Seasons - Autumn 2022 | Vol. 13(4) by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

seasons Autumn ‘22 (September–November) Volume 13, Issue 4 FREDERIK MEIJER Gardens & Sculpture Park 01 Letter from the President 02 Chrysanthemums & More! 04 Sculpture 06 Horticulture 08 University of &Health–West:MichiganChristmasHolidayTraditions|Light 09 Holiday Gift Show 10 Events 12 Adult & Teen Classes 15 Child & Family Events 16 Child & Family Classes 18 Membership & Philanthropy 20 Organizational Highlights Dean Van Dis

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A tribute gift, in which someone is recognized by others, is one form of naming gift with special meaning. Often, a tribute gift is given in memory of a loved one who has died—or it may honor an anniversary or a birthday. In all cases, we are deeply honored to be chosen as a place to pay tribute. These essential gifts help sustain us for future generations.

Amy RobertTrevorMarylnJillSusanMichaelCarlosJimJoAnneDorianeBillHannahMarkLainaTomMaryCandaceKristinaJonElisaTimJeffMikeKevinToddShaneCharynPaulJoySuzanneBradJocelynJackieDuaneGuillermoChuckLindaRhae-AnnPeterAssenmacherBaldwinBookerChamberlainChristmasCisnerosShieldsDavisDelRasoDettloffDoanEberleFosselGouletHainHansenHarveyJeakleJeppesenLambertLiangLintemuthMarchMartinez-PreciousMatthewsMcLoughlinMerchantMillsMossingNaltnerPadnosParker-SimsPerkinsPrestonSanchezTothVogel-VandersonWalcottWaltonWolfeWolford

Throughout Meijer Gardens, you’ll see names of those who have in some way helped advance the mission. Fred and Lena Meijer loved to see people add their names to the institution. It meant they embraced the mission and were advocates for others to support Meijer Gardens.

All elements of the ambitious Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park capital campaign project, Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love, are now ready—yet we do not say they are complete. As we are always maintaining, growing, and improving everything at Meijer Gardens, we refer to being ready for our members and guests. The July 1 opening of the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden marked an end to the project’s construction phase. This prominently located, uniquely authentic presentation of an English perennial sculpture garden will forever be a centerpiece attraction. The Tassell family has been generous and patient as we completely reimagined and rebuilt this garden for all to enjoy. A great way to introduce young children to this garden is through the Curiosity Courtyard: A Garden Discovery Experience sponsored by PNC Bank, located in the David & Carol Van Andel Children’s Gallery in the Covenant Learning Center. Please join us Tuesday, September 13, in the Huizenga Grand Room, for a lecture by English Perennial Garden designer Julie Moir Messervy (see page 6).

On June 30, we held an important celebration, dedicating a sculpture made possible for Meijer Gardens by the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids and the Pestka family. With a significant gift, our curatorial process led us to Ariel Schlesinger and Ways to Say Goodbye. The sculpture is given in memory of Henry Pestka and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Henry, a Holocaust survivor, made his way to Grand Rapids to start a new life. It has been a significant honor for us to work with the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids and Executive Director Nicole Katzman to make this project a reality. Their generosity is without limits. Please take time to view Ways to Say Goodbye and learn about how this brilliant piece of art helps people deal with grief and loss, and how it can help inspire the world to prevent future holocausts.

GardensFrederikPresidentDavidGratefully,S.Hooker&CEO,Meijer&Sculpture Park Left: William Hebert

Letter from the President

Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love was completed well under budget and, due to the pandemic, only a few months late. Our donors’ generosity exceeded our fundraising goal—and through cost savings achieved during construction, we’ve been able to make substantial contributions to the project’s endowment portion and to the Fred and Lena Meijer Sculpture Acquisition endowment fund. These two contributions will help secure Meijer Gardens for future generations and give us greater ability to acquire world-class sculptures. There simply are not adequate words to express our appreciation to the Meijer family and the hundreds of donors who gave generously to making this project a reality. We as Meijer Gardens members own all these amazing facilities, gardens, and sculptures, and have the wonderful opportunity to care for and build upon these assets, to enjoy today and forever. The highest and best use of all these gifts is stated in our mission statement, where we are called upon to use our gardens and sculpture to bring people joy. The presentation of color through our autumn Chrysanthemums & More! exhibition reminds me of Lena Meijer, who loved beautiful gardens and is the inspiration behind all our horticulture presentations. This year’s theme, Unexpected Color, explores the element of surprise created by fall plantings used in uncommon color combinations. A visit to the Doehne Wildflower Meadow will show you how unlikely color combinations, such as purple and yellow, help attract pollinators. You will be amazed!

Honorary Chairman Frederik (1919–2011)Meijer Honorary Member Earl Holton President & CEO David Hooker Ex Officio Member President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Michael Julien

Unexpected Color in Floral Displays Sunday, October 23, 2–3 pm

Unexpected Color in Nature Sunday, September 25, 2–3 pm

Join us as we explore Unexpected Color on a guided tour of the Welcome Center and BISSELL Corridor indoor plantings and floral displays. Elizabeth Wesley-Martin, Meijer Gardens Florist and Horticulturist, will explain her approach to floral design and highlight key plantings on display throughout the Main Building. Learn the basics of floral design and observe how Unexpected Color is beautifully realized in the Chrysanthemums & More! indoor displays.

Unexpected Color in Design Sunday, October 9, 2–3 pm

Chrysanthemums

While most plants are settling in for a long winter’s nap, the chrysanthemum comes alive in larger-thanlife blooms, wondrous spheres and walls of autumn abundance. As you explore our gardens and grounds indoors and out note the rich color palette, tempting textures, and striking details of this year’s exhibition theme: Unexpected Color. Taking center stage is the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse. Lose yourself in an immersive chrysanthemum experience, enveloping you in floorto-ceiling flowering tapestries and whimsical spheres suspended within frames. Wander the BISSELL Corridor, blooming with monochromatic containers and the wildly colorful creations of local florists each week showcasing a different hue. Capture the wonder of our Gateway Garden beds and their fresh take on chrysanthemum color in analogous pairings like pink and purple, alongside bursts of dramatic orange. Notice the diversity in texture and tone of our fall foliage, as bright pink mums are set off by kale and cabbage in a blue-green to purple-red to deep purple spectrum. Other inviting points of interest are the Grand Entry Garden, Cook Entryway, and Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor, each abloom with spectacular specialty plantings.

On select Tuesdays September 20 and 27 and October 4 get your glow on in the Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden, where majestic trees illuminated with stunning shades and hand-etched pumpkins by local artist Alynn Guerra, of Red Hydrant Press, light your path. Bring the family for Tuesdays at the Farm in Michigan’s Farm Garden, where we celebrate the season with pumpkincarving demonstrations, live music, adult beverages and even a James & Shirley Balk Café pop-up. Marvel at the magnitude of our heirloom vegetables, herbs, gourds and impossibly oversized pumpkins. The family fun continues all season, through the perennially popular Fall Family Day on October 1, the Fall Bonsai Show on October 1 and 2, and Hallowee-Ones on October 21. Come with great expectations. We promise to pique your curiosity!

Tuesdays at the Farm Tuesdays, September 20, 27, and October 4, 5–8:30 pm Glow Garden Tuesdays, September 20, 27, and October 4, 5-8:30 pm

2 Johnny Quirin PROGRAMMING Events are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Full descriptions of events can be found on page 10.

Join us as we experience how Unexpected Color reveals itself in nature. Take a walk with Eve Choi, Curator of Horticultural & Environmental Education, to observe the natural colors reflected in the Doehne Wildflower Meadow plantings in autumn. See how the pairing of plants can have both ecological importance and aesthetic beauty rooted in color theory, and learn more about the science behind fall color change.

& More! Unexpected Color September 16–October 30, 2022

Join us as we take a closer look at the inspiration behind the Unexpected Color theme with Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education. Learn the basics of color theory and see how it has been artfully applied in this year’s Chrysanthemums & More! exhibition theme and displays. Then try out what you’ve learned in a hands-on activity exploring the principles of color theory.

It’s the quintessential fall flower like you’ve never seen it before! Prepare to be amazed by how the mighty mum takes shape at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this autumn. Now in its 24th year, Chrysanthemums & More! remains a member and guest must-see and the largest exhibition of its kind in Michigan.

Outside, discover the Doehne Wildflower Meadow, home to Mark diSuvero's Scarlatti. This visual surprise of native plants is intentionally placed in unexpected waves of color, in a celebration of Michigan’s natural environment. As you contemplate the meadow, take in the rich chrome-yellow goldenrod growing alongside the striking royal-purple New England aster.

Mark Mennin’s sculptures and commissions are found in several private and public collections, including Laumeier Sculpture Park, Missouri; The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Massachusetts; and Grounds for Sculpture, New Jersey. Mennin has taught sculpture and art history for over 20 years at Parsons School of Design and The New York Academy of Art in New York City. He resides and executes all his sculptures in a large indooroutdoor atelier in Connecticut.

