Natural World seeks to help us rediscover the natural world just outside our door. We hope you can join us as we discuss this thought-provoking book.

Reservations required. Limited to 10 guests.

RSVP to skilroy@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3144.

Books in Bloom!

Begins Friday, December 15

In her presentation, Jewell will explore the philosophy of Cultivating Place and walk you through the power of gardens and gardeners as exemplified by the subjects of her podcast. Together, her books—The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, Under the Western Skies: Visionary Gardens from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, and What We Sow: On the Personal Ecological and Cultural Significance of Seeds—and the inspiring Midwestern gardens and gardeners she has collaborated with throughout her career are blueprints, guiding us in ways we can all grow our world better: more beautiful and brave.

When reflecting on the gardens and gardeners who have made an impact, Jewell shared: “I would refer you to every interview I have done for Cultivating Place, which is now in the 400s. Every gardener—from a home gardener in Colorado you never heard of working to create community in her neighborhood to interviews with famous and culturally paradigm-shifting gardeners like Jamaica Kincaid, who forever changed the way we think of gardening in her 1995 book My Garden—has expanded what I understand and know about gardening, and has reminded me how much there is to share and grow from in our garden lives and stories.”

Jewell hopes her work will illuminate how “gardeners individually and collectively are powerful intersectional agents and spaces for change in our world, that the earth is in each of our hands, and what we each sow, literally and figuratively, under all of our skies matters. We each need to remember to bring our joy to this relationship and task of gardening and take good care with it.”

The Earth in Her Hands and What We Sow will be available for sale in the DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop. A book signing with the author will immediately follow the lecture.

This annual lecture is made possible by the generosity of the Secchia family.

Captioning and Spanish translation services will be provided for the lecture.

Please direct questions to Eve Boyer: eboyer@meijergardens.org or 616-975-3145.

Onsite attendance to the Master Lecture Series is complimentary, though registration is required. Registration for onsite attendance opens February 1, online. This lecture will be livestreamed via Meijer Gardens’ YouTube channel and a recording will be available on our website to all for two weeks following the lecture.

Jennifer Jewell will feature Meijer Gardens on Cultivating Place during an interview with Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture, in early March.

You won’t want to miss it!

Left: Mel Ling. Right: John Whittlesey

Adult & Teen Classes Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar Adult classes are open to all learners ages 16 and up.

Teen classes are marked with the age range. All materials provided. No experience necessary unless otherwise noted.

Nonmember class fee includes admission for the class participant on the day of the class.Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org Visit the website for full class descriptions.

Applies toward Great Lakes Floral Association Certified Florist Continued Education Unit (CEU).

Applies toward Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Continuing Education Units (CEU).

Cancellation Policy: Please see page 8.

November Composting for Beginners (Adults) Tuesday, November 28, 1-3 pm $25 members | $35 nonmembers Luis Chen and Chandler Michalsky, Wormies Vermicompost Join Wormies Vermicompost as they share everything you need to know to begin composting at home.

December Photographing Holiday Lights (Adults) Monday, December 4, 6–8 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Cory Olsen Learn correct camera settings, along with creative techniques and tips and tricks to make your holiday lights photography shine!

Birding for Beginners (Adults) Tuesday, December 5, 2–4 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Jamie Krupka, Outdoor Discovery Center This introductory class is ideal for those curious about getting started in birding.

Mead Making 101 (Adults 21+) Tuesday, December 5, 6–7:30 pm $65 members | $75 nonmembers Don Snoeyink, Thornapple Woodlands LLC

and attach to a 4-by-4-inch wood base fitted with a UL plug, bulb, and 5-foot cord.

opportunity to see if beekeeping is right for you or learn more to become a better beekeeper.

Winter Floral Arrangement (Adults) Thursday, December 14, 11 am–12:30 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers Holly Haveman, Kennedy's Flowers and Gifts

Healthy Houseplant Care (Adults) Saturday, January 27, 2–3:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers Stephanie Clark, PhD Candidate

Come have fun and design a long-lasting, festive floral arrangement for the upcoming holiday season! Watch a demonstration on using the basic elements of design to create a simple, lovely arrangement.

Learn tried-and-true tips and tricks to help your indoor plants prosper during these colder months ahead. Take home a houseplant to apply your new knowledge.

January Drawing I for Botanical Illustration (Adults) Wednesdays, January 10 and 17, 5–7:30 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers Marlene Boonstra Learn observational drawing skills including measured drawing and value during this two-session class designed for beginners.

