Guided Tour of The Great Lakes Garden Members Only
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Members Only Family-Friendly Free Event Public Garden Tour Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Meeting point: We will meet at the front steps leading to the gift shop and main entrance/lobby.
Parking: There are parking payment kiosks near the main entrance and west parking lot.
Description of Tour:
The Great Lakes Gardens at Matthaei are display gardens celebrating the rich diversity of native plants found in the Great Lakes region. These unique gardens showcase many of the natural communities found in Michigan such as dunes, alvar, prairie, bogs, and more!
The gardens host over 300 species of native plants and include many rare and threatened species. On the tour we will observe the plant communities by ecosystems, discuss the maintenance that is required in a natural garden setting, and identify what plants are suited to your own home environment. The tour will be around an hour and will have ample time for questions and discussion.
Tour Guide: Calla Butler, Native Plant Horticulturist at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.
I started this role in March, but I previously worked at Matthaei for two years as a seasonal horticulture technician. Before Matthaei I was a Head Gardener at a landscape design and maintenance company, and I also worked as a floriculturist at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle.
I have been working with and interested in native plants for most of my life. My mom started a native plant nursery outside of Philadelphia, so I grew up working and learning there. I feel very lucky to have had that experience, because I believe growing plants is one of the best ways to really learn, understand, and appreciate them.
As the Native Plant Gardens Horticulturist I maintain the Great Lakes Gardens (alongside wonderful volunteers!), collect and process native seed, and propagate plants for both restoration and our native plant sale. Maintaining the Great Lakes Gardens has been a wonderful learning experience. I can’t think of many gardens with such a variety of native plants—a little over 300 species! My current favorite plant in the gardens is Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica). The blue flower is a striking color, and the fact that hummingbirds like it makes it even better!