Along with the ArtPrize entry, other sculptures by Mennin will be displayed in the exhibition Written in Stone. Within the PNC Portico, a marble colonnade features five recycled columns with carved Elizabethan ruff collars for capitals. The marble columns came from a 19th-century New York City building that was partially destroyed in the 1930s and buried in a New Jersey landfill. The “found” or repurposed stone in Mennin’s fanciful colonnade literally has history inscribed in its form, along with the record of the stone’s own physical

Mark Mennin: ArtPrize and Written in Stone

In this vein, Mennin’s entry for ArtPrize 2022 comprises three oversized stone beds, situated outdoors on the Frey Foundation Plaza. This trio of voluptuous structures, titled Embedded, toys with our perception of hard and soft, heavy and light. As such, these pillowy stone sculptures offer an invitation to test our strength and sense of touch. Several of Mennin’s preferred sculpted forms, like clothing or cushions, upend our expectations of stone’s standard qualities.

While we spend much of our lives surrounded by stone, we too rarely reflect on the source or nature of this ubiquitous material. “Stone is just hardened earth,” Mennin matter-of-factly states, yet his knowing sculptures make us revel in the glories of a material that’s as common as dirt.

Written in Stone, September 2–November 27, 2022. ArtPrize Embedded, September 15–October 2, 2022. by Suzanne Ramljak, Chief Curator

“Lying on a solid earth material is a tidy way of rolling in the mud,” Mennin notes, “and the variety of textured surfaces makes for a very tactile, sensual experience.”

past. Additional sculpture will be featured in the Courtyard Level of the Welcome Center. Most of Mennin’s projects, including his carved beds, enlist reclaimed stone or recycled scrap and slag from various quarries.

Sculptor Mark Mennin was smitten by stone at the young age of 9, during his first trip to Italy where he encountered the marvels of marble statuary. Stone has become Mennin’s medium of choice for the past 40 years, and he has used this dense matter to carve everything from small dollhouse furniture to an entire cliff face in the South of France. Regardless of scale, throughout all his work Mennin has retained a fascination with the material itself, including its distinct physical traits formed over millions of years and the geologic ethnicity or “birthplace” of all quarried stone. Mennin has also steadily probed the primal relationship between humans and stone, grounding us in the Earth and the histories of both built and natural stone environments. Accordingly, much of the artist’s work for public spaces and private commissions solicit involvement and create dynamics for people to interact with the work.

One of Spain’s most celebrated artists, Iglesias has developed a rich vocabulary drawing on architecture, literature, nature, and history to create captivating installations and sculptures. Over the past 20 years, she has increasingly incorporated water into her work, exploring the physical dynamics and poetic associations of this ubiquitous liquid. The artist’s fountains and other water structures redirect our attention downward to subterranean sources and realign our sense of passing time. Her series of Pozos, or wells, feature sculpted interior terrains over which water flows in varying sequences. With elevated walls, these Pozos encourage viewers to lean upon the edge as if gazing into a wishing well. This same wonder and primal force of water infuses Iglesias’ ambitious public projects found in major cities around the world. A survey exhibition of Cristina Iglesias’ work will be presented at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Spring 2023.

Ariel Schlesinger. Ways to Say Goodbye. 2019. Aluminum and glass, height 20 feet. Ways to Say Goodbye, by Israeli artist Ariel Schlesinger, joined the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park collection and was underwritten by the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids and the Pestka Family, to serve as the focus of a Holocaust memorial. The recently installed, 20-foot-tall cast aluminum tree commemorates Holocaust survivor Henry Pestka as well as the millions of Jews who were killed under Nazi rule. As a memorial to those who survived and those who perished during the Holocaust, the sculpture fittingly conveys a dual sense of hope and grief. While the upright tree suggests growth and potential, its stark limbs bearing glass shards evoke loss and destruction. Resilience and fragility are conjoined in this charged sculpture, which speaks poignantly to those who endured the atrocities of the Holocaust. Such duality is a recurring characteristic within Schlesinger’s work. “I am fascinated by how one thing can be seen in different ways,” said the artist, who seeks to reveal the complexity and uncertainty of his subjects, often drawn from everyday circumstance. Schlesinger has lived and worked throughout the world, including in the United States, Mexico, England, and Germany, and his work has been widely exhibited and published. Ways to Say Goodbye is the first sculpture by the artist to enter a public collection in North America.

5Nic Sagodic New Sculpture

Cristina Iglesias. Pozo XI (in and around the walls) (Version 2). 2014. Stone, aluminum, mechanics and water, 44 x 102 x 102 inches. Cristina Iglesias’ Pozo XI (in and around the walls) (Version 2) has taken its ideal place within the newly opened Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden. Set in an intimate courtyard, surrounded by a crown of pleached trees, her raised waterbed gives delight to those who come upon its half-hidden site. Iglesias cultivates such unexpected encounters within her work, stating “I think it’s important when someone doesn’t expect to see something and suddenly comes across it.”

at Meijer Gardens

Here JMMDS created contemporary versions of typical English garden features—the Conversation Garden exedra bench, a rill, a cherry tree allée, a sunken garden, a knot garden, a wild garden at the top of the landscape. Beautifully curated and sited sculpture provide contemplation throughout. Our new Welcome Center also inspired her team, reflected in the Balk Square and the Discovery Garden: a quiet, verdant refuge at the top of the garden.

“We learn most from people who’ll be involved with the space—bringing them together and running a visioning process, leading them to help us come up with the organizing strategy for our design.” JMMDS worked closely with Horticulture and Sculpture staff, learning about plants, processes, and practices, and creating a garden that fits with the surrounding structures and becomes an exterior centerpiece showcasing beautiful plantings.

Tassell–Wisner–theBottrallEnglishPerennialGarden

“English, Irish and Scottish gardens I’ve visited usually are laid out to provide a clear structure for their plantings,” Messervy said.

Bowman has been involved in gardens most of her life. At a young age she started working for her mother, an American garden designer specializing in English-style border gardens: Beds were wide, plants varied, the resulting look rich and floriferous—bordering on wild and raucous. Bowman recalls them as the gardens she imagined in courtyards of castles.

A mission to “create, and inspire others to create, exquisite and environmentally sensitive places of beauty and meaning by means of a joyful process” drives the design. The long, complicated garden process involved many hands. Meijer Gardens President & CEO David Hooker; Vice President of Horticulture Steve LaWarre and his staff; Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions & Installations Laurene Grunwald and the Sculpture department; and Elisa Testa from Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects collaborated with Erica Bowman, JMMDS Senior Landscape Architect, who managed the project and designed the perennial plantings.

“We strive to create a landscape unique to the institution, its setting and history, its architecture, and its horticultural and environmental needs,” Messervy said.

As a child, Julie Moir Messervy—President and CEO of Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio, the firm behind the reimagined Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden—delighted in and learned from the natural world. A suburban backyard and surrounding fields, forests, and old apple orchards provided rich outdoor experiences, inspiring her throughout a long career as a landscape designer, an author, and a teacher.

6 Nic SagodicThe Discovery Garden The Wild Meadow The Knot Garden Wandering

The

Garden

The Rill The Masterpiece Terrace

Allée Balk Square The

Learn how Julie's vision for composing landscapes of beauty and meaning was artfully realized in her collaboration with Meijer Gardens. Lecture is free for members, general admission for nonmembers. Registration is required for the lecture at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Please direct lecturerelated questions to Eve Choi at echoi@meijergardens.org or call

Julie Moir Messervy and Erica Bowman

“These gardens can be as wild as they are because of the neatness of their immediate surroundings: a clipped lawn, a stone wall, a walkway. The clean lines of these bounding elements complete the look.” Features were incorporated to be true to the garden’s source of inspiration “but avoided the pastiche.” This is meant to be a modern interpretation, honoring the modern Welcome Center. One such interpretation is the Knot Garden, more a subtle nod to history than formal replication. Knot gardens tend to have clipped, undulating hedges forming a welldefined pattern—often high-maintenance, classically small. “We knew it was to be a showpiece,” Bowman said of the largest, most prominent garden looking back to the Welcome Center. It will eventually be surrounded in a perfectly formed boxwood boundary. Within the space are topiaries and evergreen shrubs for winter interest. The garden’s center is a riot of perennials, less and less organized as they head toward the Wild Meadow. In a way, they morph into the Wild Meadow.

JMMDS refers to the Balk Square as the Sunken Garden, not actually sunken but a space within where one can become completely immersed in garden space. This was done without walls, topography change or an interior walkway. The intention is for the final lawn space to be neutral and useful; a place to take a grand view of the gardens. The Conversation Garden developed around the shape of the recently updated Leaping Gazelle fountain, by Marshall Fredericks. Alluding to English roots, a spiraling yew hedge surrounds the area. Benches are simple, modern; curved and formed of wide wooden slats. A half allée of fringe trees, added for its lovely, early June fragrance, stands amidst a wide, bending garden; beginning with woodland plants, ending in great drifts of color.

Conversation Garden

Lecture: Celebrating the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden*

*Applies616-975-3145.towardMichigan State University Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Tuesday, September 13, 7 pm

Visit MeijerGardens.org/epg to learn more about the plants comprising the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden.

Messervy added: “I believe, thanks to our design and its gardeners’ loving care, the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden will be experienced as exquisite by all who visit!”

“To be given the reins to create a garden that came with its own full-time staff and expectations of high maintenance was a great gift,” Bowman said. “It meant complicated combinations were allowable. Perennialheavy borders were possible and interesting. Unusual plants were acceptable.”

While describing English gardens as abundant, overflowing, bountiful, and colorful, Bowman notes restraint is an equal, necessary, opposite component.

In some places

PROGRAMMING All events and activites listed here are included with admission.