Four Seasons of Container Gardens (Adults) Thursday, January 18, 12–2 pm $65 members | $75 nonmembers Tony England, Meijer Gardens Learn how to thoughtfully use containers to elevate your garden’s beauty in all seasons. End the class making an 11-inch winter container design to dress up your doorstep.

Reductive Charcoal Drawing (Adults) Saturday, January 20, 1–4 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers Megan Kellner Learn to create dramatic light and shadow through drawing and erasing with charcoal.

No experience required

Homemade Lavender Cosmetics (Adults and Teens 14+) Tuesday, January 23, 6–7:30 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers Great Lakes Lavender Farm Soothe your winter skin with lovely lavender by learning how to create homemade cosmetics.

Walk away with cosmetic products and the knowledge to make them for years to come.

Crochet for Beginners – Granny Squares (Adults) Wednesday, January 24, 5:30–8:30 pm $50 Members | $60 nonmembers Megan Williams

Explore the oldest fermented beverage known to humankind in this unique class offering. Go home with all the tools needed to get started.

Learn to crochet granny squares in this handson class. Students will have plenty of time to work on their favorite pattern and go home with everything they need to continue their project.

Fused Glass Lamp (Adults) Tuesday, December 12, 6–8:30 pm $110 members | $120 nonmembers Gloria Badiner

Basics of Beekeeping (Adults) Saturday, January 27, 11 am–12:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers Don Snoeyink, Thornapple Woodlands

Create a 6-inch mosaic disc that the instructor will mold off-site into an organic lamp shape

Learn the beekeeper basics. This is a great

Photographing Orchids (Adults) Sunday, January 28, 9–11 am $35 members | $45 nonmembers Dusty Brown Spend time photographing the beautiful and interesting Orchid Show entries—all before Meijer Gardens opens to the public! Must be familiar with your camera’s manual functions.

Drawing II for Botanical Illustration (Adults) Wednesdays, January 31 and February 7, 5–7:30pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers Marlene Boonstra Continue learning observational drawing skills, including measured drawing and value. This is an intermediate-level class for people who’ve had some previous experience with drawing, or have already taken the Drawing I class.

February Planning and Designing a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden (Adults) Tuesday, February 6, 6–8 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Joanna Walters and Fatima Lee, New City Farms Spend a cozy evening indoors, planning for warmer months ahead. Go home with a variety of vegetable seeds and seed starting tray to get started this spring!

Creative Hand Lettering (Adults) Saturday, February 10, 12–3 pm $55 members | $65 nonmembers Katie Reitemeier Build upon your own handwriting to create artfully drawn letters using markers and watercolor. Try out block lettering, faux calligraphy and more.

Tea in the Victorian Garden (Adults) Wednesday, February 14, 8–9:30 am $25 (2 for $40) members $35 (2 for $60) nonmembers Eve Boyer, Amber Oudsema and Megan Meadows, Meijer Gardens Celebrate Valentine’ Day with us! This class covers an array of subjects, from the history of the romantic Victorian garden to the plants and sculptures in our collection.

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February (continued) Art and Mindfulness (Adults) Thursday, February 22, 6–8 pm $25 members | $35 nonmembers Faith Lyons, MA, LPC, ATR at Full Bloom Therapy Relax in the beauty of Meijer Gardens and learn about the benefits of practicing mindfulness.

Create a meditative art piece using provided natural materials.

Learn how to make great-tasting kombucha brew at home. Discover the history and health properties of kombucha and problem-solve how to safely brew your own supply.

Butterfly Embroidery (Adults) Wednesday, March 21, 5:30–8:30 pm $55 members | $65 nonmembers Lisa Olsen

Sourdough Focaccia Garden (Adults) Saturday, March 2, 2–4 pm $50 members | $60 nonmembers Annie Riddering, Bethlehem Sourdoughs

Learn a variety of embroidery stitches to be used again and again. Incorporate these stitches into a finished butterfly sampler design on fabric, which will then be turned into your choice of a brooch, magnet, patch, or ornament.

Coffee with the Curator: Butterflies (Adults) Saturday, February 24, 8–9:30 am $15 members | $25 nonmembers Eve Boyer, Meijer Gardens

Open Studio Series (Adults and Teens 14+) Third Tuesday in February, March and April, 5:30–7:30 pm $5 members | $20 nonmembers Taylor Bultema, Meijer Gardens

Join Eve Boyer, Curator of Horticulture and Environmental Education, for a special behind-the-scenes tour of Fred & Dorothy Fitcher Butterflies Are Blooming before it officially opens!

