Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Sunset view and outdoor gardens at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Picture taken in 2007.

The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens (300 acres, 121 hectares) are botanical gardens with a conservatory operated by the University of Michigan. They are located at 1800 North Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The grounds are open daily without charge while the conservatory requires an admission fee.

The Conservatory, Garden Store, and Lobby are open 7 days a week: Mon., Tues., and Thurs. - Sun., 10:00 am-4:30 pm; Wednesdays 10 am-8 pm.

The Botanical Gardens includes outdoor display gardens, the Gaffield Children's Garden, a 10,000+ square-foot conservatory, and natural areas with walking trails. The gardens are named after former Michigan regent Frederick C. Matthaei, Sr. and his wife Mildred, who donated 200 acres (0.81 km²) of land.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens offers activities and resources for all visitors, from families to gardening enthusiasts to hikers, birders, scientists, volunteers, and to University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students. The Gardens is dedicated to environmental stewardship and to enriching the understanding and enjoyment of the natural world through research, creative works, public outreach, and educational programs and workshops for adults and children.

Gardens and hardy collections

The gardens and hardy collections consist of several formal displays and outdoor plantings:

• Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden - modern version of a Tudor period garden, with hedges of yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Green Gem’), as well as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’), creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), and winter savory (Satureja montana). The Herb Knot Garden honors "Sandy" Hicks (1934-1991) for her interest in herb and culinary gardening and healing plants and for her enthusiasm in sharing these interests with others.
• Demonstration Prairie - a restored prairie, restoration beginning in 1967, on previously agrigultural land.
• Demonstration Prairie - a place for exploration and fun in a natural setting specially designed from a kids'-eye view. The garden includes several play areas and interactive stations.
• Gaffield Children's Garden - a place for exploration and fun in a natural setting specially designed from a child's perspective. The garden features several play areas and interactive stations.
• Gateway Garden of New World Plants - ornamental plants native to the Americas, including coreopsis, cosmos, marigolds, ornamental peppers, petunias, phlox, sunflowers, tropical salvias, and verbenas.
• Helen V. Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden - more than 100 native species of wildflowers, woody plants, and ferns of the southern Great Lakes Region.
• Labyrinth - located in a quiet setting, the labyrinth provides the opportunity for walking meditation, contemplation, and tranquility
• Marie Azary Rock Garden - a rock garden.
• Matteson Farmstead and Historic Barns - the Matteson farmhouse dates to the 1860s. The smaller barn was built circa 1845-1865, while the larger, gambrel-roofed barn is circa 1875-1900. The farmstead and barns are curretnly closed to the public (August 2011).
• Norman Memorial Garden - The Norman Memorial Grove is a popular gathering place near the west entrance to the Sue Reichert Discovery Trail. The Grove has been expanded with new plantings of native oak, maple, hickory, and sassafras.
• Perennial Garden - Spring and summer bloom and a popular wedding spot.
• Sam Graham Trees - A special collection of major trees native to the state of Michigan.
• Transitions - entryway to trails and wetlands.
• Urban Pocket Garden - European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), eastern white pines (Pinus strobus), and Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus).

Conservatory

The 10,000+ square-foot conservatory was designed by architect Alden Dow, and completed in 1964. It is believed to be the largest university-operated display greenhouse in the United States. The conservatory contains three distinct areas:

• Tropical house - Collections include Ananas comosus, Annona muricata, bromeliads, Caryota mitis, Cocos nucifera, Coffea arabica, cycads (including a Dioon spinulosum given by Smith College in the 1920s), Heliconia vellerigera, Kigelia pinnata, Musa, orchids, Oryza sativa, Piper nigrum, Rhizophora mangle, and Theobroma cacao.

• Temperate house - representing the Mediterranean region and warm-temperate Asia. Collections include bonsai displays (more than 40 specimens) and an Oriental camellia display, as well as Camellia sinensis, Ceratonia siliqua, Cyperus papyrus, Ficus carica, Gossypium arboreum, Laurus nobilis, Olea europaea, Phoenix dactylifera, Phyllostachys nigra, and Quercus suber.

• Arid house - representing hot deserts of the world. Collections include cactus, succulents, euphorbia, and lithops, as well as Agave americana, Aloe marlothii, Bowiea volubilis, Cyphostemma juttae, and Euphorbia milii.

• Bonsai Collection - three bonsai trees or plants are always on display in the temperate house of the Conservatory. Plans are underway for a bonsai display garden and studio just outside the Conservatory, where the Botanical Gardens will be able to make available to the public more of its bonsai collection. To see more, go to http://bonsai.mbgna.umich.edu/welcome.htm

Natural areas and Trails

The natural areas include mature woodlands, wetlands, several ponds, and a constructed tall grass prairie, with four nature trails.

• Dix Pond Trail - Nature reclaims old pastures, planted woodlots, and long-abandoned gravel pits.

• Fleming Creek Trail - Abundant habitat diversity along with smaller wildlife that can be seen and sometimes heard along the way.

• Marilyn Bland Prairie - a rich span of wildlife lives in the prairie, old fields, oak openings, and wetlands that are close to the historic Matteson farm and barns.

• Sam Graham Trees Trail - Find Michigan's important trees arrayed in wetland to upland woods and into savanna habitats along this trail..

• Sue Reichert Discovery Trail - Child-oriented signs and lots of activities make this a trail for kids of all ages. Discover animal tracks or explore a willow lodge.

Gallery

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  Visitor Center

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  Willow Pond

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  Gateway Garden of New World Plants

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  Greenhouse and Spring-Back Gateway

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  Herb Knot Garden

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  Gaffield Children's Garden

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  Rustic Habitat Trail

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  Wayfinder's Maze

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  Stony Stream

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  Amphitheater

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  Fairy & Troll Knoll

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  Wetland Kiosk

See also

• Nichols Arboretum
• List of botanical gardens in the United States
• Tourism in metropolitan Detroit

External links

• Video featuring Matthaei Botanical Gardens
• Virtual Tour of Matthaei Botanical Gardens
• Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum

Coordinates: 42°18′4.2″N 83°39′50.5″W / 42.301167°N 83.664028°W / 42.301167; -83.664028