As you plan your visit, take note of our many special events on select Tuesdays. Santa’s reindeer swoop into Michigan’s Farm Garden on November 26 and December 3, 10, 17, and 24. Don’t miss time with Santa himself and the Original Dickens Carolers on Tuesdays, November 22 through December 20, or festive events such as the annual Member Holiday Lighting Ceremony on November 21, Christmas Cabaret on December 1, and our additional Member Holiday Parties on November 28 and December 4, 11, 12 (adults only), and 18.

The Original Dickens Carolers Tuesdays, November 22–December 20, 6–8 pm Santa Visits Tuesdays, November 22–December 20, 5–8 pm Rooftop Reindeer Saturdays, November 26, December 3, 10, 17, and 24, 1–4 pm

Peter McDaniel

MEMBER HOLIDAY PARTIES Free for Meijer Gardens Members. Tree Lighting Ceremony

November 21, 6–8pm Family Evenings

University of &Health–West:MichiganChristmasHolidayTraditions|Light November 22–January 8, 2023

See the season in a whole new Light—literally. For its 28th year, our beloved annual University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition takes the sights and sounds of the season to new heights with an immersive light experience, fittingly named Seasonal Light Experience at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. Come celebrate the season with us! Bring the family and be among the first to feast your eyes on this display. We’re illuminating the ways in which diverse cultures use light to uplift hope, warmth, faith, remembrance, gratitude, prosperity and more during the darkest days of the year. From the warm glow of the Hanukkah menorah, to the bright flash of Diwali fireworks, to the starry sparkle of Filipino Christmas lanterns, light is at the center of the celebration in holiday festivities around the world. Our intensive design and coordination in this one-ofa-kind illuminating experience adds new dimension to our annual winter wonderland of 300,000 lights and dozens of decked-out evergreens and distinctive cultural displays. Thanks to the magic of projection mapping technology, laser lights, and a custom audio score commissioned for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, it’s a captivating experience that transforms the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. You have to see it to believe it! Indoors, the exhibition takes on a new light as well. As you meander our wondrous hallways, note how the power of light and vivid colors inclusively connects us, in homage to celebrations across cultures and continents. Enjoy the warmth of the iconic Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, newly aglow in pink—a novel presentation achieved by 60 colored floodlights placed on the perimeter of this five-story glass oasis. Admire the towering 15-foot trees flanking the BISSELL Corridor, illuminated in lustrous lights. Colors abound in festive holiday plantings, too. As you explore our lush evergreens, notice the pops of amaryllis and poinsettias in hot pink, bright red, and white. New this year in the Railway Garden is the captivating and ever-charming De Zwaan Windmill Botanical Model, a replica of the iconic authentic Dutch windmill in Holland, Michigan, whose name means “swan” or “graceful bird.” Ours is an intricately decorated miniature, with sculpted natural plant material adorning all sides.

November 28 and December 11, 6–8pm Family Morning December 4 and 18, 9–11am Adult Evening December 12, 7–9pm Pictured: The Moravian Star in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

Get here early to get the best selection, as many gifts do sell out. Better yet, make a day of it! Refuel in the James & Shirley Balk Café after you shop, then explore our beautiful gardens, exhibition spaces, and sculpture park, or take a class. The Holiday Gift Show is free for members and included with admissions for others. And as a member, you’ll enjoy a 10% discount on your purchases. We look forward to surprising—spoiling!—you. Concrete Catch All Tray, Ring Holder, and Propagation Station by KNOWN Goods Co.

Holiday

9Top: Nic Sagodic, bottom: Zoro Media

Light Experience

Seasonal at Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater

November 5, 2022, 9 am–5 pm Make your list. Check it twice. Get ready to get your gift on! Our annual must-shop Holiday Gift Show marks the beginning of the season and promises something for everyone on your list. An eclectic mix of 40 artisans and vendors makes this one-day event your one-stop shopping destination. Our curated collection of treasures is a diverse assortment of home décor, jewelry, candles, eats, toys, kids’ activities, apparel, handbags, men’s items, and holiday-themed ornaments and soaps, to name a few. Among the perennial favorites are Michigan’s own Cherry Republic, Hickory Tree Farm Apiaries, KNOWN Goods Co., Roeda Studio, and Beer City Dog Biscuits, along with Jellycat plushies and Simply Noelle apparel and accessories. New this year are West Michigan’s own Heather Lane Pottery, a studio offering personalized ceramic ornaments; Foliage Effects, with unique horticulture aesthetics combining houseplants, antiques, and upcycled planters; and Peggy Bishop Cards, handcrafted creations that include greeting cards, gift tags, and bookmarks.

The Seasonal Light Experience is free to members and included with admission. Save the date and see this dazzling display it in its first season!

December 19–23 and 26–30, 2022 Shows run every half hour, 6 pm–8 pm

Also joining our festive roster are Spiral Light Candles, uniquely long-lasting and luxuriously scented tower candles that melt within, and one-of-a-kind Soruka handbags and wallets handmade from sustainable, upcycled leather. We’ve even added new holidayinspired Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park goodies such as ornaments, puzzles, mugs, and coasters. pathways to see the 20-minute show. While you’re there, warm up with adult cocktails—or hot cocoa, for the kids—along with hot handhelds, sweet treats, blazing fire pits, and playful glowing goods from the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop pop-up, located in the Peter C. & Emajean Cook Transportation Center.

It’s an awe-inspiring, immersive lightshow inspired by the natural world—one you can see only at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. Lose yourself in the multimedia merriment of the Seasonal Light Experience at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. This first-of-its-kind illuminating experience adds new dimension to our annual University of Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition and is a must-see for the entire family. Be sure to bundle up and venture out onto the cleared Gift Show

*Applies toward Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Inside the Japanese Teahouse Sundays, September 18 and October 16, 1–4 pm

The Peter M. Wege Library

October 16, 11:30 am–12:30 pm

Saturday, August 27, 12–5 pm Sunday, August 28, 11 am–4:30 pm

Thursday, September 8, 2022, 6–8 pm Join us for the opening of Mark Mennin: Written in Stone and view his 2022 ArtPrize entry, Embedded. Suzanne Ramljak, Chief Curator, will provide opening remarks followed by a lecture from Mark Mennin on "The Stone Carver as Alchemist." Galleries open at 7 pm with light refreshments provided. RSVP by Thursday, September 1 online at bit.ly/ArtPrizeFMG_MM, by email to rsvp@meijergardens.org, or by calling Lisa Flowers at 616-974-5222. This event will be closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education at Meijer Gardens, Adjunct Professor of Art History at Grand Valley State University

Fall Bonsai Show

Discover why stone is a time-tested favorite artistic medium, from the prehistoric era to the present. Join a guided walk and discussion of the work of ArtPrize artist Mark Mennin as well as works by other stone sculptors represented in the Meijer Gardens permanent collection. Mennin’s work explores the connection between the human figure and the Earth, the juxtaposition of hard and soft textures, and geology and geography as a type of ethnicity.

Presented by the West Michigan Bonsai Club See a variety of bonsai on display, from trees in early training stages to mature older trees. Watch bonsai artists at work and shop for bonsai trees, tools, and supplies.

Saturday, October 1, 10 am–5 pm Sunday, October 2, 11 am–5 pm

Plant Shows Dahlia Show

Exhibition Walk: Stone Embodiment

Read & Explore: Art and Gardens Book Group Tuesday, September 13, 1–2:30 pm For our fall book discussion, we’re diving into the intriguing world of clouds. Maria Mudd Ruth’s A Sideways Look at Clouds is an irresistible account of her discovery of the science and beauty of the clouds we walk under and may take for granted each day. Join us as we discuss this fun, fascinating and edifying book. Registration required (limit of 20). RSVP to skilroy@meijergardens.org or 616-975-3144.

Books in Bloom! Friday, September 23 We hope you had a chance to enjoy our spring and summer Books in Bloom displays. This quarterly series continues as our Horticulture team creates another beautiful floral arrangement inspired by a book in the Peter M. Wege Library. Be sure to stop by to gain some inspiration! The arrangement will be on display in the Wege Library for approximately one week.

10 Nic Sagodic Events Events are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required unless otherwise noted.

Experience the tranquil ambience and exquisite architecture of our authentic Japanese Teahouse on the third Sunday of the month, May to October. Take special note of the master carpentry, contrasting woods, patterns, textures and numerous distinctive details. This opportunity is included with admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the teahouse.

Gwen WoodlandFrosticShade Garden Glow Garden Tuesdays, September 20, 27, and October 4, 5-8:30 pm

The Woodland Shade Garden transforms into the Glow Garden, its natural beauty enhanced through the power of light. Enjoy artfully carved pumpkin displays by Grand Rapids printmaker Alynn Guerra, decorative lanterns, log lights, and glowing trees.

Be inspired! Stroll through a room filled with stunning flowers and a rainbow of color. View lovely floral arrangements and chat with Dahlia Society members to learn more about growing and caring for these beautiful blooms.

The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden

Michigan's Farm Garden

Eat, drink and dance in the crisp autumn air! The James & Shirley Balk Café pop-up will serve fresh local fare along with West Michigan beer and adult cocktails while guests enjoy live local music in the barn. It's a great time for everyone wanting to experience fall at Meijer Gardens.

Mark Mennin: ArtPrize and Written in Stone Member Reception and Lecture

Presented by the West Michigan Dahlia Society

Tuesdays at the Farm Tuesdays, September 20, 27, and October 4, 5–8:30 pm

Start your day at Cranbrook’s Contemporary Art Museum, enjoying a self-guided tour of three featured exhibitions or admiring the impressive outdoor sculpture collection that displays more than thirty pieces. Next enjoy a boxed lunch on the bus as we make our way across campus, stopping to take in the sights before arriving at Cranbrook House & Gardens. Built in 1908, this English Arts and Crafts-style home is the oldest surviving manor open to the public in metro Detroit. Your private guided tour of Cranbrook House takes you back in time to a golden era of craftsmanship as you explore twelve rooms on the first floor, including the library, Oak Room, and Cranbrook cofounder George Gough Booth’s original office. Learn about the Booth family and their 1908 English Tudor estate while viewing handcrafted furniture, tapestries, tiles, stained glass, and other works of art.

Thursday, September 22, 8 am–8:30 pm $160 members | $180 nonmembers

Yinka Shonibare CBE: Planets in My Head Lecture Series

Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org Discover Beautiful Cranbrook*

Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the class. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the class. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the class. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-9753147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.

Yinka Shonibare CBE and the Pan-African Imagination

Fall Bus Trips

Antawan Byrd, PhD candidate in the art history department at Northwestern University, Weinberg Fellow, associate curator of Photography and Media at the Art Institute of Chicago

While one half of the group tours, the other half will freely explore the Cranbrook Gardens. Comprising 40 acres of formal and natural areas surrounding the house, the gardens feature unique statuary and calming water features in addition to their extensive plantings. Sites include the popular sunken garden, the reflecting pool, the native plant and wildflower garden, the greenhouse, and the Japanese garden. End the day enjoying a meal together at Lockhart's BBQ before returning to Meijer Gardens. Fee includes bus transportation, admission, snack, tours, boxed lunch, dinner and all gratuities.

Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Hybrid Mask (Fang Ngil), 2020–2021. Hand painted wooden mask on a brass clad plinth, 70 x 29 x 26cm (27 1/2 x 11 3/8 x 10 1/4 in). Copyright Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Stephen White and Co.

In this talk, we will explore the entwined forces of disability, race, and colonialism in the life and work of artist Yinka Shonibare. By centering this intersectional approach, we will consider how complex identity and embodied experience can create a radical aesthetic that is also a tactic for political change.

Complex Embodiment: Yinka Shonibare CBE and Disability, Race, and Colonialism

Art Inspired by Nature in Kalamazoo Friday, October 21, 9 am–7:30 pm $160 members | $180 nonmembers

Saturday September 3, 11 am–12 pm Jessica A. Cooley, PhD, ACLS Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and Guest Curator, Ford Foundation Gallery, New York City

Saturday October 1, 11 am–12 pm

Globes recur throughout Yinka Shonibare’s art, whether serving as surrogates for human heads or used as foundations on which sculptural figures are made to tread carefully. In this talk, we will consider the ways Shonibare’s multivalent engagements with planetary forms extend ideas and themes associated with PanAfricanism, a cultural and political movement founded in the early 20th century that calls for self-determination and transnational solidarity among Black peoples.

Relax and refresh your mind on this first-ever Meijer Gardens day trip focused on how nature serves as inspiration for art. Start the day at the tranquil Kalamazoo Nature Center, where the exhibition Up in the Air: Birds Navigating the Anthropocene is on display. This exhibition features original illustrations by local artist Olivia Mendoza, providing the perfect complement to displays of preserved eggs and birds, amongst other scientific works. Tour the exhibition with a guide from the KNC and explore the grounds, unwinding and drawing inspiration for activities throughout the day. Also, enjoy a full-circle opportunity as Mendoza, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Medical Illustration from Kendall College of Art & Design, leads a botanical illustration workshop. Enjoy a boxed lunch at the KNC before heading to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, where a series of entertaining experiences awaits. Explore the museum on a guided tour of the KIA’s permanent art collection on display in the exhibition Unveiling American Genius. This exhibition includes natureinspired works amongst a wide variety of abstract and contemporary art sharing the stories and perspectives of African American, Latinx and female artists. Next, participate in a hands-on art activity creating your own rendition of a landscape, using paint and a press and make a unique print to take home. Take time to explore the KIA on your own as well. Reconnect over dinner at Theo & Stacy’s Greek Restaurant, appreciating each other’s company and sharing experiences of the day. Dive into creative freedom and natural inspiration and take home unique handmade items on this fun and relaxing day trip. Fee includes bus transportation, admission, snack, tours, art activities, boxed lunch, dinner, and all gratuities.

Join us for a day trip to discover Cranbrook one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The historic 319-acre campus, founded in 1904, features the work of worldrenowned architects such as Eliel Saarinen, Albert Kahn, Steven Holl, and Tod Williams, and sculptors Carl Milles, Marshall Fredericks, Mark di Suvero, and more. Critics have described Cranbrook, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989, as the “most enchanting setting in America.”

11Events

Location: Outdoor Discovery Center, Holland, Michigan Maggie Conklin, LadyHawk Nutrition In this off-site class at the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, Michigan, you’ll learn about the abundance of “wild foods” in Southwest Michigan and discover how sustainable foraging can deepen your connection with the natural environment.

12 Adult & Teen Classes

Tuesday, September 6, 5:30–7:30 pm

Eve Choi Join Meijer Gardens Curator of Horticultural and Environmental Education Eve Choi for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Chrysanthemums & More! Unexpected Color horticulture exhibition. Learn what it takes to put this exhibition together, how we care for the plants in our collection and rotate them seasonally, and how the design and theme are determined. Enjoy a guided tour of chrysanthemum displays as Eve highlights elements of the exhibition. What Unexpected Color will you find? Have your questions answered over coffee and muffins with a staff expert.

Discover age-old wisdom while learning how to save seeds from a variety of vegetables and herbs, in this insightful class. Save money next spring by learning how to collect, dry, store, and trial select vegetables and herbs. Gain an understanding of which vegetables and herbs can be successfully propagated, the role cross-pollination serves, and why seed saving is important. Go home with seeds from the instructor’s Certified Naturally Grown farm to begin your seed collection! Attend the second class in this seed saving series, Michigan Native Plants, Thursday, October 13, 5:30–7 pm, to learn how to save Michigan native plant seeds responsibly and successfully.

FREE! Community Cleanup (Adults and Teens 14+)

Becky Pobst, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks

Bring out the natural beauty of your trees, shrubs, evergreens and hedges by learning to prune with confidence!

members in this volunteer event cleaning up local waterways and learning from Plaster Creek Stewards about our watersheds. Select collected items will be sanitized and used in the Reclaimed Glass Mosaic class on Thursday, October 20, from 1–4 pm. Cleanup participation is free. Registration is required.

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 and no experience necessary unless otherwise noted.

Details on specific meeting location will be sent to all registered guests.

Maggie Conklin ND BCDTN BCMH, Maven of Heirloom Academy and owner of LadyHawk Nutrition, will blend instruction in an outdoor classroom and guided walks, to highlight the seasonal identification and ethnobotany of these plants and challenge notions of what many might view as weeds. Expect a fair amount of walking and standing. Bring a notebook and dress for the weather. Fee includes a snack, water bottle, boxed lunch, information and resources to guide future foraging endeavors, and all gratuities.

Tea in the Victorian Garden (Adults) Sunday, September 18, 8:30–10 am $25 members | $35 nonmembers Amber Oudsema, Bo Stuck Join us for a cup of tea in the tranquility of our Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor. Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, will cover the history of Victorian art and fashion while you snack on pastries and sip tea. Afterward head to the Sculpture Galleries, where Bo Stuck, Conservation Technician, will relate what you’ve learned to our current sculpture exhibition—Yinka Shonibare CBE: Planets in My Head—and give a behind-the-scenes look at the work that went into curating the exhibition.

$70 members | $80 nonmembers Nancy Hart Discover the delightful art of watercolor in this two-session class. In the first session learn about materials and methods, including brush techniques, choosing paper, additives, wet and dry techniques, and more. Then practice by painting your own color wheel to use as a reference. In the second session, use what you learned to create a strong composition of a still-life scene or object of choice. Participants will receive a travel-size watercolor set to keep and use in between sessions. Bring a colored photo to use as a reference. All other materials provided.

Join Becky Pobst, Community Forestry Project Manager at Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, to discover when to prune, the proper techniques and best tools, the physiology of pruning, and risk assessment. Following the indoor presentation, take a guided walk around Meijer Gardens, weather permitting, for a unique look at stylized pruning.

Cyanotype for Teens (Ages 14–18) Tuesday, September 13, 5:30–7:30pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Taylor Bultema Learn about the history and process of cyanotype—a 170-year-old photographic printing technique that produces prints in a distinctive shade of blue. Then create your own cyanotype prints using found objects, cut-paper collage, botanicals, or your own hand-drawn creation. The options are endless! Optional: Bring any 2D objects you may want to incorporate into your design.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs* (Adults)

Fall Foraging (Adults) Thursday, September 22, 11 am–3 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers

Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to:

$25 members | $35 nonmembers

Nonmember class fee includes admission for the class participant on the day of the class.

NOTE: This is a two-part class. Students will attend both the September 20 and September 27 sessions.

Coffee with the Curator (Adults) Tuesday, September 20, 8–9:30 am $15 members | $25 nonmembers

*Appliesclasses@meijergardens.orgtowardMichiganState University Extension Master Gardener education credit.

Seed Saving: Vegetables and Herbs* (Adults) Thursday, September 8, 5:30–7 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers Greg Dunn, Blackbird Farms

Saturday, September 10, 10 am–12 pm Location: Plaster Creek Trail Araceli Eikenberry, Plaster Creek Stewards We are excited to partner with our friends at Plaster Creek Stewards to host another river cleanup! Join Meijer Gardens staff

Watercolor for Beginners (Adults) Consecutive Tuesdays, September 20 and 27, 6–8 pm

pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers

Steve BeginnerJetzer|10 participants

$85

Teen Classes 13

Start the class by getting inspiration from the brick labyrinth located in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Afterward, enjoy a guided experience of drawing and creating your own Zentangle labyrinth. Dress for the weather.

Seed Saving: Michigan Native Plants* (Adults)

Tuesday, October 11, 1–2:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers

Learn the basics of bonsai, by starting from scratch working with an untrained juniper in a nursery pot. Learn how to select a tree with potential, the appropriate pot, and the best potting mix. Each tree will be analyzed as a group for different design possibilities, and using various bonsai techniques you will shape and trim your tree to start you on the path toward your desired design. Trees will not be repotted during class but instructions on repotting and future care will be provided. All tools and materials provided. Includes admission to the Fall Bonsai Show, Sunday, October 2.

Marjorie Goosen

Esther Durnwald, Michigan Wildflower Farm

Bill Bird Be inspired by the breathtaking beauty of Keukenhof, a flower garden in the Netherlands that features 7 million spring bulbs displayed in stunning patterns, colors and combinations. Learn how to adapt these ideas to create beautiful combinations on a smaller scale at home. Discover how to naturalize bulbs for a less formal look and how to identify bulbs that will come back year after year. Master tips on how to plant bulbs, protect them from critters and care for them after they bloom. Take home a few unusual spring bulbs to get started!

Alynn Guerra

Learn about creating a strong composition that demonstrates the important balance of positive and negative space. Draw sketchbook thumbnails and choose your favorite to transfer onto an easy-to-carve rubber block, then ink your final print onto a tea towel to take home.

$105

Scott BeginnerZomerlei|10participants

Floral Ink Drawing with Chrysanthemums September 24, 10 am–1

Relief Printing (Adults)

(Adults) Saturday,

Chinese

Peter McDaniel&

Ficus Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Saturday, October 1, 1–4 pm | nonmembers

Intermediate Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, October 2, 1–4 pm $125 members | $135 nonmembers

$95 members

Lotus Liu Learn ink drawing techniques using traditional Chinese methods and brushes, with teaching artist Lotus Liu. Spend time exploring the Chrysanthemums & More! exhibition to get inspired and create practice sketches, then return to the classroom for a guided painting activity of floral designs on rice paper. Dress for the weather.

Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing simple, repetitive patterns. Zentangle art is nonrepresentational and unplanned. Focus on each stroke and don’t worry about the outcome—the result is a delightful surprise!

Adult

Juniper Bonsai Workshop (Adults) Sunday, October 2, 12–3 pm members | $95 nonmembers

Join local expert Steve Jetzer, from West Michigan Bonsai Society, as he guides bonsai enthusiasts in training a natal plum, also called a dwarf plum. This flowering evergreen native to South Africa makes wonderful bonsai. Steve will focus on how to establish a trunk line, branch pruning, and setting the tree’s shape using wire. The result will be the beginning of an attractive Shohin bonsai. Trees will be repotted during class and instructions for future care will be provided. All tools and materials provided. Includes admission to the Fall Bonsai Show, Sunday, October 2. Eco-Friendly Papermaking (Adults) Tuesday, October 4, 5–7:30 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers

Explore basic printmaking with Alynn Guerra, Red Hydrant Press Studio owner and Meijer Gardens’ pumpkin-carver extraordinaire.

$35 members | $45 nonmembers

Learn about the role native plants play in our ecosystem and how you can save seeds responsibly and effectively. Learn what it takes to harvest, store and plant these seeds for future success. After a short how-to lecture of common Michigan native wildflowers and grasses, make seed bombs using clay and native grasses and wildflowers to plant this fall, then enjoy the beauty and benefits next spring! End the class by taking a guided walk outside, weather permitting, to see some of Meijer Gardens’ native plants and learn about the part they play in the ecosystem this time of year. Attend the previous class in this seed saving series, Vegetables and Herbs, Thursday, September 8, 5:30-7 pm, to learn how to save seeds from a variety of vegetables and herbs.

Taylor Scamehorn

Steve IntermediateJetzer | 10 participants

Tree ID: Maple and Oak* (Adults) Saturday, October 15, 10 am–12:30 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Kim Davidson Enjoy the beauty of fall colors at Meijer Gardens and learn the basics of tree identification. In this introductory level class, discover or further refine identification techniques specific to maple and oak species. Put your acquired skills to the test by venturing outdoors, weather permitting, for a guided tour of maple and oak trees on Meijer Gardens grounds. This class is great for those interested in learning more about maple and oak species!

Tuesday, October 11, 6–9 pm $70 members | $80 nonmembers

Thursday, October 13, 5:30–7 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers

Join us for homemade wildflower seed papermaking with 100% post-consumer paper. Create something new and beautiful from recycled paper, natural dyes, dried flowers, plant fibers, or wildflower seeds collected from the Meijer Gardens grounds. Your homemade paper can become a work of art, turned into notecards or invitations, or a unique gift that keeps giving for years to come. If you no longer need it, simply plant the paper in soil and add water to sprout new wildflowers! Paper will need to be dried overnight and can be mailed or picked up at a later date.

This beginner class is great for those interested in getting started in bonsai! Learn the background of bonsai before touring the Fall Bonsai Show to gain inspiration. Steve will then lead the group through the steps of training and trimming your tropical bonsai tree. Take time to ask questions as Steve shares insight and care tips. Learn how to repot your tree during class and take home care instructions and your newly trained tree. All tools and materials provided. Includes admission to the Fall Bonsai Show, Saturday, October 1.

The Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs for Every Garden* (Adults)

Labyrinth Zentangle (Adults) Thursday, September 29, 1–4 pm

NOTE: This is a two-part class. Students will attend both the November 15 and November 22 sessions.

Kara Wilkinson, Fosters Floral Make a colorful, festive floral bouquet to use as a centerpiece for the upcoming holiday season! Watch a demonstration on using the basic elements of design to create a simple, lovely bouquet. Learn the mechanics of arranging various materials, tools required and tricks of the trade. Bring a 5”-mouth vase of your own, offering it new life, or hand tie your bouquet to bring home and display. Fee includes admission to the Holiday Gift Show, Saturday, November 5. NOTE: This class is held at the same time as the children’s Fall Flower Exploration, to allow children and their adults the opportunity to simultaneously attend their own age-appropriate class.

Luis Chen and Chandler Michalsky, Wormies Vermicompost

Tripod recommended but not required.

14 Adult & Teen Classes Character Illustration for Teens (Ages 14–18)

Floral Bouquet for the Holidays (Adults and Teens 15+)

Saturday, November 5, 10–11:30 am $45 members | $55 nonmembers

Pop-Up Holiday Cards (Adults)

Oil Painting (Adults) Consecutive Tuesdays, November 15 and 22, 6–8 pm

Jean Barber Learn the basics of pop-up card making using templates to create standard pop-up, twisted pop-up and box-style cards as well as envelopes for each type of card created. Leave with cards that are ready to use and templates to use again and again for future card making. This class requires dexterity for cutting with scissors and lots of folding.

Tuesday, December 6, 5:30–7:30 pm $25 members | $35 nonmembers

This advanced composting class is for those interested in learning about other applications for compost and a more indepth approach to the soil science behind composting. Learn about bokashi—an anaerobic method of fermenting your food scraps to create soil embedment—amongst other complex vermicomposting and fermentation methods used to feed the soil and aid your plants. Take home a bokashi setup to get started! Attend the first class with Luis and Chandler, Composting for Beginners, November 10, 5–7 pm, for more basic information on composting and to create your own compost bin to take home.

Amber Oudsema, Eve Choi Join Amber Oudsema and Eve Choi, Curators of Education, to learn about the art and science of pinning butterflies. Take time to design an artful composition for your shadow box, then carefully mount your specimen so it can be enjoyed for years to come. Fee includes admission to the Holiday Gift Show, Saturday, November 5. Ceramic Jewelry (Adults) Saturday, November 5, 1:30–4:30 pm $55 members | $65 nonmembers

Gairen Tembreull Learn the beginning steps of how to tell a visual story in this two-session introductory course, focusing on figure drawing and character development. In the first session, learn how to capture poses and movement from a live figure model. In the second session, use these new skills to develop your own character. All materials provided. No experience necessary. NOTE: This is a two-part class. Students will attend both the October 15 and October 16 sessions.

Amber Oudsema Add extra beauty to your home with a glass mosaic, created with sanitized glass from reclaimed bottles collected during recent Meijer Gardens Community Cleanups. Learn the process of inlaying pieces into plaster-filled trays, creating a composition of your choice. Bring your own trinkets to add to the piece, such as keys, broken pottery, and seashells, and choose from the large selection provided. Pieces will be kept at Meijer Gardens until the plaster has set and can be picked up at a later date.

Thursday, October 20, 1–4 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers

Fused Glass Wreath (Adults)

Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, 1–3 pm $50 members | $60 nonmembers

Composting for Beginners* (Adults) Thursday, November 10, 5-7 pm $75 members | $85 nonmembers

Reclaimed Glass Mosaic (Adults)

Luis Chen and Chandler Michalsky, Wormies Vermicompost

Join Wormies Vermicompost staff as they share everything you need to know to begin composting at home. After setting the stage with the basics of composting and why composting is important, they’ll highlight what is considered acceptable scraps for compost, how to maintain your compost, when and how to harvest your compost and how to best use it. Get your hands dirty learning how to set up your own compost bin to take home complete with starter material from Wormies! Attend the second class with Luis and Chandler, Advanced Composting, November 17, 5-7 pm, to learn more about in-depth, advanced applications for compost.

Nick Antonakis Learn the basics of using water-soluble oils with landscape as the subject matter in this two-session class. Explore the stages of building a painting from start to finish. Discover how to develop a strong composition, then progress from sketch to a fully painted landscape artwork on canvas that exhibits atmosphere and three-dimensional forms.

Thursday, November 17, 6–8 pm $80 members | $90 nonmembers Gloria Badiner Create a fun, seasonal-inspired glass wreath to liven up your home! Participants will construct a 9-inch wreath of their own design, exploring the process of cutting and shaping glass. Accessory products, including stringers, frit and dichroic glass, will be available to add unique detail to your work. Projects will be kiln fired off-site and returned to Meijer Gardens for pickup.

Advanced Composting* (Adults)

Butterfly Shadowbox Display (Adults) Saturday, November 5, 11 am–1 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers

Black and White Photography (Adults) Tuesday, October 25, 6–8 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers

Thursday, November 17, 5–7 pm

Harmony Nguyen Explore the world of ceramic jewelrymaking and learn how to create, assemble, and embellish your own ceramic pieces. The instructor will demonstrate how to form earrings, pendants or beads from high-fire clay. Then learn how to decorate with underglazes and sgraffito techniques. Projects will be kiln fired off-site and returned to Meijer Gardens for pickup.

$95 members | $105 nonmembers

$75 members | $85 nonmembers

Dusty Brown Get excited for the spookiest time of year by investigating the haunting yet beautiful qualities of black and white photography. Listen to an informative lecture before exploring Meijer Gardens to capture your own shots. Focus on light and shape and experiment with shadows. Proper exposure, composition, and tips for achieving the best black and white images will be covered.

Join us for fun, fall-inspired interactive stories like Going on a Leaf Hunt, Fall Is Not Easy, Jaime Planted an Acorn, and The Busy Little Squirrel. Experience how awesome autumn is in the Children’s Garden!

Birding for Beginners (Adults)

September 8–October 31 Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 am

Events are included in the cost of admission. Registration is not required unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, September 3, 11 am–2 pm Sunday, September 4, 1–4 pm “Bee” amazed this weekend as you take a closer look at the fascinating world of honeybees. Discover different aspects of bees and beekeeping by viewing an observation hive and listening to local beekeepers. Learn amazing facts while you sample several different kinds of honey. Become a bee as you create your own unique set of antennae and find out how to communicate like a bee by participating in a “bee dance.”

Backpack Adventures September 6–October 28 Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 am Pack your backpack, come on down and experience how cool fall can be in the Children’s Garden. Join us for awesome backpack adventures with themes such as Amazing Animals, Read It, Map It, Super Seeds or Animal Tracking. Don’t forget to check our website to learn what to bring in your backpack!

Hallowee-Ones Friday, October 21, 10 am–12 pm Parade begins at 10:15 am Get creative at this special event designed for our youngest visitors. Dress your child as a sculpture, mammal, fish, insect, bird, tree, flower, geologist or in any other way that highlights something about the Children’s Garden. Celebrate Halloween with your weeones as you listen to Halloween-themed stories and go on a Halloween-themed hunt. No tricks. No treats. Just fun!

“Wee” Are Thankful!

Mead Making 101 (Adults 21+)

Photographing Holiday Lights (Adults) Monday, December 12, 6–8 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers

• Harvest Time! • Leaves, Leaves Everywhere!

Lena Meijer Children’s Garden

Wintertime Walks November 29–December 31 Preschoolers: Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10:30 am Family and Friends: Saturdays; 11:15 am Winter in the Children’s Garden can be chilly— but fun! Bundle up and join us on an outdoor discovery walk as we investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways.

Michigan’s Farm Garden Fall Farm Walks Wednesdays, September 14, 21 and 28, 10:30 am Michigan’s Farm Garden is the focus of these fabulous, themed fall walks for preschoolers and their families:

Amazing Honeybees

Fall Storytime

Friday, November 25, 10 am–12 pm Join us for special Thanksgiving activities designed for your wee-ones. Participate in a Thanksgiving-themed hunt and listen to stories all about thankfulness and sharing. Let’s gather in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden to celebrate the meaning of thankfulness together!

Don Snoeyink, Thornapple Woodlands LLC Explore the oldest fermented beverage known to humankind in this unique class offering.

Fall Family Day Saturday, October 1, 1–4 pm Visit the Children’s Garden for fabulous fall family fun. Activities include something for all your senses: Listen to fall-inspired tunes and autumn-themed stories, see a fiber arts demonstration, and take a naturalist walk highlighting this awesome season.

classes@meijergardens.org

Saturday, December 10, 9-11 am $35 members | $45 nonmembers

Each week, kids will explore the Farm, participate in hands-on activities and listen to fun farm stories. Hope to see you down on the Farm!

Jamie Krupka, Outdoor Discovery Center

*Applies toward Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener education credit.

15Dean VanDis

Join Jamie Krupka of the Outdoor Discovery Center for this introductory class—perfect for those curious about getting started in birding. You’ll learn identification techniques, how to use a guidebook, basic terminology and more. Then put your knowledge to practice in a guided birding walk through Meijer Gardens. Gain scientific skills as you learn how to contribute your findings to the 123rd Christmas Bird Count, to further research and promote conservation of these charismatic creatures.

Cory Olsen Improve your skills for taking photos of holiday lights: Learn correct camera settings, creative techniques, tips and tricks to make your photography shine. Don’t have a professional camera? No problem! Improve your skills with any camera type—even phone cameras. Then try out what you’ve learned amidst the 300,000 holiday lights in Meijer Gardens’ annual University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition!

Local beekeeper Don Snoeyink will share his recipe for delicious mead, using his own honey! Learn the history of mead, how to recognize various types of mead, and the names and uses for each item needed. Then, watch a demonstration to learn how to make mead yourself and sample different flavors of mead to see how additions can change the flavor. Go home with all the tools needed to get started!

Events&ChildFamily

Tuesday, December 6, 5:30–7 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers

• Getting Ready for Winter!

Fall Flower Exploration (Ages 10-14) Saturday, November 5, 10–11:30 am $25 members | $35 nonmembers

Saturday, December 10, 10–11:30 am or 12:30–2 pm Tuesday, December 13, 6–7:30 pm

$45 member families | $55 nonmember families

Saturday, September 10, 10 am–12 pm OR 1-3 pm $45 member families | $55 nonmember families Marge LaBreck Use herbs such as rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano to create flavorful homemade bread and spreads together. Learn how to mix, knead and shape the dough, then take home to bake. Make a variety of herb spreads to try on a slice of freshly baked bread. Each family will be provided with the ingredients for the spreads and one loaf of bread. NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two adults and two children.

Scott Zomerlei Bonsai can be a fun family hobby! Families will work together to create their own starter bonsai. Discover how to repot your tree into a trainer pot, which tools you need to get the job done, and how to wire and prune your bonsai using basic styling skills. Continue to look after your bonsai using provided care instructions. Be prepared to get a little dirty! Trees will be repotted during class and instructions for future care will be provided. All tools and materials provided. Includes admission to the Fall Bonsai Show, Saturday, October 1.

Gingerbread Trolley (Families with children ages 5+)

Elizabeth Wesley-Martin

Experience the University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition at your own pace during this self-guided program designed especially for Scouts! Go on a “Lights of the Season” scavenger hunt to explore themes common across holiday traditions around the world. Draw inspiration from the holiday trees, Railway Garden and other displays before you leave, then receive a take-home art activity kit to create your own light-inspired project at home. Troops must register at least two weeks in advance.

Tuesday, September 20, 5-6 pm or 6:30–7:30 pm Tuesday, September 27, 5-6 pm or 6:30–7:30 pm $10 members | $15 nonmembers Jean Barber & Vickie Wilkinson Join us on a fabulous fall adventure aboard the Kids’ Tram, learning all about autumn. Travel through the Sculpture Park, participating in family-friendly activities and a fall-themed search and find. End at Michigan’s Farm Garden to enjoy Tuesdays at the Farm. NOTE: Fall Family Tram runs concurrently with Tuesdays at the Farm and ends at Michigan’s Farm Garden.

Family Night Hike: All About Owls (Ages 6+ with an adult)

&ChildFamilyClasses

Holiday Scout Event: Light! (Scout groups of all ages)

Saturday, November 19, 10 am–12 pm OR 1-3 pm

Poetic Exploration in the Japanese Garden (Ages 9-11) Saturday, October 1, 11 am–1 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers

Explore the beautiful indoor fall floral displays with Meijer Gardens Horticulturalist, Elizabeth Wesley-Martin. Then learn the steps, utilize the tools, and explore the techniques to create a dazzling display all your own! NOTE: This class is held at the same time as the adult class Floral Bouquet for the Holidays, to allow children and their adults the opportunity to simultaneously attend their own age-appropriate class.

Marge LaBreck Use frosting, marshmallows, candy bits and your imagination to decorate a one-of-akind gingerbread trolley. Each family will be provided a gingerbread trolley “kit” as well as a fun, family-oriented looking guide to use while exploring the University of Michigan Health-West Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two adults and two children. Nic Sagodic

Fall Family Tram (Families with children ages 3+)

Sally Triant Who who whooo do you hear out there? Do you ever wonder who’s waking up when you are going to sleep? Join us for an evening tour, looking for owls on the Meijer Gardens grounds. We’ll learn about some of the most common owls found in Michigan, along with tips and tricks for making your yard more appealing as an owl habitat. Join Sally Triant from Grow Wise Learning on an owl adventure for the whole family. Bring a flashlight and come dressed ready to explore in all kinds of weather.

NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two adults and two children.

Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the class. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the class. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the class. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.

Beginner Bonsai for Families (Ages 10+ with Adult)

Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar Class fee includes admission to Meijer Gardens for the class participant on the day of the class. All materials provided and no experience necessary unless otherwise noted. Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org

Thursday, October 13, 6:30–8:30 pm or Friday, October 21, 6:30–8:30 pm $18 members | $22 nonmembers

Joe Lukowski Come and explore the splendor and tranquility of the Japanese Garden and Teahouse to see how nature and poetry come together to inspire the heart and mind. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about different forms of poetry and create their own unique poetic compositions.

Let’s Get Cooking: Herbal Bread and Spreads (Families with children ages 5+)

Let’s Get Cooking: Super Cinnamon Rolls (Families with children ages 5+)

Tuesday, November 29, 4-6 pm Saturday, December 3, 9-11 am or 1-3 pm Saturday, December 10, 9-11 am or 1-3 pm $7 per scout or sibling | Free for 1 leader | $4 for 1 additional leader | $10 per additional adult chaperone | No charge for adult members and children 2 years and under | Members must present membership card upon check-in

Marge LaBreck Cinnamon rolls are made easy by using a no-fail recipe and simple ingredients! Families will work together to mix up a batch of cinnamon rolls and learn tips and tricks for working with yeast. After sampling fresh cinnamon rolls, take your prepped rolls home to bake later.

$45 member families | $55 nonmember families

Saturday, October 1, 11 am–12:30 pm $95 members | $105 nonmembers

(Ages

Eve Choi Explore the Meijer Gardens grounds and learn to see trees in a whole new way, paying attention to leaf shapes, noticing bark textures, and searching the ground for clues like nuts and seeds. Follow up in the classroom with a kid-friendly tree activity and story.

Back to Basics: Nature (Ages Interested6–8)in the natural environment? This series takes a closer look at nature by investigating the environment in kid-friendly ways. Sign up for one session or all three! Tree-mendous Trees!

Trees!

Molly Carlson Take a Kids’ Tram ride to Michigan’s Farm Garden and explore what “harvest” meant on a 1930s-era farm. Explore vegetables, produce, and animal sculptures as we discover how a farmer would have worked —and played—in autumn!

Erin Willett Join us as we use our senses to investigate birds and what makes these amazing creatures so unique! Learn to identify common Michigan birds by making close observations and listening carefully. Go on a guided walk to test your new birding skills and return to the classroom to create a bird house with natural materials.

Monday, October 17, 5:30–7:30 pm

Wednesday, October 5, 10–11:30 am $15 members | $18 nonmembers

$30 members | $40 nonmembers

Monday, October 24, 5:30–7:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers

$30 members | $40 nonmembers

Molly Carlson Do all trees have leaves? Why do some trees stay green in the autumn? What colors can we find? Explore all this and find out why trees are important for animals and people. We’ll take a Kids’ Tram ride around the grounds and discover tree-mendous facts about trees!

Sculpture!

Wednesday, October 12, 10–11:30 am $15 members | $18 nonmembers

Preschool Explorations 3–5 with adult)

Harvest!

Designed for preschool-aged children with an adult, this series investigates a variety of themes in various interesting locations throughout our gardens and grounds—in a preschool-friendly way!

Painting! Monday, November 21, 5:30–7:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers Participants will explore the gardens and galleries, learn the terms, understand the techniques, and become inspired to create a variety of painting samples by experimenting with an array of paint, brushes, papers, and more.

Monday, November 7, 5:30–7:30 pm

Molly Carlson

Wednesday, October 19, 10–11:30 am $15 members | $18 nonmembers

This series investigates the basics of art in kidfriendly ways. Participants will get hands-on and explore the methods, materials, and tools involved with a variety of art forms. Sign up for one session or all three!

Beth Godleski Cut, piece and layer as you learn the basics of sculpture. After visiting the Sculpture Galleries, participants will use a variety of sculpture materials—with a variety of shapes, textures, balance and form—to create an awesome assembled sculptural piece.

Birds Abound!

Crazy Carnivorous Plants!

Peter McDaniel Nic Sagodic Tony Norkus

What’s awesome about autumn? Join us on the Kids’ Tram to find out as we ride and explore the many aspects of the season. Engage your senses—sights, sounds and smells—with kidfriendly activities!

$30 members | $40 nonmembers

Monday, November 14, 5:30–7:30 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers

Back to Basics: Art (Ages 9–11)

Autumn!

Printmaking!

Maddie Ek Watch how these crazy plants lure, trap and digest their prey. Then learn about this unique group of plants by observing samples up close with magnifying glasses, playing plant games and creating a one-of-a-kind art project.

Taylor Bultema Become inspired by Gwen Frostic—artist, poet, educator, and philosopher—and our Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden. Then create a set of collagraphs: prints made by collaging textured materials onto a rigid surface, which is then inked and transferred onto paper.

Monday, October 10, 5:30–7:30 pm

A Great Thank You!

Thank you for selecting a membership at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Your membership fees provide you a full year of unlimited access to one of the nation’s most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, and allow Meijer Gardens to participate in programs that support our community. Your membership directly effects cost offsetting for many programs that seek to draw in our community. Meijer Gardens offers one free visit per year to library card holders through Grand Rapids Public Library’s Check It Out program and Kent District Library’s Perk Pass.

1. Place pork tenderloins in a large Ziploc bag or a bowl. Sprinkle with chopped garlic, kosher salt and fresh thyme sprigs. Pour both ciders and olive oil over pork tenderloins, then massage pork to mix marinade ingredients. Marinate pork for 24 hours.

2 or 3 sprigs of fresh thyme

IngredientsMarinade

Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin with Apple-Carrot Chutney

Returning After a Three-Year Hiatus!

Makes roughly three cups Ingredients 4 tablespoons minced shallots

1 pound carrots, small dice 1 pound fresh Granny Smith apples, with skin, small dice 1 cup raisins ¾ cup toasted pepitas 4 tablespoons candied ginger 4 tablespoons sugar 1/2 pound unsalted butter 1 cup apple cider vinegar 2 pieces star anise 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cinnamon stick Salt and pepper Directions 1. Place star anise and cinnamon stick in cheesecloth to make a spice pouch. Sauté apples and carrots until al dente.

Details and ticket information coming soon! Please watch the calendar at MeijerGardens.org.

Apple-Carrot Chutney

5 tablespoons chopped garlic

There’s no better way to celebrate the spirit of the season than Meijer Gardens’ signature holiday event: Christmas Cabaret Presented by Old National Bancorp. Join us Wednesday, December 7, at 6 pm for all the festivities.

2. After marinating, grill pork to preferred doneness (Meijer Gardens Executive Chef Andy Krause recommends 140 to 145 F). Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into medallions and serving with Apple-Carrot Chutney.

2. Heat sauce pan on stove and melt butter. Sauté shallots and add carrots, apples, ginger, raisins, sugar, vinegar, spice pouch, and nutmeg. Cook down until it is a nice sticky chutney consistency. Add pepitas. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Please Be Seated

2 pounds pork tenderloins

A couple of pinches of kosher salt 1/2 cup olive oil Directions

To make your purchase please contact Meghan Burke, Annual Funds Manager: mburke@meijergardens.org

18 Bottom right: Dean VanDisTop left: Nic Sagodic Knowing YouMembershipYourBenefits:andtheCommunity

Autumn Recipe

Beyond supporting these important programs, Meijer Gardens offers many additional benefits. The first full weekend of each month features designated members-only hours, Saturdays 8 to 9 am and Sundays 9 to 11 am. At hosted events, be first to view exhibitions and have an opportunity to visit outside our normal hours, while enjoying activities for our loyal members.

With a record 48 local businesses directly supporting the event and $50,000 raised specifically for the Amway–Meijer, Inc. Fund for Education during a paddle raise, the event theme Sowing Seeds of Hope was an apt descriptor of the evening’s impact. Please join us for next year’s Great Gardens Party, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Right top and middle: Guests peruse the auction items at Great Gardens Party 2022. Tony Norkus

Serves 3–6

In 2020, we began participating in Museums for All to provide discounted admission to individuals with EBT or WIC cards. Established this year, in partnership with the Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation and KDL, Concerts for the Community will provide more than 300 community members with complimentary concert admission, transportation, a chair, food, and a nonalcoholic beverage during Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens.

Include a historical piece of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in your garden, with a beautiful stone bench (bottom right) that’s been a part of our grounds for 25 years. Each bench includes a special bronze plaque, cast to denote its time and special connection to Meijer Gardens. Your purchase includes delivery to your metropolitan Grand Rapids home or location; pickup is available for those outside the area. Benches are $750 each, with a personalized message arranged by request.

Your membership is your ticket to sculpture, horticulture and performing arts! We offer art for every type of art lover. Our campus is home to more than 200 sculptures from world-renowned artists and 158 acres of gardens—among them The Richard & Helen Devos Japanese Garden designed by Hoichi Kurisu, whose Japanese gardens work ranks among the finest outside of Japan. Looking to enjoy music in a beautiful setting? Your admission ticket provides access to local and regional musicians through our Tuesday Evening Music Club and Jim & Marie Preston Sunday Strings series. Members also have the first opportunity to purchase and receive a discount on tickets to the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens Are you a lifelong learner? Members receive discounts on educational classes, workshops and field trips, all organized by our Education Department. Take your membership along as you travel: Through the American Horticultural Society reciprocal admissions program, you have special admission privileges and discounts at 345 gardens in North America.

10–12 fluid ounces Vander Mill Totally Roasted Hard Cider 10–12 fluid ounces apple cider

More than 450 guests joined Meijer Gardens staff and volunteers at Great Gardens Party Presented by Northern Trust, held May 11. There was much to celebrate at the first fundraiser since the completion of the Garden Pavilion within the new Welcome Center. Surrounded by 400 tons of marble, guests bid on items generously donated by supporters and tried their luck at terrific prizes, as the reverberating hum of conversation lent an excitement and warmth to the cocktail hour.

We hope you enjoy your membership and use its benefits with your family and friends! Whether you bring youngsters to the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden or take in the sights and sounds of nature with a stroll along the Frey Boardwalk, Meijer Gardens offers something for everyone.

Content In RaulHonorCano Adelin Burgos Bob Coykendall Mark & Anita Buckowing Jean Lealofi Sandra Lealofi Timothy McMorrow Ann Byrne Shelley Padnos Roxanne Decyk & Lew Watts Mike Wykes Walter Champion Kathy Wykes In LarryMemory&MaryAnn Adams Eric Adams Hildegard Adkins Mary Ohm Glenn Borre Bill & Mary Dean Nana ClareLindaRobertMr.&SarahKennedyKribyButlerWeldButlerandMrs.E.LunaPattersonWade Kevin Brown Anonymous Karen Bylenga William Goosmann Kathryn Hitchcock Craig Johnson Kris & Scott Mason Lucy Matthews & Randy Buick-GMC,LeMomokoSeberStrongValleyChevrolet-Inc. Colleen Constable Anonymous Frederick Fichter James & Nancy Orr V3 Distribution Inc Rebecca Steppe W.A. Lettinga Investment Casey Gillespie Friends and Neighbors of Casey Gillespie Lois Gross Randee Murphy Cathy Joyce Robert Joyce Cameron Klucevek Beth Brow Tracy Kryanowski Richard Kryzanowski Lena Meijer Robert & Sandra Burnham Family Graydon M. Meints Lorna Wolterink Kevin Milligan Michael Whalen Dave Miyamoto Anonymous Gail Paulus Kathy Cook Mary Seaberg King & Kenneth King Bill ShirleySellarsSpaeth Bob Rosendahl Ruth & Harold Blaauw Barbara Ross Sara LindaEllenD’ArchangelFoust&ChuckFurgason Beverly Schott Constance S. Ellis Allen Steuer Anne FoundationFentin,Shatz,StevenHanleySchwartzSchwartzandPCCharitable Rosemary Stevens Jean Chastain Jean Rumzek Gloria Trent Family & Friends of Gloria Trent George & Dot Vande Woude Gail Vande Woude Kenneth Wenger Jack & Joanne Hulst These gifts were received between April 1 and June 31, 2022. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while donors appear in regular type. Quarterly Tributes Membership & Philanthropy

This 69,000-square-foot, LEED-certified, major architectural feature is driven by a dramatic attendance increase: More than 700,000 people annually now move through a space originally designed for 200,000. The Welcome Center greatly enhances the arrival, admission and orientation experience for all guests.

New Endowment Fund

With completion of our Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love capital campaign come changes galore—from parking to buildings to gardens and more.

Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater

The 20,000-square-foot, LEED-certified CLC engages learners in new ways and reinforces our commitment to cultural education. The CLC promotes interactive learning, fosters creative thinking, integrates technology and supports rich educational programming. Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion Outdoor picnicking now has the space and beauty befitting a favorite tradition. The pavilion, with convenient parking and new restrooms, significantly expands how many guests can picnic.

The Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love Endowment supports our financial health, ensuring Meijer Gardens brings joy to as many guests as possible, as long as possible. Our facilities expansions require additional endowment funds to provide adequate support and our continuing viability and sustainability—important in honoring Fred and Lena Meijer’s enduring legacy.

Widening the BISSELL Corridor accommodates increased guest traffic and provides a larger footprint for exhibitions and greater access to our revamped Sculpture Galleries. This expansion connects the Welcome Center on two levels, creating a seamless integration enhancing guest visuals and accessibility.

Gardens and Sculpture Striking changes in our footprint meant moving or re-creating existing gardens, among them the Volunteer Tribute Garden, Tassell-Wisner Bottrall English Perennial Garden and Ram's Garden. Existing and newly acquired sculptures are artfully sited according to our mission. These changes offer guests a new aesthetic and fulfill our Always New promise.

Peter C. & Emajean Cook Transportation Center

Expanded and Renovated Existing Building

Frey Foundation Plaza This plaza architecturally and functionally ties together the Welcome Center and Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater entrances. It also brings more parking spaces closer to guest entries and, as an outdoor gathering site, strongly represents our horticulture and sculpture mission.

Guided tram tours of our 158-acre main campus are popular with members and guests. Trams also support social and corporate events. The Cook Transportation Center offers greater covered waiting space and accessibility and a convenient restroom stop.

Parking and Urban Gardens An expansion and redesign doubled parking spaces within a two-minute walk of the Welcome Center. The new configuration offers more accessible parking spaces near the entrance, increases overall parking, and adds urban and rain gardens to control water runoff—honoring our commitment to be good stewards of our environment.

Top: View of the Welcome Center from the redesigned TassellWisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden. Left: Kirstin Volkening, right: Nic Sagodic. Bottom: View of the Welcome Center from the redesigned parking lot. Left: Kirstin Volkening, right: Tony Norkus.

Covenant Learning Center

West Michigan’s favorite outdoor music venue provides an expanded, still intimate setting where artists connect with fans on a uniquely personal level. The expansion provides increased sponsor seating and a completely new Eileen DeVries Concessions Building with added food and beverage capacity, new artist greenrooms, and restrooms outside the venue for guests waiting in line.

Welcome Center

20 Organizational Highlights

What’sYouWalkingThroughNew

The Zen-Style Garden in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. William Hebert

CONTACT MeijerGardens.orghello@meijergardens.org@MeijerGardensP616-957-1580#MeijerGardensTF888-957-1580orcontentourtoRespondinput!yourvalueWehello@meijergardens.org.viaownyoursubmitSeasons tomailedandquarterlyproducedisreceivetopreferyouIfmembers.Garden’sMeijeror616-977-7689contactdigitally,copyyourmembership@meijergardens.org.MuseumsofmemberproudaisGardensMeijerreducedaforcardEBT/WICyourShowAll.forpeople.fourtoupforpersonper$2ofadmission HOURSTuesday9am–9pmMonday–Saturday9am–5pmSunday11am–5pmMeijermonth,eachofweekendfullfirstTheDeVos-Themembers.toearlyopenisGardensandCaféBalkShirley&JamesShop,GiftKeelerhours.regularatopenLibraryWegeM.PeterSaturday8am–9amSunday9am–11amthefromfundingreceivesGardensMeijerpartneraCouncil,CultureandArtsMichiganArts.theforEndowmentNationaltheofagency NEAvenueBeltlineEast100049525MIRapids,Grand Elizabeth Turk. Echoes of Extinction series. 2020. Sound columns in anodized aluminum, height 73-83 inches. Mel Chin. Cabinet of Craving. 2011. Oak, bone ware, silver tray, steel, 9 x 9 x 14 feet.

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This upcoming exhibition unites the work of two MacArthur Fellow recipients—Mel Chin and Elizabeth Turk—whose distinctive sculpture engages a number of shared concerns. Together, their creative explorations offer fresh takes on pressing issues including environmental hazards, endangered species, memorialization, and lost or hidden histories.

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

Double Take: Mel Chin & Elizabeth Turk November 18, 2022–March 26, 2023

Seasons - Autumn 2022 | Vol. 13(4)

Articles inside

Organizational Highlights

Child & Family Classes

Horticulture

Letter from the President

Child & Family Events

Adult & Teen Classes

Events

Holiday Gift Show

Sculpture

Chrysanthemums & More