Identifying Trees in Winter (Adults) Saturday, February 24, 12–2:30 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Kim Davidson Learn tips and tricks for identification long after the leaves have fallen. Receive personal instruction coupled with use of the Winter Tree Finder book—yours to keep—to discover how other characteristics can provide clues.

Butterfly Photography (Adults) Sunday, February 25, 9–11 am $35 members | $45 nonmembers Dianne Carroll Burdick

Learn techniques for creating fantastic butterfly photos. Enjoy time with the butterflies before public hours. Some photography experience is necessary.

Suminagashi Paper Marbling (Adults) Tuesday, February 27, 5:30–8:30 pm $55 members | $65 nonmembers Kathy Forzley Suminagashi, or floating ink, is the Japanese art of suspending ink in water to create beautiful marbled patterns for printmaking.

March Kombucha 101 (Adults) Saturday, March 2, 10 am–12 pm $40 members | $50 nonmembers Kyle Manning and Matt Hoff, Zenned Out Kombucha 10

Start class learning the history of sourdough, with a demonstration and tips to create sourdough from scratch. Then get to work creating your own savory flatbread.

Enjoy the opportunity to explore your artistic practice in our scenic classroom spaces. Open studio hours are ideal for creatives who thrive in a relaxed atmosphere of community art making. A Meijer Gardens educator will offer a short demonstration of the projects listed below and will be available for questions and guidance throughout. Materials for the monthly project and some other basic drawing materials are provided.

Watercolor for Beginners (Adults) Tuesdays, March 5 and March 12, 6–8:30 pm $90 members | $100 nonmembers Nancy Hart

February 20 | Mixed-Media Drawing Draw inspiration from a variety of objects, including a preset still life. Drawing materials such as colored pencils, pastels, charcoal and watercolors will be provided.

Discover the delightful art of watercolor in this two-session class. You'll receive a travel-size watercolor set to keep and use in between sessions.

March 19 | Collage Explore choosing, arranging, and affixing paper and mixed-media materials to create compelling compositions.

Ceramic Jewelry (Adults) Thursday, March 7, 5:30–8:30 pm $55 members | $65 nonmembers Harmony Nguyen

April 16 | Hand-Printing with Natural Objects Learn how to transfer botanicals and other found objects onto paper through monoprinting techniques.

Explore the world of ceramic jewelry-making!

Learn how to create, assemble and embellish your own ceramic pieces.

The Root of Soil Health (Adults) Tuesday, March 12, 6–7:30 pm $25 members | $35 nonmembers Christine Charles, MSU Extension Explore how healthy soil can lead to a more beautiful, bountiful garden. The instructor will cover an array of topics, including basic soil properties and how they affect your plants.

Cyanotype Printing (Adults) Saturday, March 16, 1–4 pm $50 members | $60 nonmembers Megan Williams

SAVE THE DATES! Uniquely Curated Winter Events Join us in the Garden Pavilion, featuring the sculpture Utopia by Jaume Plensa.

Tuesdays January 23 and 30, 2024 February 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2024 Jazz Brunch Join us for a Jazz Brunch featuring the Dave Bennett Quartet. Enjoy a custom brunch prepared by the award-winning Meijer Gardens Culinary Arts & Events team. Beat the winter blues with a bountiful brunch!

Learn about the history and process of cyanotype, a 170-year-old photographic printing technique that produces prints in a distinctive shade of blue.

Sunday, January 14, 2024 Saturday, February 3, 2024

Adult & Teen Classes

Left: Nic Sagodic. Right: Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet

Learn more at: MeijerGardens.org

Child & Family Classes

Cancellation policy: Please see page 8.

Visit the website for full class descriptions.

Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar All materials provided, unless otherwise noted. Children must be within the ages listed for each class, by the class date, in order to register and participate. Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org *Family pricing includes up to two adults and two children.

Holiday Scout Event: Gather (Scout groups of all ages) Tuesday, November 28, 5–7:30 pm Saturday, December 2, 9–11 am OR 1–4 pm Saturday, December 9, 9–11 am OR 1–4 pm

$7 per Scout or sibling | One leader is free | $4 for one additional leader | $10 per additional adult chaperone. No charge for adult members and children 2 years and under.

