Upcoming Tours
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Tuesday
May 12
11:15am
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Notre Dame Prep High School
1300 Giddings Road, Pontiac
Visit the high school’s greenhouse and native gardens—an inspiring space where students and volunteers are growing both plants and knowledge.During the 2024–2025 school year, more than 1,100 native flowers were planted across eight of the 11 garden beds behind the greenhouse. This effort was made possible with support from the Notre Dame Prep Parents Club, National Honor Society, and other student groups. The gardens have since been certified as a Monarch Waystation featuring a variety of milkweed and nectar-rich plants that support monarch butterflies throughout their life cycle and migration. The space has also been recognized by the Wildflower Association of Michigan for its role in increasing biodiversity through native plantings.
Inside the greenhouse, visitors will find a wide variety of plants in production, including hanging baskets, strawberries, ferns, herbs, peppers, lettuce, and flowers. Many of these are grown using innovative hydroponic methods, such as Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) tables and Dutch bucket systems. These systems deliver nutrient-rich water directly to plant roots, supporting efficient, soil-free growing—commonly used for crops like tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers. |
Saturday
May 16
10am
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Fred A. Erb Arboretum
3500 Marais, Royal Oak
Join us for a guided tour of the Fred A. Erb Arboretum, a developing park located just behind the Royal Oak Senior Center. Established in 2007, the arboretum is designed to showcase a unique collection of native trees and plants not found in nearby Tenhave Woods.
The tour begins at 10 a.m., and guests are encouraged to explore Tenhave Woods afterward at their leisure. Before the tour, stop by the Royal Oak Garden Club’s Spring Perennial Plant Exchange, happening from 9–11 a.m. at the Senior Center—bring plants to share and discover new additions for your garden! |
Saturday
May 23
10am
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Mike Hobig’s House
23052 Oakwood Ave., Eastpointe
Visit NOWO friend Mike Hobig’s gardens and dig up native plants for your own garden! Mike has limited amounts of two species available — cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). Bring your own shovel!
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Sunday
June 28
1pm
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Mike Hobig’s House
23052 Oakwood Ave., Eastpointe
Return to Mike’s house for a garden tour.
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Saturday
July 18
10:45am
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Oakland Hills Farm & Garden, hosted by Nicolette Jenaras
3265 Stoney Creek Road, Oakland Township
Garden tour and lavender picking!
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Saturday
July 25
10am
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Stage Nature Center, hosted by Julie Ann Wang
6685 Coolidge Hwy., Troy
Stage Nature Center hosts several gardens dedicated to Michigan native plants, including a rain garden and a monarch waystation. The gardens are managed by volunteer master gardeners and consists of more than 75 native plant species which attract a wide variety of pollinators. In addition, many important pest-eating insects such as ladybugs and green lacewings thrive in the garden.
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Saturday
July 25
10am – 1pm
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Jean Persely’s Gardens
7381 Omo Road, Armada
Join Jean for her annual garden walk and native plant sale. With more than 300 native plant species and a smattering of exotics, there is something for everyone. Curious about how a plant grows before you add it to your yard? Stop by and see how these are doing in Jean’s gardens – mostly sun, some shad, average moisture, primarily loam with some clay. Come and stroll the yard. A guided tour begins at 11 am.In addition, the following organizations/companies will be on site:
- East Michigan Native Plants – mobile native plant nursery with a wide variety of plants
available for purchase
- Wild Ginger Woodlands – native woodland plants for purchase
- Honey Hollow Apiary – local raw honey available
- Through the Fire – nature themed items available
- Black Cat Pottery – handcrafted nature inspired pottery
- Six Rivers Land Conservancy – info booth with their new native plant garden certication
signs
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Saturday
August 1
10am
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Louise Hartung & Jim Fostey’s Gardens
3400 Hixon Road, Oakland Township
Tour five areas: Louise’s pollinator garden; Jim’s vegetable garden and orchard; the prairie; the meadows; and a woodland garden.
Please wear long pants, tucked into socks. Use insect repellent and prepare for walking in sunny, dry uplands. |
Sunday
September 20
11am
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Randee Kushner’s Garden (Farm)
Clare Lane Farm
4445 Clare Lane, White Lake
Garden tour.
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