Must present membership card upon check-in.

Experience University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions at your own pace during this self-guided program especially for Scouts! Explore themed areas and discover traditions from around the world as you engage in activities inspired by the My Family Story badge. Troops must register at least two weeks in advance.

Gingerbread Trolley (Families with children ages 5+) Saturday, December 9; 10–11:30 am OR 12:30–2 pm Tuesday, December 12; 6-7:30 pm $45 per member family* | $55 per nonmember family* Use your imagination to decorate a one-of-akind gingerbread trolley.

Let’s Get Weaving: Drop Spindle Making (Ages 9–11) Saturday, February 24, 10 am–12 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers Price of class includes a $10 materials fee Learn what a drop spindle is, create one, and turn wool roving into yarn!

Winter Break Experiences Hap-Pre New Year! (Ages 4–7 and 8–11) Friday, December 29; 10 am–12 pm

9–11 year olds | Large 3D Flowers! Make •three types of large flowers from colorful and patterned paper.

Winter Wonderland (Ages 4–5, 6–8, 9–11) Wednesday, January 3, 9 am–12 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers

Please dress for the weather for this outdoor experience.

• 4–5 year olds | Snow Much Fun – Let’s paint the snow and create fun ice sculptures.

6–8 year olds | Let’s Explore the Outdoors •– We’ll explore animals and how they cleverly adapt when it’s cold. • 9–11 year olds | Snow Sculpting – Learn tricks and tips behind the art and science of snow sculpting!

Explore the Tropics (Ages 4–5, 6–8, 9–11) Thursday, January 4, 9 am–12 pm

$35 members | $45 nonmembers 4–5 year olds | Ice Cream Flavors from the Rainforest – What kind of warm flavors can we find for our cold treats? 6–8 year olds | All About Chocolate – Learn everything from where it grows to how it ends up as a delicious treat! 9–11 year olds | Crazy Carnivorous Plants – Learn about these fascinating plants and the crazy ways they survive.

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Exploring Processes (Ages 4–5, 6–8, 9–11) Friday, January 5, 9 am–12 pm

$35 members | $45 nonmembers 4–5 year olds | Spin, Splat, Bubble and Pop – Experience many ways to create art using unusual items and gravity. 6–8 year olds | Marker Bots – Make a dynamite drawing robot and create one-of-a-kind images. 9–11 year olds | Domino Rally – Team up and create tall domino sculptures, then knock them down in a unique rally!

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Programming & Events Unless otherwise noted, events are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.

Lena Meijer Children’s Garden

Please dress for the weather for these outdoor experiences.

Wintertime Walks November 28–December 30 Preschoolers – Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:30 am Family and Friends – Fridays and Saturdays, 11:15 am

$35 members | $45 nonmembers 10, 9, 8! Come and help us celebrate! 7, 6, 5, 4!

Music, games and even more! 3, 2, 1! Hap-Pre New Year! Learn how people celebrate new beginnings through age-appropriate books, music, games and activities.

Bundle up and join us on an outdoor discovery walk to investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways.

Unusual Art (Ages 4–5, 6–8, 9–11) Tuesday, January 2, 9 am–12 pm

Come explore trees as we wiggle, reach, and wave on a walk that highlights the shapes and motions of trees. Or take a closer look at sculptures as we bray like a donkey, howl like a wolf, and even tromp like a bear with a walk highlighting the sights and sounds of sculpture.

$35 members | $45 nonmembers 4–5 year olds | Stems and Straws, Toothpicks and Clay – Make sculptures with unusual items.

6–8 year olds | Super Sculptures – Learn how to create a sculpture from recycled materials.

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Child & Family Classes & Events

Winter Family Day Saturday February 10, 1–4 pm

Outdoor adventure awaits. Join us for an afternoon of wintry fun for all ages! We’ll have plenty of hot chocolate to keep you warm and activities to keep you busy.

The Peter M. Wege Library Cozy Tales for Chilly Days Preschool Story Time (Best for ages 2–5) Tuesdays, January 2–February 27, 10:30 am

Join us this winter for Cozy Tales! Our popular preschool story time is back to inspire young readers with fun stories about art, plants, animals, the natural environment and more.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Monday January 15, 10:30 am–12 pm

Celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. with a storytime guiding us through his life, from hardships to highlights. Then be inspired

by Richard Hunt’s Column of the Free Spirit and create a torn-paper collage to reflect on what freedom means to you.

Animal Adventures: Surviving in the Wild!

Saturday, January 20, 10–11:30 am OR Sunday, January 21, 1-2:30 pm

Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar.

John Ball Zoo members register at jbzoo.org $8 members | $13 nonmembers | 2 and younger free.

In collaboration with John Ball Zoo. Explore the survival techniques of opossums, African bullfrogs, turtles and tenrecs at this family-friendly event! Enjoy live animal presentations, animal stories, art projects, and trying your luck at animal challenges. Ideal for ages 3–6, with all ages welcome.

Who Am I? A Butterfly Ballet Saturday February 17, 10 am OR 12:30 pm Sunday, February 18, 12 OR 2:30 pm

Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar $5 members | $10 nonmembers | 2 and younger free In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet With colorful costumes, spectacular music, and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance—choreographed by Attila Mosolygo and performed by Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company members—provides a unique and memorable experience.

Winter Adventure Walks: Trees and Sculpture!

January 3–February 23 Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10:30 am

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Raspberry French Soda

Makes approximately 10 glasses (12-ounce)

Ingredients

Directions

12 ounces fresh raspberries 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup water 1 liter club soda or seltzer water 1 quart heavy cream

Simple Syrup Directions 1. Place the raspberries, sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low-medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.

2. Allow the mixture to steep for 8 to 10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon or potato masher to smash the raspberries.

3. Allow the mixture to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if desired. Pour the mixture through a mesh sieve to remove the fruit pieces.

4. Store the syrup in a sealed container in your refrigerator, for up to one week.

French Soda Directions 1. Fill a tall glass with ice.

2. Pour 4 tablespoons of simple syrup into the glass.

3. Pour club soda or seltzer water into the glass, leaving about 1 inch for heavy cream.

4. Top glass with heavy cream.

5. F or fun, add whipped cream and garnish with raspberries!

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Açai Bowl

Serves 3 or 4

Ingredients

Directions

10 ounces frozen açai purée 1. Place all ingredients 4 ounces diced frozen in a blender and blend mango until smooth.

2 tablespoons honey 1 cup coconut water 2. Transfer to bowls and tamp down with a spoon Topping Suggestions until level.

Diced pineapple Diced kiwi Diced strawberries Raspberries Almonds Peanut butter Nutella Chocolate chips Chia seeds Hemp hearts Sliced banana

3. Top with whatever toppings you prefer.

See left column for ideas!

Did You Know?

Açai berries are loaded with fiber, micronutrients, healthy fats and powerful antioxidants—which are believed to benefit your health!

Shower Power Brides … Babies … Be still our hearts!

Our Culinary Arts & Events team is set to serve you in style.

Preparing for The Big Day? Let us pamper you with the bridal or baby shower of your dreams.

Whether your guest list is intimate or grand, your taste understated or over-the-top, our awardwinning event experts and culinary connoisseurs will help you host an occasion to remember.

Among our most-booked spaces for showers are our Hauenstein Event Room and Pfeiffer Event Room, each one complimented by a cozy private patio overlooking the Volunteer Tribute Garden.

You and your guests will enjoy the flexibility of having both indoor and outdoor space to celebrate and enjoy artful culinary creations like our custom brunch, complete with choices such as a waffle bar with fun toppings, biscuit bar with sweet and savory accoutrements, or light and fresh açai bowl bar for the healthier minded.

Perhaps you seek an outdoor or garden space, rather than a traditional event room. Our distinctive Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden—an ideal size for showers—is now available for daytime bookings.

Craving sweet treats? Our vertical dessert display is a deliciously decadent wall of confections, creatively showcasing cookies, cupcakes, and other small bites. We even welcome desserts from licensed bakeries, so feel free to bring your favorites.

Our drink options are equally engaging, from the popular “Mom-osa” or Italian Soda Bar to infused waters that taste as good as they look.

And every shower includes complimentary access to open gardens during your event, spectacular photo opportunities, and convenient onsite parking.

Our award-winning Culinary Arts & Events team is here to make your life’s milestone memorable and magical! Save your date and start the planning. Visit MeijerGardens.org/host or call 616-975-3146.

Left: Nic Sagodic Right: Courageous in Love Photography by Ashlyn David

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Membership Cheers to Ticket-Free You asked. We answered.

Member express entry is up and running!

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park experience just got easier for members—as in ticket-free.

As a member, you are now invited to bypass the Ticketing Desk lines and go directly to the Entry Desk for admission. Please have your physical or digital membership card and photo identification ready, to gain admission for you and those covered under your membership.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Merry, Merry, Members Holiday cheer starts with our members! Please join us for these exclusive Member Holiday Parties: Tree Lighting Ceremony November 20, 2023 | 6–8 pm Family Parties December 10 and 11 | 6–8 pm Adult Party November 27 | 7–9 pm As you make your holiday plans, be sure to join your fellow members on special evenings during the University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. This season, all member events will center around the theme of Gather and include evening access to the exhibition, entertainment in the Huizenga Grand Room, and a festive art activity.

Family Parties on December 10 and 11 include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with a light snack. The Adult Party on November 27 include a photo booth and complimentary dessert.

We look forward to celebrating the season with you and with your family!

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Nic Sagodic

What a Gift!

Looking for the perfect present? Wrap up a Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park membership!

Share your love of our growing gardens, galleries, exhibitions and events with those you love this holiday season. The gift of membership includes a full year of admission to our 158 acres of unforgettable indoor and outdoor spaces, which span one of the country’s most significant botanic experiences, Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory, and USA Today’s Top Sculpture Park in the United States—all accessible and at the ready to explore and enjoy.

Other members­-only perks include early admission the first full weekend of every month, early access to discounted Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens tickets, 10% savings on DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop purchases, and reciprocal benefits at more than 300 gardens and conservatories nationwide.

We make giving a Meijer Gardens membership quick and convenient, with three ways to purchase: Onsite Online MeijerGardens.org/membership Phone 616.977.7689 Hoping for delivery prior to December 25?

Be sure to buy before December 8, to allow time to process and mail by December 18.

Happy gifting!

Top: Jessica Harris, Wildcrest Studio. Bottom: Nic Sagodic

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Gathering.

Giving.

Growing.

It’s the season of giving—and we have never been more grateful for you, our members.

A devotion to exploring the intriguing interplay between the natural world and works of art is what has made Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park the distinctive, beloved cultural institution it is today.

This passion for intertwining horticulture and sculpture was fueled by our first donors, Fred and Lena Meijer, whose legacy for giving lives on through our members and donors nearly three decades later.

In the space of our 28 years, we have grown through the support of the many of you who give to ensure Meijer Gardens remains a welcoming place for all: Our volunteers and committee members give the precious gifts of their time and talents. Our donors entrust us with their financial support and unwavering belief in our vision. Our members visit 360 days a year, rain and shine. Together you have shown that, while Meijer Gardens is many things to many people, above all we are a place to gather.

Our Philanthropy team has the pleasure of witnessing the stories of love, family and legacy born of gathering here. We’re honored that more and more of you choose to make Meijer Gardens a part of your lives as you make memories here and celebrate your milestone moments across our 158 acres of gardens, galleries, and Sculpture Park.

That’s the power of gathering: It inspires us to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful, more purposeful—to be more, together. It gives meaning to life that stretches well beyond the individual and fosters a community of connected people that help us fulfill our commitment to be a place where we all grow™.

In this spirit, our gardens are filled with dedications and remembrances of lives well lived. Thousands of children attend programming each year, made possible by the practical donations of funds for supplies.

Friends old and new come together at our one-of-a-kind, curated garden experiences. We are ever grateful for those members and donors who continue to grow along with us.

As you look to the season of giving, please consider Meijer Gardens.

No matter the size or scope, each gift is precious and we take seriously the stewardship of the connections it represents. For more information on our many philanthropy opportunities, please contact Julia Van Fleet: jvanfleet@meijergardens.org | 616-975-3177 Cheers to making more cherished memories together!

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Left and right: Nic Sagodic

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Quarterly Tributes IN HONOR Brad Doan Susan & David Doan Lindsay & Justin Godchaux Justin & Elizabeth Godchaux George McMeekan Scott McMeekan IN MEMORY Frederick Bogaert Joan Buchanan Robert Hooker Richard & Barbara Young Diana Morgenstern David Morgenstern Orchid Der Loretta Palmer Susanne Elrod Roger Webb & Family David Frey Robert Hooker Pete & Bee Olaes Anonymous Peter Ruppert Robert Hooker

These gifts were received between July 1 and September 30, 2023. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while donors appear in regular type.

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Jessica Harris, Wildcrest Studio

Set to The soirée of the season has a shiny new name: Save your seat to Sparkle! with us on Thursday, December 7.

In the twinkle of an eye, our beloved Christmas Cabaret is back—this year, brighter than ever!

Our inaugural Sparkle! is the hottest holiday party in town, and it all happens right here at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. This enchanting evening begins with a strolling dinner and drink selections from our stellar Culinary Arts & Events team, topped off by a variety of exciting new entertainers.

Enjoy unforgettable performances from The Friars—the oldest a cappella group on campus and a nine-man subset of the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club—along with The Madrigals, one of the finest vocal ensembles in the state. Then bundle up for a cozy carriage ride through our magically illuminated winter wonderland.

Seats are limited. Get your tickets soon by visiting Meijergardens.org/sparkle or by contacting Maggie Scogg at mscogg@meijergardens.org or 616-287-1950.

We’re excited to spoil you this season!

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When Membership Meets Philanthropy In her new role, Melissa is responsible for gathering data to identify donor investment and cultivate relationships through personalized communication, individual tours, and focused events. Stewardship of our enhanced membership levels—Contributor and above—will follow Melissa to the Philanthropy Department, where she will also oversee the structure and configuration of our new member and donor database. Her insight will help inform decisions made regarding our fundraising events, annual funding, major gifts and capital campaigns.

The Philanthropy Department is happy to announce that Melissa Bush will be Meijer Gardens’ inaugural Senior Manager of Donor Stewardship.

Melissa has worked as Membership Manager for eight years, joining the Membership team in 2015 after a similar role at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). In January 2023 she became Guest Relations and Membership Manager, supervising the Membership, Ticketing Desk, and Entry Desk teams.

Throughout her career, Melissa has worn many hats. She’s worked extensively with nonprofit organizations and boasts a long list of volunteer positions, in and around Grand Rapids. You’re as likely to find her in Calder Plaza at 5 am for Festival of the Arts, for which she is board chair, as you are to run into her assisting vendors at the Fallasburg Art Festival in Lowell. Her relationship-building skills, interest in members, commitment to the Meijer Gardens mission, and ability to translate data into action makes her ideal for this new role. We appreciate the talents she shares to help Meijer Gardens honor gifts of all sizes and types, in turn creating community and support of many departments on our property.

What Does a Philanthropist Look Like?

When you hear the word “philanthropist” who do you think of? Perhaps more famous names come to mind, such as John D. Rockefeller, Bill and Melinda Gates, or Fred and Lena Meijer. While the most famous philanthropists are known for inspiring others through their large financial gifts, a philanthropist is defined as “a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.”

Gifts of volunteer time, talent and monetary contributions all are philanthropic acts making an impact on Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Large and small, these gifts directly support Meijer Gardens in our ability to be an oasis of joy in an often-chaotic world.

The answer to “What does a philanthropist look like?” A philanthropist looks like you!

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Organizational Highlights

Left: William J. Hebert. Right: Dean Van Dis

Credit

October 20, 2023–February 25, 2024

This transporting exhibition features the work of 15 international artists: Louise Bourgeois, Emilie Brzezinski, Nick Cave, Kim Cridler, Tom Czarnopys, Michele Oka Doner, Peter Frie, Hugh Hayden, Jim Hodges, Patrick Jacobs, Maya Lin, Robert Lobe, Roxy Paine, Rona Pondick and Ai Weiwei.

HOURS Tuesday Monday–Saturday Sunday

9 am–9 pm 9 am–5 pm 11 am–5 pm

The first full weekend of each month, Meijer Gardens is open early to members. The DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop, James & Shirley Balk Café and Peter M. Wege Library open at regular hours.

CONTACT

@MeijerGardens #MeijerGardens

MeijerGardens.org hello@meijergardens.org P 616-957-1580 TF 888-957-1580

where we all grow™ We value your input! Respond to our content or submit your own to hello@meijergardens.org. Seasons is produced quarterly and mailed to Meijer Gardens members. If you prefer to receive your copy digitally, contact Membership at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org.

Content

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8 am–9 am 9 am–11 am

Saturday Sunday

Meijer Gardens is a proud member of Museums for All. Show your EBT/WIC card for a reduced admission of $2 per person for up to four people.

Hugh Hayden. Scarecrow, 2021. Cherry bark on Burberry coat on Gabon ebony rack. 72 x 18 x 60 inches. © Collection of Alex Logsdail.

George Darrell

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

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

1000 East Beltline Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture