seasons Spring ‘23 (March–May) Volume 14, Issue 2 FREDERIK MEIJER Gardens & Sculpture Park 01 Letter from the President 02 Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming 04 Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between 06 Cultivating Curiosity 08 Events 10 The Master Lecture Series: Seccia Garden Lectures 11 Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show 12 Adult & Teen Classes 15 Spring Break Experiences! 16 Summer Camps 17 Member Spotlight 18 Culinary Arts & Events 19 Philanthropy 20 Organizational Highlights Peter McDaniel
A Time of Transition
Please join me in welcoming Charles Burke, newly appointed President & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, who will continue fostering the dreams and honoring the legacy of Fred and Lena Meijer. Charles is passionate about providing unfettered accessibility to the arts for all people. He was most recently President and CEO of The War Memorial—a waterfront cultural campus
in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, that curates experiences focusing on arts, culture, film, patriotism, community connectivity, and leadership—and spent a significant portion of his career as both an executive and orchestral conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He is excited to take on this new challenge and looks forward to leading Meijer Gardens into the future. He is a warm, engaging person, and I look forward to you meeting him. —
David Hooker
For nearly 17 years, it has been a significant honor and privilege to serve as President & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Having the opportunity to work directly with Fred and Lena Meijer to realize their dream of making Meijer Gardens a “gem” has been beyond rewarding.
It has also been a ton of fun.
Things felt really promising on my first day of work, in 2006. I met a group of wonderful people to call colleagues and, soon, friends. I toured around and saw several stunning gardens inspired by Lena Meijer. I visited an exhibition made possible by Fred Meijer’s love of sculpture. Volunteers went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The day concluded with experiencing a concert in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. Going to sleep, I knew I was a very lucky man.
Fred and Lena Meijer were extraordinary people. Meijer Gardens is part of their love story. Lena Meijer loved beautiful gardens. Fred Meijer loved the art form of sculpture. Married for 65 years, their love for each other was self-evident and an inspiration. Fred and Lena also loved people, and sharing their success with others was important to them. It is their love for all of us and our community that motivated them to invest their energy and resources into establishing Meijer Gardens. Helping them realize their goals for Meijer Gardens is a significant highlight of my life. It is with deep appreciation to Fred and Lena and the extended Meijer family that I conclude my service to Meijer Gardens as President & CEO.
Meijer Gardens volunteers are amazing. Their generosity knows no bounds. Every day, there are volunteers here doing something good and important for someone else. Our volunteers also play an important role in uplifting our staff. During the tough times of the pandemic, countless volunteers stepped forward with unique service. Cards and letters of support were delivered. And when we reopened, they came back to continue making the world a better place. It is appreciated.
You, our Meijer Gardens members, have been an amazing source of support. There are now 28,000 member families supporting and sustaining the
advancement of our mission. Your commitment and dedication mean so much and are sincerely appreciated. When you visit, your support is visible in all our gardens, sculpture, exhibitions, performing arts and culinary arts events.
I also want to thank the thousands of donors who support us. You answered our phone calls and letters. You met with us and responded in a profound way, helping us establish the 45th-most visited museum in the world. The meetings I have been privileged to participate in asking for support always make me realize how fortunate I am to be part of the Meijer Gardens journey.
Each day, I have worked with an incredible group of people known as Meijer Gardens employee team members—people who have chosen to dedicate their careers to advancing our unique mission. Their support has meant the world to me. Their work inspires me. Their thoughts and ideas make us better. I am grateful for their gifts and friendship, and I will treasure these relationships forever.
It is in all these groups working together—the Meijer Family, volunteers, members, donors and staff—that great things are accomplished. We recently welcomed our 14 millionth guest!
To your left is Fred and Lena Meijer, a sculpture portraying the couple seated together on a bench. Whenever I pass by that sculpture, I think of them and the impact they have had on our community. We have Meijer Gardens. Our health care is better. Our education opportunities are better. Our environment is cleaner. Enjoyment of beauty is accessible. Life is better.
While I am leaving my day-to-day duties at Meijer Gardens to assist the Meijer Family with their various activities and interests, I will never emotionally leave this place I love so much.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honorary Chairman
Frederik Meijer
(1919–2011)
Honorary Member
Earl Holton
President & CEO
David Hooker
Ex Officio Member President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
Michael Julien
Amy Assenmacher
Peter Baldwin
Rhae-Ann Booker
Linda Chamberlain
Chuck Christmas
Guillermo Cisneros
Duane Shields Davis
Jackie Del Raso
Jocelyn Dettloff
Brad Doan
Suzanne Eberle
Joy Fossel
Paul Goulet
Charyn Hain
Shane Hansen
Todd Harvey
Kevin Jeakle
Mike Jeppesen
Jeff Lambert
Tim Liang
Elisa Lintemuth
Jon March
Kristina Martinez-Precious
Candace Matthews
Mary McLoughlin
Tom Merchant
Laina Mills
Mark Mossing
Hannah Naltner
Bill Padnos
Doriane Parker-Sims
JoAnne Perkins
Gratefully and Godspeed,
David S. Hooker President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Jim Preston
Carlos Sanchez
Michael Toth
Susan Vogel-Vanderson
Jill Walcott
Maryln Walton
Trevor Wolfe
Robert Wolford
Letter from the President
Left: Joseph Kinkel. Fred and Lena Meijer, 2004 Nic Sagodic.
Additional Member
Early Hours
Wake up with butterflies, every Sunday morning in March and April! Members have an opportunity to enjoy the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation during exclusive Member Early Hours: Sundays from 9–11 am.
Member Programming
Society Event
Wednesday, March 8, 6-8 pm
Night of the Butterflies
Family Parties
Monday, March 13, 6-8 pm
Sunday, March 19, 6-8 pm
Sunday, April 2, 6-8 pm
Monday, April 10, 6-8 pm
Café open 5–8 pm
Night of the Butterflies
Adult Party (18+)
Monday, March 27, 7-9 pm Café open 5–9 pm
Additional Late Hours:
Friday, March 31, and Monday–Friday, April 3–7, 9am-9pm
Sponsors
Exhibition Sponsors
Howard Miller Foundation
The Meijer Foundation
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Media Sponsors
STAR 105.7
Blue Lake Public Radio
WOOD TV8
Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming March 1–April 30, 2023
micro.scope. an up-close experience
Before the spring buds pop, our butterflies bloom! Join us as we tune your senses to the tiny and explore the intimate, wondrous world of butterflies. The magic is truly in the details.
As the season changes, the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory comes alive with the return of Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming. This year, we’re taking you under the microscope as we mark the 28th anniversary of this perennially popular event: the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States.
Bring your curiosity and prepare to be captivated as 60 species of butterflies and moths from three tropical zones—Africa, Asia, Central and South America—make the global trek to soar freely in our 15,000-square-foot, five-story glass house. Watch in amazement as 1,000 delicate chrysalides and cocoons emerge weekly in our Observation Station. Notice the tiny details of how butterflies unfold their wings, take their first flight, and feed on our nectar stations and flowering plants, this year including fresh arrivals such as marigolds and celosia. Our new partnership with a local supplier will provide us with a larger variety of nectar plants for a bountiful butterfly feast.
As you meander our pathways, look closely to discover quiet beauty. Did you know that the fine lines on chrysalides are the outlines for what will become wings or define antennae? Or that a butterfly’s wings are covered in fragile, microscopic scales that overlap like roof shingles, 200 to 600 per square millimeter? Did you know that butterflies smell with their antennae and taste with their feet? It’s truly a microscopic miracle to behold!
Venture into the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, where three Exploration Stations are nestled among the terrariums of spring annuals like pansies, snapdragons and lobelia. These curiosity corners offer an intricate, insider’s look into plants through a magnifying glass. Each species delivers its own signature spectacular.
Other points of interest include Tuesday Night Lights, Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company performances of Who Am I? A Butterfly Ballet on February 25 and 26, and the members-only Night of the Butterflies on various Sundays and Mondays.
Our education programs are equally exciting. New this year are Zooming in on Butterflies in Bloom on March 12, A Closer Look at Metamorphosis on March 26, and Seeds as Stories on April 12. For details, please see the opposite page.
We look forward to taking a closer look at our beautiful butterflies with you this spring!
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Programming
Unless otherwise noted, programs are free for members and registration is not required.
Zooming in on Butterflies in Bloom
Sunday, March 12, 2 pm
Meijer Gardens Education Team
Experience butterfly and plant adaptations from a different perspective in this hands-on exhibition program designed for all ages. Use an array of microscopes to take a closer look at butterfly and plant diversity while investigating questions through careful observation.
A Closer Look at Metamorphosis
Sunday, March 26, 2 pm
Matt Deighton
Take a closer look at butterfly metamorphosis in this lecture-style presentation. Using high-resolution photography from his butterfly research, Matt Deighton will take you through the stages of one of nature’s greatest marvels. Join us as we uncover the mysteries of metamorphosis on this visual journey.
Seeds as Stories
Wednesday, April 12, 2 pm
Bevin Cohen
Join Bevin Cohen—author, herbalist, seed saver and owner of Small House Farm—as we explore how seeds are a microcosm of the world around us in this lecture-style presentation. Discover the different ways seed stories can be approached, from species and variety to place and people. By preserving seeds and their stories, we preserve a rich history and become part of the stories the seeds tell. Cohen’s book, Saving Our Seeds, will be available for sale in the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop. Cohen will host a book signing at the conclusion of the program.
Online Tickets
Expedite your entry: Reserve your tickets online! When you’re on MeijerGardens.org, select the Hour, Rates & Tickets button at top right and follow the prompts to select your date and tickets. You’ll receive an email confirmation, letting you go directly to the Entry Desk and show the tickets on your mobile device—or print them at home, if you prefer. REMINDER: Please show your membership card and photo identification with your tickets, for verification.
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Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between April 28–September 24, 2023
Cristina Iglesias is an impresario of space and atmosphere. In projects that range from underwater sculptures to citywide installations, she choreographs the experience of our surroundings, subtly directing viewer attention and stance. The artist’s upcoming exhibition at Meijer Gardens, Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between—her first United States museum exhibition in more than two decades—surveys a range of work from the past 20 years including wall reliefs, metal silk screens, liquid sculptures, and video, and debuts a new Cave series of copper panels. The exhibition will provide an immersive experience, engaging visitors in rich, multisensory typographies.
The earliest works on view, from 2003–2005, will be large silk-screened panels with architectural photographic imagery. Giving the illusion of deep perspective and maze-like passages, these metal wall works relate to the artist’s actual structures and installations. Architecture is central to Iglesias’ art and the exhibition will include two models from 2011 associated with her grand scale projects: Labyrinth with Moat and Aquarium III, a miniature underwater world that parallels her Garden in the Sea, submerged off the coast of Baja, California.
Over the years, Iglesias has increasingly incorporated water into her art, composing this liquid at various scales and settings including public works in London, Houston, Antwerp, and New York, among other cities. The artist cultivates water’s poetic and primal powers, harnessing the irresistible allure of its gurgling sound. Within the exhibition, Phreatic Zone II—a shallow pool below ground level with water flowing over sculpted terrain—directs our attention to hidden sources. Water’s sonic pull is also key to Iglesias’s pozo (well) sculptures. Her Pozo XI, recently installed in Meijer Gardens’ Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden, extends the exhibition outward from the galleries and creates a play between interior and exterior spaces so central to her work.
Likewise, the outdoor realm of flora is brought indoors through Iglesias’ ongoing Entwined series of mural reliefs. These cast aluminum sculptures spread across the gallery walls like dense invasive vegetation; aggressive hybrids of industry and nature. Also on view will be two videos from the artist’s Guided Tour series, which transport viewers to various urban and rural locales. Projected on hanging screens, these films—and the entire exhibition—fulfill Iglesias’ desire to create evocative “spaces that fall between reality and image, between presence and representation, spaces that speak of other spaces.”
by Suzanne Ramljak, Chief Curator
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I have developed work that concentrates on ideas of what might lie underneath us, of what might grow rhizomatically around us, of underground waters that might still flow and ebb are unveiled. —Cristina Iglesias
Member Programming
Society Preview
Wednesday, April 26, 5:30–7 pm
Member Opening and Lecture
Wednesday, April 26, 7–9 pm Registration required. bit.ly/Iglesias2023FMG
About the Artist
Cristina Iglesias, one of Spain’s most renowned artists, was born in San Sebastián and now lives in Madrid. Iglesias has had numerous museum exhibitions and public projects worldwide, and has represented Spain at the 1986 and 1993 Venice Biennales and at the 2012 Sydney Biennale. Among her many recognitions are the Spanish National Prize for Visual Arts in 2000 and the 2020 Royal Academy Architecture Prize, for which she is the first non-architect recipient.
Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between is made possible by:
The Meijer Foundation
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
Sculpture and Botanic Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Michigan Arts and Culture Council
Programming
Unless otherwise noted, programs are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.
The Art and Ecology of Water
Saturday, May 20, 11 am–12 pm Dylan AT Miner, PhD, Dean and Professor of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University
From communing to controlling to calling for action, artists from diverse countries and cultures have long addressed humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world in their work. Join Dr. Dylan Miner— artist, activist, scholar, and citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario—to discuss artwork that explores the intersection of humanity and water. Learn about tradition and current trends, from Indigenous practices to the work of Cristina Iglesias.
Gallery Walk
Saturday, June 10, 11 am–12 pm Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education at Meijer Gardens and Adjunct Professor of Art History at Grand Valley State University
Explore the mysterious world of Cristina Iglesias’ underground pools and entwined growth—a signature aesthetic both metallic and organic. Discuss the juxtaposition of humanmade and natural passages, phreatic zones, shadow, and light in Iglesias’ work during this guided walk through the exhibition with Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education.
Maintaining Our Waterways: How We Can Help
Saturday, August 12, 11 am–12 pm Barney Boyer and Dana Strouse Nonpoint Source Program Managers from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Water Resources Division
Cristina Iglesias. Aquarium III, 2011. Glass, resin, sand, motor, aquatic plants, fish.
Phreatic Zone II, 2015. Aluminum and water.
Entwined Growth V, 2017. Cast aluminum.
Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, USA. © Cristina Iglesias.
Michigan is an ideal place to host an exhibition of Cristina Iglesias’ work, given the deep connection so many Michiganders feel to the waters and natural environment that surround us. Join members of EGLE's Water Resources Division, who provide technical assistance to restore waters impaired by pollution and protect high-quality waters from pollution threats, as they model using the How’s My Waterway online Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tool and share how we all can help keep our water clean and safe by understanding our impact on Michigan’s waters.
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Cultivating Curiosity
There are now 270 sculptures in the Meijer Gardens permanent collection. Of those sculptures, there’s one in particular I find myself visiting again and again. I like to think we’ve become friends.
Jenny Holzer’s For the Garden was commissioned, conceived, and created for its placement in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, as its unassuming title implies. A collection of 13 boulders thoughtfully selected—and in some cases cleverly hidden—over 8 acres, the sculpture makes deft use of 22 haiku and other excerpts of translated poetry composed by Japanese poets who lived between the 17th and 21st centuries, each letter handcarved into the surface of the natural stone.
Its location in the Japanese Garden is, to my thinking, a more perfect union of horticulture and sculpture than I could hope to dream up, on levels both aesthetic and conceptual. A quiet, graceful, nuanced sculpture in an equally quiet, graceful, nuanced garden. A sculpture composed of artfully manipulated natural materials in a garden composed of artfully manipulated natural elements. A sculpture reaching centuries into the past in a garden that will grow into its envisioned form for centuries into the future. A sculpture that rewards slow, close observation, mindful attention and awakened curiosity, in a garden designed to do exactly the same. I could go on but I’ll try instead to take a lesson from the sculpture and the garden on the virtues of restraint.
My primary aim as an educator—my touchstone and trusty yardstick for good teaching—is to facilitate experiences that encourage folks of all ages and backgrounds to define themselves as lifelong learners and critical, creative, independent thinkers; to nurture attention, wonder, and curiosity in the way we move through the world and engage with all the fellow beings who share it. Looking closely sows the seeds of curiosity. Curiosity cultivates understanding, connection, investment and care. Connection, investment and care yield the fruitful harvest of a life well lived.
An article I read recently from Art Museum Teaching highlights the ways in which openended questions skillfully inserted into a museum tour can enrich the experience for participants, leveraging inquiry as a powerful
tool for learning. Author Jackie Delamatre explains that most questions are of the “meat and potatoes” variety, intended to model modes of engagement for students in a serviceable, stick-to-your-ribs sort of way. Delamatre goes on to describe a higher level of question—what she calls “the boeuf bourguignon of questions”— as one “that is real for [the teacher], a question she wants to share with the students, and whose answer she does not already know.” An apt metaphor, as anyone who’s ever made the traditional French dish will understand. A popular recipe on Food.com, adapted from Julia Child’s classic, touts boeuf bourguignon as “a wonderful dish, raising the simple stew to an art form.” There are 44 steps.
Scientists and artists make vocations of looking closely and thinking deeply to explore unanswered questions. By doing so, they broaden and deepen our collective knowledge of the world and our place within it.
own simmering pot of boeuf bourguignon and my rabbit hole adventure. There are so many things I want to know and understand about those four spare lines.
• Are they a complete poem on their own, or a fragment of a longer composition?
• What does the text look and sound like in Japanese? Does this lend to different interpretations of the poem?
• Is the translation into English faithful to the original, or did the translator take a measure of artistic license with those last few words?
• How are the stated facts of the “person walking over the wooden bridge” and the presence of a “deep frog-silence” connected? Is the implication one of correlation or causation? What are other ways, large and small, that our presence might impact the world around us?
• What does it mean to “hear the deep frogsilence”? How can we hear an absence of sound? What are the many ways in which we hear, or feel, or otherwise notice an absence?
In 1862, Charles Darwin first observed a species of star-shaped orchid with an exceptionally long nectar tube and theorized it must have coevolved to be pollinated by an insect with an exceptionally long proboscis— despite the fact no such creature was known, by Western science at least, to exist at that time. In a letter to a friend, Darwin exclaimed, “Good heavens, what insect can suck it!” Now that is a boeuf bourguignon question if ever I’ve heard one. Twenty years later, in 1882, a species of hawkmoth with a proboscis measuring between 9 and 14 inches was discovered in Madagascar. It wasn’t until 1992, though, that the moth was finally caught in the act of pollinating that star-shaped orchid, 110 years after Darwin’s death.
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, the scientist, author, and Potawatomi woman responsible for Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants —what I consider to be one of the most inspired and important books of our time—chose botany for her college major as a means of seeking the answer to a question that had been with her since she was a child: Why do asters and goldenrod look so beautiful together? A question so achingly gorgeous it makes my breath catch. Boeuf bourguignon, served up at the table of a master chef and a gracious, big-hearted host.
Of the 22 poems carved into the 13 boulders of For the Garden, there’s one in particular I find myself visiting with again and again: Someone is walking/ over the wooden/ bridge….hear/ the deep frog-silence
It’s delightfully quirky. It’s clever and playful and profound. And, as of late, it’s been my
A document produced in 2015 when For the Garden was completed notes that the poem was written by Iwata Ryoto, who lived from 1659 to 1717. A quick internet search of the name and dates yielded only four results, which feels incomprehensible in this age of near-infinite internet depths to plumb. None of the four were especially helpful. The document lists the name of the English translator for all 21 of the other poems used in the sculpture. Curiously, no translator is listed for Ryoto’s lines.
The poem was found in a book titled Cherry Blossoms: Japanese Haiku Series III, published in 1960 by The Peter Pauper Press in Mount Vernon, New York. It’s out of print. The title of the book answered one of my questions, at least. If the poem appears in a collection of haiku, it’s likely that the four lines inscribed on the boulder comprise the entire piece. I found a used copy of Cherry Blossoms online and happily paid my $9 to the almighty Amazon, crossing my fingers that when the book arrived, it would contain both the Japanese original and the English translation printed together, along with the name of the translator.
“Spring is the mischief in me,” Robert Frost wrote in a poem full of tongue-incheek musings about the value of curiosity, imagination and independent thinking. Spring is the season of vitality and possibility; the season of the annual disbelief that anything new or alive could sprout from the dead, grey earth ever again. And then the Lenten rose and the crocus poke their heads out into the frozen air. A bold, heroic feat. On a morning, caught in the jangle of keys as we lock our doors and hurry away from our homes for the day, we stop in our tracks, noses suddenly twitching like rabbits, lifted to the breeze. We inhale .… and on the exhale, we sigh: “It smells like spriiiiing.” Soon, strokes of electric green startle the landscape. We emerge from winter.
In this season of emergence and possibility, you’re invited to follow your curiosity here at Meijer Gardens—along the path, around the bend, down the rabbit hole. Take a moment to talk with one of our volunteer docents; the friendly folks wearing the “Ask me!” buttons. Pull a book down from the shelves in the Peter M. Wege Library. Attend a lecture, exhibition program or class that piques your interest. (There are plenty to choose from here in these pages.) Most important: When you visit, practice looking, noticing and wondering with intention.
My copy of Cherry Blossoms arrived safe and sound. I flipped through its musty pages until I landed on the familiar lines. Someone is walking/ over the wooden/ bridge….hear/ the deep frog-silence. No Japanese text. No translator. Hmmm.
I’m strategizing next steps in my investigation, in a leisurely, unbothered fashion. Sometimes, the simple joy of chewing on the question is more delicious than the answer.
by Jess Hart, Director of Education
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Heiney
Chuck
Events
Unless otherwise noted, events are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required. Visit MeijerGardens.org for a complete list of events.
Tuesday Night Out
Have you attended any of the new events we’ve created for our Tuesday Night Out series? These events focus on performing arts entertainment, with specialty food and drink offerings available in the James & Shirley Balk Café. Arrive early to enjoy dinner and entertainment before exploring Meijer Gardens.
Tropical Tuesday
February 28, 2023
Beat the winter blues: Join us for our Tropical Tuesday evening! Enjoy tropical-themed music with a new band this year in the Huizenga Grand Room—and don’t miss the food and drink specials in the neighboring James & Shirley Balk Café.
The Peter M. Wege Library
Books in Bloom!
Begins Friday, March 17
As our Books in Bloom! display enters its second year, our talented Horticulture team continues designing beautiful seasonal floral displays inspired by books in the Peter M. Wege Library collection. Stop by to see the spring creation. The arrangement will be displayed in the Wege Library for approximately one week.
Read & Explore: Art and Gardens Book Group Tuesday, May 2, 1–2:30 pm
Our spring 2023 book discussion will dive into the realm of music and nature, with Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. This charming blend of science, biography, and memoir weaves together the story of Mozart’s life with a pet starling and the author’s experience living with her own pet starling, Carmen. We hope you can join us for a lively discussion about music, birds and how nature can inspire art. Registration required. Limit 20 guests. RSVP to skilroy@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3144.
Annual Meeting, Wednesday, May 24, 6 pm
Members are welcome to attend the annual meeting at Meijer Gardens.
The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden
Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Teahouse
Saturdays: May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, 11:30 am or 2 pm $70 members | $80 nonmembers
Witness the Japanese art of chanoyu, or tea ceremony. Graceful Japanese tea masters in elegant kimono will perform the ceremonial cleansing of the utensils and thoughtful preparation and quiet presentation of a bowl of matcha—finely ground green tea—with commentary by a representative from the Japanese Consulate. After the presentation, savor sweets and matcha green tea. As an integral part of this program, all guests will utilize and enjoy original works of Shigaraki pottery from Meijer Gardens’ personal collection. Each object is a work of art especially commissioned from some of Japan’s leading ceramics masters. This contemplative ceremony appeals to all five senses and is best observed quietly. Guests will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the teahouse. Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Register early: Space is limited.
Inside the Japanese Teahouse
Sundays: May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 22, 1-4 pm
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.
Plant Shows
Iris Show
Saturday, June 3, 1–5 pm
Sunday, June 4, 11 am–5 pm
Presented by the Grand Valley Iris Society
Enjoy a variety of tall bearded and Siberian iris blossoms on display, all locally grown for this judged show. View floral designs featuring iris flowers. Grand Valley Iris Society members will be on-hand all weekend to discuss and answer your questions about these beloved flowers.
Bus Trips
Register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147. Dress for the weather. Expect a fair amount of walking and standing.
Art and Architecture of Detroit (Adults)
Tuesday, April 18, 7 am–9 pm
$195 members | $215 nonmembers
Enjoy a comfortable coach ride to Detroit, where you will spend the day enjoying and appreciating timeless architecture and inspiring works of art. Start the day at the Fisher Building, known as Detroit’s Largest Art Object, opened in 1928 and designed by famed architect Albert Kahn. This private tour explores areas unavailable to the public and includes a look at the fresco ceilings, marble walls, bronze doors, and art deco chandeliers on multiple floors, including a great view from the 22nd floor. Enjoy a boxed lunch as a tour guide joins us for a comprehensive bus tour around Detroit, pointing out and stopping at iconic buildings and urban art of interest. One stop will include a look inside the landmark skyscraper Guardian Building, whose grandeur and pop of color you have to see for yourself.
The final stop on the tour is the Detroit Institute of Arts, where over 65,000 artworks from the earliest civilizations to the present await. Participate in a guided tour highlighting the most popular masterpieces, then take some free time to explore as you wish. End the day with dinner together at Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, a made-from-scratch Italian restaurant, before returning to Meijer Gardens. Fee includes bus transportation, admission, snack, tours, boxed lunch, dinner and all gratuities.
A Day at the Art Institute of Chicago (Adults) Monday, May 22, 8:30 am–10:30 pm
$225 members | $245 nonmembers
Spend an entire day exploring one of the most comprehensive art collections in the country, with nearly 300,000 works in the permanent collection and thousands of others on display. Enjoy internationally acclaimed Impressionist paintings, African masks, figurative sculpture, beadwork and textiles, or exquisite decorative arts, among many other choices.
After time exploring on your own, stop for a bite to eat at any of the nearby restaurants for lunch before gaining entry to two exclusive special exhibitions, Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape and Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears. The Van Gogh exhibition highlights post-Impressionist paintings of the
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the event. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the event. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the event. Payments cannot be transferred to other events. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
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1880s, when artists began to flock to villages on the fringes of Paris and incorporated these newly industrialized landscapes into their beautiful explorations of nature. The Dalí exhibition focuses on the pivotal decade of the 1930s, when Salvador Dalí emerged as the inventor of his own personal brand of Surrealism.
Afterward join Amber Oudsema, Meijer Gardens Curator of Art Education, for an optional guided sculpture walk through Millennium Park, where she will discuss works of some of the world’s best-known sculptors, among them Anish Kapoor, Jaume Plensa and Richard Hunt. At the end of the day, relax over dinner at The Berghoff Restaurant, a Chicago landmark serving Germanstyle cuisine and culture since 1898. Fee includes bus transportation, a morning snack en route, museum admission, special exhibit admission, dinner and all gratuities. Lunch is on your own.
Matthaei and More (Adults)
Wednesday, June 7, 8 am–9 pm $145 members | $165 nonmembers
Join us for a relaxing day in Ann Arbor viewing exquisite plant specimens, beautiful gardens and amazing art! Start the day at the Matthaei Botanical Garden, with free time to explore the grounds—including the conservatory, built in 1964 and believed to be the largest free-span conservatory of its structural style. Take time to stroll through the gardens like The Great Lakes Gardens, featuring endemic plants found only in Michigan such as native orchids and woodland wildflowers, inviting up-close views of plants you might never encounter in the wild. As a bonus, take advantage of the opportunity to witness a special 10-year anniversary bonsai event showcasing world-class trees.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before the fun continues as we head over to the Nichols Arboretum for selfguided exploration discovering landscaping begun by O. C. Simmons in 1907, including native and exotic trees and shrubs crafted into a beautiful scenery. This picturesque landscape showcases its natural origins with complex glacial topography featuring vast panoramas, broad valleys, and intimate dales and glens.
Our last stop before dinner is the University of Michigan Museum of Art—one of the largest university art museums in the United States— for a guided tour of the collection and time to explore inspiring works by talented artists Alexander Calder, Jaume Plensa, Mark di Suvero, and others. End the day at Bourbons for a delicious Southern-inspired plated dinner before returning to Meijer Gardens. Fee includes bus transportation, admission, snack, tours, boxed lunch, dinner and all gratuities.
Top: Art Institute of Chicago—the Modern Wing Benkrut
Middle: Inside the Japenese Teahouse William J. Hebert
Bottom: Matthaei Botanical Garden Erin Bronson
Secchia Garden Lecture
Attracting Bees, Hummingbirds & Butterflies to the Garden with Melinda Myers
The Master Lecture Series: Secchia Garden Lecture
Tuesday, April 25, 7 pm
Join us as we welcome Melinda Myers— nationally recognized gardening expert, TV/ radio host, author and columnist—to Meijer Gardens. Myers holds a master’s degree in horticulture and over 30 years of horticulture experience, and has written 20-plus books on gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment program, which airs on 115 television and radio stations throughout the United States. She’s a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and appears as a guest expert on numerous national and local TV and radio shows. For her work, Myers has received recognition and numerous awards, including the national American Horticultural Society’s B.Y. Morrison Communication Award, the Garden Globe Award for radio talent, the Quill and Trowel Award for her TV work, and the American Nursery and Landscape Association’s Garden Communicator’s Award. Myers was recently inducted into the Association for Garden Communicators Hall of Fame, the highest honor that can be given to a member of the association.
The arrival of spring ushers in the perfect time to gear up for gardening! Whether you’re a longtime garden aficionado or starting to garden for the first time, the changing season provides a chance to rediscover the potential of a space, no matter its size—large yards to small containers. This year’s Secchia Garden Lecture will inspire us to rethink how we can support native bees, hummingbirds and butterflies in the choices we make for our home gardens.
“I just love to be in my garden. It brings me joy at all different levels. Gardening is my passion and my profession. ... I think my strength is sustainable gardening: how to select, plant, and care for any type of garden. I help diagnose when things go wrong, and I find an ecofriendly solution whenever possible.” —Melinda Myers (Source: Gardener’s Supply Company)
In her lecture, Myers will show how you can enjoy the many benefits of attracting bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to your yard or garden. You’ll enjoy their beauty and increased productivity; they’ll benefit from the food, water and shelter you provide. She will share a variety of stunning plant combinations and designs sure to attract pollinators to your garden—no matter the size! Myers’ book, The 2022 Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, will be available for sale in the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop. A book signing with the author will take place immediately following the lecture.
This annual lecture is made possible by the Secchia Family. Captioning service will be provided for the lecture. Please direct questions to Madelyn Ek: mek@meijergardens.org or 616-975-3184. The Master Lecture Series is free for members and included in general admission for nonmembers.
Registration is required and opens March 1 at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
10 Events
Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show
Saturday, May 13: Vendors and Displays 9 am–5 pm Sunday, May 14: Vendors and Displays, 11 am–5 pm Included with admission
Meijer Gardens presents Michigan’s largest bonsai show. Join bonsai artists, aficionados, and admirers from across the Midwest to see stunning bonsai on display throughout the Loeschner Grand Atrium and Huizenga Grand Room. Visit the sales area for a great selection of specialty tools, pots, wire and bonsai trees. Have experts help you find the tree that fits your taste, experience level and growing environment. Be sure to attend free demonstrations offered throughout the weekend. Bonsai artists—including this year’s nationally and internationally renowned guest artist Jennifer Price—will demonstrate pruning, wiring, and other styling techniques. Price has worked with artists such as Jim Doyle, Mauro Stemberger, and Will Baddeley, and currently studies with Ryan Neil. Her apprenticeship continues to this day with mentor Walter Pall. She has taught workshops and given demonstrations throughout the United States and worldwide. When asked to describe her bonsai philosophy, she shared, “Bonsai is first and foremost a way for me to express the grace and power of nature with its beauty, quiet elegance, and harshness. Creating a bonsai forms a connection to a living entity, which you cannot truly control, but can listen to and learn from.” Price will teach two workshops during the show. Additional workshops, designed for all skill levels, are available throughout the weekend. Register early: They fill quickly!
Advance registration and payment for workshops are required. Email questions to classes@meijergardens.org. Fees include admission to the Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show and Meijer Gardens for class participants, on the day of the class.
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by phone or email 30 days in advance of the event. A 50% refund is given if we are notified 7–29 days in advance of the event. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the event. Payments cannot be transferred to other events. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
Saturday, May 13
Japanese Scroll Paintings: History, Symbolism
and Bonsai
9–11 am with Kristine Majeske
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Explore the history of Tokonoma, Japanese scroll paintings and bonsai displays with Kristine Majeske. She has studied the history and symbolism of scroll painting for 25 years and has studied Japanese brush painting under three internationally and nationally recognized artists. In this lecture, Majeske will discuss symbolism, folklore and how this knowledge applies to pairing Japanese scroll paintings to accent bonsai.
Itoigawa Juniper Workshop
10 am–1 pm with Mark Fields
$45 members | $55 nonmembers
Advanced | Six participants
Join bonsai expert Mark Fields as he works alongside you to train an Itoigawa juniper specifically grown and trained for bonsai. These junipers have beautifully twisted trunks, ready to shape into nice shohin or small chuhin size trees. They’ll have a trunk diameter of at least 1 inch and will come in round terracotta Tokoname training pots. Bring your own tools and wire. Please note: Class cost does not include materials. Fields will bring a selection of junipers to choose from, and students will pay him $325 for their materials on the day of the workshop.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce Workshop
1:30–3:30 pm with Jim Beck
$70 members | $80 nonmembers
Beginner to Intermediate | 10 participants
Learn how to style and care for a dwarf Alberta spruce bonsai (Picea glauca ‘Conica’). This spruce originated in cool forested regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is an evergreen with a deep green foliage consisting of needle-like leaves. Its dense crown is supported by a brown trunk that becomes ridged with age. All tools and materials will be provided. The tree will not be repotted during the workshop.
Family Fun With Ficus
1:30–3 pm with Scott Zomerlei
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Beginner | Six family groups with children ages 10+
Bonsai can definitely be a family hobby! Families will work with Scott Zomerlei to create a starter Bonsai using Ficus. Teams will learn some basic styling skills and care instructions, and will repot their Ficus into a training pot. Bring paper and pen for notes and be prepared to get a little dirty! All tools and materials will be provided.
Ficus for Beginners
2–5 pm with Steve Jetzer
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Beginner | Eight Participants
Learn bonsai basics of while working with Ficus. Each tree will be analyzed as a group for different design possibilities. Various bonsai techniques will be used to shape and trim each Ficus to start on the path toward the desired design. Trees will be repotted and instructions on future care will be provided. All tools and materials will be provided.
Bring Your Own Tree Workshop
2–5 pm with Jennifer Price
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Intermediate to Advanced | Eight participants
Bring one or two bonsai and work on styling or refining your trees with expert guidance from guest artist Jennifer Price. Price will discuss each tree, give each student an assignment, and then provide one-on-one assistance. Bring your own bonsai, tools and appropriate wire.
Sunday, May 14
Ficus for Beginners
11 am–2 pm with Steve Jetzer
$85 members| $95 nonmembers
Beginner | Eight participants
Learn bonsai basics of while working with Ficus. Each tree will be analyzed as a group for different design possibilities. Various bonsai techniques will be used to shape and trim each Ficus to start on the path toward the desired design. Trees will be repotted and instructions on future care will be provided. All tools and materials will be provided.
Boulevard Cypress Workshop
11 am–1 pm with Jim Beck
$70 members | $80 nonmembers
Beginner to Intermediate | 10 participants
The silver cypress, also known as the boulevard cypress, is a dense, upright, broadly pyramidal, symmetrical small tree that is grown for its handsome foliage: soft, silvery blue-green leaves. This tree is awl-shaped, curving with a fine point without being too prickly. These cypress respond well to training and sculpting, making them an excellent choice for bonsai. All tools and materials will be provided. The tree will not be repotted during the workshop.
Family Fun With Ficus
3–4:30 pm with Janet and Rod Kivell
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Beginner | Six family groups with children ages 10+
Bonsai can definitely be a family hobby! Families will work with Janet and Rod Kivell to create a starter bonsai using Ficus Teams will learn some basic styling skills and care instructions, and will repot their Ficus into a training pot. Bring paper and pen for notes and be prepared to get a little dirty! All tools and materials will be provided.
Japanese Black Pine Workshop
1–4 pm
Instructed by Rob Hoffman
$210 members | $220 nonmembers
Intermediate to Advanced | Eight participants
Japanese black pine is often considered one of the most classic pines for bonsai. The outstanding, irregularly shaped pine, with beautiful dark green-grey needles, is extremely hearty and disease-free. Rob Hoffman will discuss future styling options and work with each student to train their tree. Please bring your own tools and wire.
Bring Your Own Tree Workshop
2–5 pm with Jennifer Price
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Intermediate to Advanced | Eight participants
Bring one or two bonsai and work on styling or refining your trees with expert guidance from guest artist Jennifer Price. Price will discuss each tree, give each student an assignment, and then provide one-on-one assistance. Bring your own bonsai, tools and appropriate wire.
Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show 11 McDaniel
Adult & Teen Classes
Registration required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar Adult classes are open to all learners ages 16 and up. Teen classes are marked with the age range. All materials provided. No experience necessary unless otherwise noted. Nonmember class fee includes admission for the class participant on the day of the class.
Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org
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. Payments cannot be transferred to other classes. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
March
Maintaining the Perennial Garden (Adults)
Tuesday, March 21, 2–4 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Tony England, Meijer Gardens
tried-and-true flower varieties, a dahlia tuber, and assorted seeds to get you started!
Permaculture for Beginners (Adults)
Sunday, March 26, 10 am–12 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Jonathan Sowder, Honeybird Farms
and use sprays, stencils, sponging, transfers, oil pastels, artist inks and much more to create backgrounds for your journaling. No prior art experience required.
Butterfly Photography (Adults)
Thursday, March 30, 5:30–7:30 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Dusty Brown
Learn techniques for creating fantastic butterfly photos, including lens selection, background choice, composition, light and exposure. Enjoy time with the butterflies after public hours. Tripods, monopods, and macro and telephoto lenses are welcome but not required. Some photography experience is necessary.
April
Smart Gardening with Deer (Adults)
Tuesday, April 4, 2–3:30 pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension
Learn about the buzzword “permaculture” in this beginner class from local farmers at Honeybird Farms, where they farm in nature’s image. Discover methodologies they practice, including successional and companioning planting, composting, using rainwater catchment, and incorporating animals. Learn how to apply tried-and-true permaculture practices at any scale—whether for an urban garden or a larger-producing plot. Discover why mimicking the natural environment is important to keep nutrients in the soil and be better stewards to the environment, while producing healthy food for ourselves and our families.
Reclaimed Glass Mosaic (Adults)
Receive expert advice on how to make your perennial garden look its best from Meijer Gardens Lead Horticulturist Tony England. Learn all about fertilizing, pruning, pinching, deadheading and dividing. Receive timesaving tips and a list of England’s must-have plants for sunny and shady borders. This class is perfect for beginners and will include tips for more experienced gardeners, along with a unique look at the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden.
Plant a Cut Flower Garden (Adults)
Saturday, March 25, 2–4 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Lori Hernandez, Three Acre Farm
In this beginner’s class, learn how grow a cut flower garden; from preparing your soil and seed starting to proper planting and harvesting techniques. Discover how to extend the growing season to have successful flowers from spring to fall—along with tips for making their blooms last. Plus, receive a list of
Tuesday, March 28, 2–4 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers
Amber Oudsema, Meijer Gardens
Add extra beauty to your home with a glass mosaic wall hanging, created with sanitized glass from reclaimed bottles collected during Meijer Gardens Community Cleanups. Learn about the history of environmental art and take inspiration from El Anatsui’s New World Map before creating a composition of inlayed glass in plaster. Bring your own trinkets to add to the piece and choose from the large selection provided.
Art Journaling (Adults)
Thursday, March 30, 1–4 pm
$65 members | $75 nonmembers
Katie Reitemeier
Art journaling is the perfect outlet for relaxed, colorful expression. Part scrapbook, part diary, it’s a stress-free way to play with color while capturing words and memories you treasure, all in one place. Receive a 9"x12" art journal
If you’re in a battle with deer and other pests in your garden, this class is for you! Join Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension Senior Horticulture Educator, to learn how to deter deer and other critters from your landscape without compromising on beauty. Although no plant is absolutely deer-proof, stay one step ahead by learning more about deer behavior, plants to avoid, plants critters tend to overlook, and how to make your garden less appetizing through repellents and barriers. Take the next step to preserve your hard work and your garden’s natural beauty.
The Science and Culture of Coffee: Seed to Cup
Wednesday, April 12, 6–7:30 pm
$30 members | $40 nonmembers
Thomas Bultman, PhD, Hope College
Although many of us consume our fair share of coffee, some of us know little about the science and history behind this psychoactive drink. Come enjoy a “cup of joe” and listen to Dr. Tom Bultman, professor of biology at Hope College and admitted “coffee geek,” as he weaves the tale of coffee from its early beginnings to the global commodity it is today. He will discuss the biology and chemistry of producing, roasting, grinding, and brewing beans from the coffee plant as well as trace the history of this popular beverage, with particular emphasis on the role the Dutch have played in its past.
Fused Glass Mirror (Adults)
Wednesday, April 12 OR
Thursday, April 13, 6–8:30 pm
$80 members | $90 nonmembers
Gloria Badiner
Using fusible art glasses, participants will create a mosaic 8”x10” frame that will be used to encase a mirror. Access to a wide
12 Adult & Teen Classes
Jonathan Sowder.
assortment of color and specialty products including dichroic chips, stringer, frit, and dots will be available to customize your design. Projects will be kiln fired off-site and returned to Meijer Gardens for pickup.
Drawing for Botanical Illustration (Adults)
Wednesday, April 12, 5–7:30 pm AND
Wednesday, April 19, 5–7:30 pm
$70 members | $80 nonmembers
Marlene Boonstra
Learn observational drawing skills including measured drawing and value in this two-session class designed for beginners. The first session will focus on technique, using instruments for precision in drawing, and how to create form with lighting. In the second session, use these new skills to render a finished botanical illustration in graphite. The class will have the unique opportunity to access our conservatories after public hours to observe plants from real life.
Suminagashi Paper Marbling (Adults)
Thursday, April 13, 5:30–8:30 pm
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Kathy Forzley
Suminagashi or “floating ink” is the Japanese art of suspending ink in water to create beautiful marbled patterns for printmaking. This class will explore the basics of suminagashi by creating a variety of printed notecards, specialty papers and a small, stitched notebook. Students should bring a roll of paper towels and an apron or old paint shirt to protect clothing.
Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces
(Adults and Teens 14+)
Saturday, April 15, 10 am–12 pm
$55 members | $65 nonmembers
Joanna Walters and Fatima Lee, New City Farm
Join farmers and urban backyard gardeners for a morning devoted to the basics of growing your own food in the space available to you. Learn about plant needs, soil health, growing styles, container types, vegetables that do best in our zone and more. Participants will get their hands dirty using early spring starts from New City Farm’s greenhouses to create a 20-inch planter to take home and use for years to come. Gain
confidence that you can have access to fresh seasonal veggies grown in your own space.
Herbal Tinctures, Teas and More (Adults)
Saturday, April 15, 1–4 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Maggie Conklin, LadyHawk Nutrition
Master Herbalist Maggie Conklin ND BCDTN BCMH, Maven of Heirloom
Academy and owner of LadyHawk Nutrition, will share knowledge on the differences between tinctures, teas and tisanes as well as other ways to process herbs into usable products. This class will focus on herbs that can support us in this late winter and early spring season and will cause you to challenge notions of what many might view as weeds. Enjoy your time learning and sipping tea, and take home samples of tinctures and herbs to start your collection.
Simple Ceramic Nerikomi Plate Set (Adults and Teens 14+)
Saturday, April 22, 1–4 pm
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Harmony Nguyen
Nerikomi or "neriage" is a decorative technique established in Japan that involves stacking and packing color-dyed clays together. Once the clay block is stacked, it is sliced through the cross section to reveal a vibrant pattern. This combination of thoughtful planning and accidental surprise makes Nerikomi a delightful technique for hand builders. By the end of class, students will create a set of four small plates. Projects will be kiln fired off-site and returned to Meijer Gardens for pickup.
May
Floral Chinese Ink Drawing (Adults)
Saturday, May 6, 10 am–1 pm
$45 members | $55 nonmembers
Lotus Liu
Learn ink drawing techniques using traditional Chinese methods and brushes, from teaching artist Lotus Liu. Spend time exploring spring blooms on our grounds, then come back to the classroom for a guided painting activity of floral designs on rice paper.
Spring Zentangle (Adults)
Saturday, May 6, 10 am–1 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Marjorie Goosen
Join your friends and amaze yourself with your own hidden talent in this drawing discovery session, creating unique and beautiful images inspired by the beginning of the spring season! Create a spring bouquet drawing using simple repetitive patterns demonstrated by a trained Zentangle instructor. Then add your own flair using a Sakura pen, which is yours to take home.
Watercolor for Beginners (Adults)
Tuesday, May 9 AND
Tuesday, May 16, 6–8:30 pm
$75 members | $85 nonmembers
Nancy Hart
Discover the delightful art of watercolor in this two-session class. In the first session, learn about the 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. Participants receive a travel-size watercolor set to keep and use in between sessions.
Eco-Friendly Papermaking (Adults and Teens 14+)
Tuesday, May 9, 5:30–7:30 pm
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Taylor Scamehorn
Hand-Crafted Copper Garden Accent (Adults)
Tuesday, April 25, 5:30–8:30 pm
$55 members | $65 nonmembers
Jess Shelton
In this exciting new metals class, learn to create a beautiful decorative accent stake for your garden or lawn using hand tools. Try your hand at metalsmithing as the instructor shows you how to pierce, saw, and fold copper sheet metal and transform it into a handmade work of art. Choose between a butterfly or bumblebee template, or use your imagination and creativity to come up with a design of your own.
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 needs to be dried overnight and can be mailed or picked up at a later date.
13
Adult & Teen Classes Nic Sagodic.
Downtown Sculpture Walk (Adults)
Friday, May 12, 10 am–12 pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Amber Oudsema, Meijer Gardens
Join Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education, on a walking tour of the sculptures of downtown Grand Rapids. Discuss your interpretations as a group while exploring visual elements and principles of design. Explore color, scale and movement on this inspiring tour. Expect a significant amount of standing and walking. Bring a water bottle and prepare for the weather. We will meet at a central downtown location.
Basics of Landscape Design (Adults)
Tuesday, May 16, 5–7:30 pm
$35 members | $45 nonmembers
Kyle Groenink, Meijer Gardens
Learn the fundamentals of landscape design, from how to begin a sketch to how to select the right plants for your yard. Using templates of a preselected landscape, see how many different designs are possible and gain ideas for your own yard. Learn what plants work well in certain sites and walk away with the knowledge to begin to design your own landscape. Plus, receive a voucher for the upcoming native plant sale!
Spring Colors Living Wreath (Adults and Teens 14+)
Wednesday, May 17, 2–4 pm
$85 members | $95 nonmembers
Elizabeth Wesley-Martin, Meijer Gardens
sketching from life through the practiced observation of bird watching. Get tips on how to look for and identify birds and translate what you see onto paper. Start a field sketchbook, which is yours to take home. This class will run weather permitting. Binoculars recommended but not required.
Botanical Illustration with Colored Pencil (Adults)
Wednesday, May 24, 5–7:30 pm AND Wednesday, May 31, 5–7:30 pm
$70 members | $80 nonmembers
Marlene Boonstra
Learn colored pencil techniques such as blending, layering and rendering with botanicals as the subject matter in this twosession class designed for beginners. Marlene Boonstra, currently completing her diploma in botanical illustration from the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh in Scotland, will cover the fundamentals of drawing and color theory then teach you how to apply these new skills to a finished botanical illustration of your own. The class will have the unique opportunity to access our conservatories after public hours to observe and render plants from real life. All materials provided.
June
Visit
Ikebana-Inspired Floral Arrangement (Adults)
Sunday, June 4, 11 am–1 pm
$55 members | $65 nonmembers
Mandi Stade, Meijer Gardens
Introduction to Film Photography
(Adults and Teens 14+)
Tuesday, June 13, 5:30–7:30pm
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Nic Sagodic, Meijer Gardens
Botanical Illustration with Watercolors (Adults)
Wednesday, June 14, 5–7:30 pm AND Wednesday, June 21, 5–7:30 pm
Preschool Explorations
Designed for preschool-aged children with an adult, this series investigates various themes—in various interesting locations throughout our gardens and grounds—in a preschool-friendly way. Sign up for one session or all three!
Sculpture!
Wednesday, May 3, 10–11:30 am
$15 per person members | $18 per person nonmembers
Molly Carlson
Ride the Kid’s Tram around the Sculpture Park and discover colors, shapes, and textures found in sculpture. Observe sculptures that are really tall—and that are really small! Then use your hands to create your own sensational sculpture.
Water!
Wednesday, May 10, 10–11:30 am $15 per person members | $18 per person nonmembers
Molly Carlson
Create a unique, beautiful living wreath with Meijer Gardens Horticulturist Elizabeth Wesley-Martin, Michigan Certified Florist! Starting with a 16-inch wreath base, build a lovely form including a selection of hanging and colorful flowers and plants. Learn how to ensure success throughout the season and leave with instructions to create living wreaths for years to come.
Bird Drawing and Identification (Adults)
Saturday, May 20, 1–4 pm
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
Gairen Tembreull
Learn how to train your eyes to spot birds and document your adventures along the way with basic sketching techniques. Gairen Tembreull, owner of Albatross Aviary, will teach the fundamentals of drawing and
$75 members | $85 nonmembers
Marlene Boonstra
Spring Foraging (Adults)
Thursday, June 15, 11 am–3 pm
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Maggie Conklin, LadyHawk Nutrition, Location: Outdoor Discovery Center, Holland, Michigan
Choosing and Using Grasses in Landscape (Adults)
Tuesday, June 20, 10–11:30 am
$25 members | $35 nonmembers
Tony England, Meijer Gardens
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. Payments cannot be transferred to other classes. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
Who needs water? We all do! Come with us on a Kid’s Tram ride around Meijer Gardens and explore where water is, how we use water, and who or what needs water. Then, in the classroom, investigate the amazing properties of water with fun, kidfriendly experiments!
Spring!
Wednesday, May 17, 10–11:30 am $15 per person members | $18 per person nonmembers
Jennifer Gilmore
Spring has sprung! Join us for a Kid’s Tram ride around Meijer Gardens as we explore spring. We’ll make a special stop at the Michigan’s Farm Garden to investigate plants and sculptures and collect signs of spring!
14 Adult & Teen Classes Nic Sagodic
MeijerGardens.org/calendar for full registration details and descriptions of June classes.
Adult & Child / Family Classes
Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. All materials provided. No experience necessary unless otherwise noted. Please see Cancellation Policy on page 12.
Nonmember class fee includes admission to Meijer Gardens for the class participant on the day of the class. Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org
Little Bakers: Afternoon Cookie Time (Families with children ages 6+)
Saturday, March 18, 1–3 pm
$45 per family members | $55 per family nonmembers
Erin Frutchey
Families: Spend a lovely afternoon with us as we explore cookie time! After mixing a rolled sugar cookie dough, learn and practice a variety of fun and fancy frosting and piping techniques on a nonedible “practice cookie.” Then decorate an edible cookie using the techniques you just learned, to enjoy together. NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two (2) adults and two (2) children.
Think Spring: Gardens of Art (Families with children ages 6–8) Saturday, April 8, 10 am–12 pm
$45 per family members | $55 per family nonmembers
Jean Barber
Families: Enjoy creating whimsical recycled item artwork for your garden! We will create fun, kinetictype ornaments for your garden that will move and sway in the wind. Participants will work with beads and tools. Age restrictions for this class will be strictly adhered to. NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two (2) adults and two (2) children.
Let the Sun In: Solar-Dyed Garden Flags (Ages 6+ with an adult)
Saturday, April 22, 10 am–12 pm
$20 per person members | $25 per person nonmembers
Jean Barber
Brighten up your garden with two fabulous flags you create together! Scrunch up flag canvas and dip-dye it in various solar reactive dyes that will change colors in the sunlight to create swirls, starbursts, and more. Then learn how to transfer hand-drawn outlines onto fabric and fill them in with a variety of brushing techniques to create unique color changing flags.
Little Bakers: Pizza Dough & Grow! (Families with children ages 6+)
Saturday, May 20, 1–4 pm
$55 per family members | $65 per family nonmembers
Arlene Tiemeyer and Dorothy Ward
Families: Enjoy an afternoon with your kids learning about and making fool-proof pizza dough, then assemble a pizza to bake at home! Next, find out about the plants that make toppings so delicious—tomatoes, basil, oregano and more. Select some starter “pizza” plants to create your own personal “pizza garden” to replant at home. All materials included. NOTE: Family pricing includes up to two (2) adults and two (2) children.
Spring Break Experiences!
Join
Butterfly Fun! (Ages 4 and 5)
Monday, April 3, 10 am–12 pm OR Wednesday, April 5, 1–3 pm
$30 per person members | $40 per person nonmembers
Jennifer Gilmore
Let the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition spark your creativity as you observe an array of colorful butterflies flying, resting, and eating. Learn how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly by playing an engaging butterfly game. Create a mask and wings to wear while listening to butterfly stories.
Wake Up Spring (Ages 4 and 5)
Tuesday, April 4, 10 am–12 pm OR Thursday, April 6, 1–3 pm
$30 per person members | $40 per person nonmembers
Jennifer Gilmore
Wake up—it’s spring! Find out why spring is such an important season by learning about our friendly pollinators, native Mason bees. Make a bee house to hang in a sunny location, then pot a “bee-utiful” plant in an eco-friendly container to place near your bee house to attract our winged friends.
Birds, Butterflies and Bees: Having Fun with Flight! (Ages 6–9)
Monday, April 3, 10 am–12 pm OR
Wednesday, April 5, 1–3 pm
$30 per person members | $40 per person nonmembers
Erin Willet
Through simple experiments, close-up observations, and comparing things with wings—birds, butterflies, and bees—learn the basics of flight. Then create a sensational sculpture based on movement and design and make a wingthemed kite to fly at home. The sky’s the limit. Have fun with flight!
Seed Paper Power! (Ages 6–9)
Tuesday, April 4, 10 am–12 pm OR
Thursday, April 6, 1–3 pm
$30 per person members | $40 per person nonmembers
Mary Ann Schneider
Learn how to make unique handmade seed papers—papers that embed flower seeds in the process! Then create a “butterfly garden masterpiece” using premade papers and learn about which flowers attract these spring pollinators. Plant your masterpiece in your own garden and watch your seed paper power garden grow!
Back to Basics: Screen Printing (Ages 8–10)
Tuesday, April 4, 1–3:30 pm
$40 per person members | $50 per person nonmembers
Taylor Bultema
Explore the fascinating techniques used in basic screen-printing processes. Participants will learn about designing, transferring, stenciling, and inking, and create multiple practice pieces on a variety of papers, in a variety of colors. They will then create a more finished piece on canvas to display at home. Includes all materials.
Adult & Child / Family Classes 15 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. Payments cannot be transferred to other classes. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org for cancellations.
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experience new materials, ideas and activities!
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Child & Family Events
Unless otherwise noted, events are included in the cost of admission and registration is not required.
micro. scope.: A Butterfly Event for Scouts (For scout groups of all ages)
Saturday, March 11, 9, 10 or 11 am OR Tuesday, March 14, 4 pm
$7 per Scout or Scout sibling | 1 leader free | $4 for 1 additional leader | $10 per additional adult chaperone | No charge for adult members and children 2 years and under | NOTE: Members must present membership card upon check-in
Experience the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition during this program designed especially for Scouts! Rotate through a variety of fun-filled activities—with field journals in hand! View the chrysalises and butterflies in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. In the micro. scope. classroom, take a closer look at the parts of flowers and compare and contrast butterflies and moths with scientists’ tools. Watch the ongoing butterfly video in the Hoffman Family Auditorium, and gather an awesome art kit to complete amazing butterfly-themed artwork at home! Fun patches are available for sale in the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop. Troops must register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar at least two weeks in advance. Please email jbarber@meijergardens.org with questions.
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming March 1–April 30 | Daylight hours only
Butterflies are blooming for all ages in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, with options for guided or self-guided play. Check at the Information Center to discover which engaging outdoor activities await you. Activities vary daily.
• Spring-themed story time Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 am
• Butterfly-shaped maze, featuring Michigan butterfly photos
• Life-sized butterfly photo ops
Discovery Cart activities, including:
– Monarch’s Journey
– Michigan Moth and Butterfly Lifecycle Hunt
– Interesting Insects
• Log Cabin butterfly-themed interactives:
– Story books about butterflies and moths
– Self-guided puppet show play
– Giant butterfly puzzles
Earth Day—Every Day!
Saturday, April 22, 1–4 pm
Celebrate earth awareness the Children’s Garden way! Activities include:
• Observe a fiber art demonstration, then weave with recycled fabrics!
• Listen and play along to Earth Day-themed music with Woodsong.
• Prepare and sow seeds in an eco-friendly planter. Go on an Earth Day-themed Naturalist Walk.
• Learn about the earth with interactive stories.
“A-May-zing" Children’s Garden Discoveries!
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, May 1–30, 10:30 am
Observe, listen, and learn how May is a time for gardens, flowers, animals, and more! Join in the fun with awesome adventures and discover why May is “A-May-zing!” Activities vary daily and may include:
• An outdoor game inspired by flowers.
• A mini-naturalist walk exploring the gardens.
• An interactive and playful spring-themed puppet show.
• A spring-themed story time with a focus on flowers and gardening.
Mothers and More!
Friday, May 12, 10 am–12 pm
Treat your mom or another special person in your life to unique Mother’s Day activities in the Children’s Garden. Activities include:
• Listening to a variety of stories focused on mom appreciation.
• Enjoying “Mom and Me” music time with movement and songs.
• Discovering the floral alphabet in the gardens together. Stenciling a flower card for your special mother figure.
Michigan’s Farm Garden
Farm Garden Springtime Walks
Wednesdays, April 12–26, 10:30 am
Michigan’s Farm Garden will be the focus for these wonderful springtime walks for preschoolers and their families. Each week, kids will explore the farm, participate in kid-friendly activities and listen to fun farm stories. Hope to see you down on the farm! Themes include:
• Finding Out About Farm Animals How Does the Farm Garden Grow?
• Old-Fashioned Farm Fun
Youth Classes
Creating with Wool: Mini Felted Sculptures (Ages 9–11)
Saturday, March 25, 10 am–12 pm
$40 per person members |
$50 per person nonmembers
Arlene Tiemeyer
Did you know wool can be used to create amazing mini sculptures? Participants will use weaver’s roving and learn how to create a basic shape with felting tools. They will then add an array of colorful wool fibers to highlight a design of their choosing and decorate their mini sculpture into a one-of-a-kind piece of wool art. Includes all materials.
Mini Japanese Gardens and Poetry (Ages 9–11)
Saturday, May 13, 9:30 am–12 pm
$35 per person members |
$45 per person nonmembers
Joe Lukowski and Jean Barber
Explore the Japanese Garden through poetry and art. Discover traditional elements and what makes our Japanese Garden unique. Using these elements as inspiration, participants will craft a Japanese-style poem and create a unique tabletop garden of their own to display at home.
Summer Camps 2023!
Discover Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this summer. Children and their families have been enjoying our summer camps program for over 20 years! We have many new camps this year—including Story Adventures for 3-year-olds: a camp experience sure to spark curiosity and wonder through story, song, movement, and art. Camps are offered for children ages 3 to 11. Experiences may include games, indoor and outdoor exploration, behind-the-scenes tours, special guest talks, hands-on activities, stories, songs, art projects, and more. Registration opens March 15.
· Your child must be in the age range listed for their camp at the start of that camp.
· Registration will be online only. No phone registrations will be accepted.
· Please email any questions regarding summer camps to: jbarber@meijergardens.org
· If a camp fills quickly—and they often do— you will be prompted to email us to add your name to a wait list.
Full refunds for cancellations are given if we are notified by email 30 days in advance of the start date of your camp. A 50% refund is given if we are notified by email 7–29 days in advance of the start date of your camp. No refunds will be given for notice less than 7 days before the start date of your camp.
16 Child & Family Events
Member Spotlight: Chris Van Eyl-Godin A Father’s Tribute
The latest landmark created for our yearly Railway Garden is a beautiful tribute to the patriarch of a longtime donor’s family. Chris Van Eyl-Godin reflects on the fascinating connection that brought the DeZwaan Windmill to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Chris Van Eyl-Godin began volunteering with Meijer Gardens over a decade ago and later joined us as a Guest Services Associate. Her love of community stems from her father, F. Philip Van Eyl, who was born in Haarlem, Netherlands, and spent his childhood in The Hague before emigrating to Holland, Michigan. He graduated from and spent decades as a professor of psychology at Hope College.
Phil, a civic-minded world traveler who visited every continent, was proud of his Dutch upbringing and had a special fondness for West Michigan. Through his community support he befriended
Alisa Crawford, now miller at Holland’s historic DeZwaan Windmill, the last of its kind to leave the Netherlands and the country’s only authentic working Dutch windmill. Phil taught her to speak and write Dutch for her Millers Guild examination, administered in the Netherlands, in Dutch. Their decades-long friendship changed Alisa’s life.
The first holiday season after Phil died, Chris noticed the DeZwaan Windmill wasn’t recognized in the Railway Garden and couldn’t think of a better landmark to honor his legacy. Chris and her siblings, Lynn Newton, Sonia Taylor, and Paul Van Eyl, approached our Philanthropy team, who engaged our Horticulture team and our Railway Garden artistic partner Applied Imagination to create their vision.
After 342 hours of work, the final DeZwaan Windmill is almost magical. Like all Railway Garden structures, this miniature masterpiece is constructed entirely of natural materials. Chris was moved by seeing it at a November 2022 family dedication. “We recognized it as
the DeZwaan immediately. It is a really fitting tribute to my father and the kind of person he was. It’s breathtaking to have that kind of connection to it.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Partnership Opportunities Available Railway Garden
The Railway Garden creates a unique winter wonderland for members and guests during the University Michigan Health–West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. Trains weave their way around holiday-themed horticulture and dozens of West Michigan and Sister Cities miniature landmarks—made of natural materials—within the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.
Several Railway Garden partnership opportunities exist, including sponsoring West Michigan buildings or landmarks or a new addition coming in 2023: a building or architectural feature representing Gangnam-gu, South Korea—Grand Rapids’ newest Sister City.
If your family or business is interested in sponsoring a building or landmark in the Railway Garden, please contact Maggie Scogg at 616-288-0031 or mscogg@meijergardens.org. Railway Garden sponsors will receive an exclusive benefit of two complimentary tickets to the annual Christmas Cabaret event in December!
Member Spotlight 17 Nic Sagodic
Dr. F. Philip Van Eyl, former psychology professor at Hope College. Second from right, bottom photo: Chris Van Eyl-Godin. Courtesy of Van Eyl family. Top right, bottom. Nic Sagodic
Let Us Entertain You
As our gardens grow, so do our unforgettable event experiences. Looking to plan your next family, social or corporate event? Let the Meijer Gardens Culinary Arts & Events team show you all that’s possible.
We’re ushering in 2023 with a fresh new addition to our outdoor event spaces that’s bound to become a perennial favorite—quite literally!
Debuting last July, the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden is our newest garden experience. And it offers some of our most spectacular outdoor event opportunities yet. Be one of the earliest to enjoy this first-of-its-kind setting in West Michigan, with its enchanting interplay of modern works of sculpture and quintessentially English horticulture.
With an incredible 519 plant types and 6,000 individual plantings, the garden’s horticulture diversity is unrivaled on our 158 acres. Amidst this expanse are the delightful Conversation Garden, Tudor Knot Garden, Wild Meadow, Discovery Garden, charming Cherry Tree Allée, intriguing sculptural water rill and an expansive granite terrace that overlooks the entire perennial garden.
This unique space may be rented exclusively or in conjunction with others for a progressive experience you will get only at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Our Professional Event Coordinators have created a new package within this outdoor location for daytime, evening and even sunset events where panoramic views showcase the beauty of the seasons––and with backup rooms in case of finicky West Michigan weather.
Highlighting views that change throughout the year, all our gardens are designed with a vivid versatility to inspire your creativity. From family gatherings and weddings to corporate outings and galas, from intimate to over-the-top, our award-winning Culinary Arts & Events team promises a private, personalized, exclusive experience your guests will gush about for years to come. Not to mention world-class catering options, a full-service liquor license, and free amenities such as convenient onsite parking and admission to our open gardens and sculpture park during your event.
We make hospitality an art form. Plan your next event with us and see just how, by contacting us at meijergardens.org/host or 616-975-3146. We can’t wait to spoil you!
Award-Winning Events Are Our Specialty
Your Meijer Gardens Culinary Arts & Events team has been named:
Best Meeting/Event Venue (Outside of Detroit Metro, No Hotel), Michigan Meeting & Events
• Best Summertime Venue, Michigan Meeting & Events
Best Place for a Reception, Grand Rapids Bride
• Best Wedding Venue, Grand Rapids Magazine
• Best Place to Pop the Question, Townie Awards
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Meijer Gardens offers several fabulous locations and services for your event, any time of year. Russ Climie-Tiberius.
Thank You for Joining Us
A holly jolly “thank you” to everyone who joined us December 1, 2022, for the 25th annual Christmas Cabaret Presented by Old National Bank. A ball was had by all at this festive shindig supporting and furthering the mission of Meijer Gardens. Special thanks to our event sponsors, listed at right. Your support made it possible for this event to return after a three-year hiatus. Be sure to kick off the holiday season at this year’s event: Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Our Signature Fundraiser
Mark your calendars for a springtime favorite! Our signature fundraiser is back. The 17th annual Great Gardens Party Presented by Northern Trust takes place Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Together with the host committee, we invite you to enjoy an enchanted evening with a dreamy strolling dinner, playful prizes and, as always, the opportunity to bid on exclusive experiences. Details and ticket information coming soon!
Please contact Maggie Scogg, Fundraising Events Manager, at mscogg@meijergardens.org for sponsorship inquiries.
In Memory
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you to our sponsors for supporting the return of Christmas Cabaret! Presenting Sponsor Poinsettia Sponsor Mistletoe Sponsors BHS Insurance Mercantile Bank RDV Corporation University of Michigan Health-West Holly Sponsors Amway Cate & Sid Jansma Corewell Health Deloitte DK Security Fence Consultants of West Michigan, Inc. Greenville Asset Management i understand J.C. & Tammy Huizenga Lighthouse, an Alera Group Company Northern Trust Bank Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation Sandy Point Beach House, Grand Rapids In Honor David S. Hooker Jocelyn Dettloff Michael T. Naess Amy Keane Mark & Barbara Gerson Ruth & Stuart Kutsche The Kutsche Children & Grandchildren Al Langlois remembering Suzanne Langlois Christopher & Deanna Eckert Ann Langlois remembering Suzanne Langlois Christopher & Deanna Eckert Timothy McMorrow Ann Byrne Fred & Lena Meijer Mike & Kathy Lloyd April Ramirez remembering Juventino Ramirez Christopher & Deanna Eckert Alyssa Jayleen Ramirez remembering Juventino Ramirez Christopher & Deanna Eckert Lois Harlan Char Knolls Cynthia & Russell Jones Carol Ann & Roy Lindsey Chuck Williamson Frances Hoover Anonymous Phil Idema Scot Donley Glen Johnson John & Tiffany Bultema Family Gaile & Scott Renegar Julie & Mark Roman Susan Vogel-Vanderson & David Vanderson Tracy Kryzanowski Christopher & Deanna Eckert Anna Linburg The family of Anna Linburg Ross Montgomery Valerie Lincoln & William (Bill) Bowden Phyllis Mulder Patricia, Sharon & Patrick and Tom & Karia Lee Jeremy Sauter Mary Jo & Ken Deering Jim Sharp James & Leslie Sharp Dr. Christopher & Charlotte Southwick Gay Adams Allen Steuer Pauline Fogel These gifts were received between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while donors appear in regular type.
Quarterly Tributes Thank
Tony
Bottom: Great Gardens Party Presented by Northern Trust.
Norkus
Hildegarde Adkins Christopher & Deanna Eckert Rita Champion Balczak Joseph & Lisa Becherer Karen Patin Velga Plate Beverly Barrett Susan G. Campbell Roger & Willa Bauer Karl & Patti Betz Joan Beineman Diana Bittrick Monna Essenberg Reva Rochelle Hartleb Patricia Hoekstra Sarajane Termaat Judith & Pete Robinson Patricia & Christopher Rose Don & Dee Stanger Evie Waltz Dean Watson Sandra Wright Linda Boyer Joseph & Lisa Becherer Maribeth Groen Alicia Parini Jim & Judy Wissbaum Baert Brand Lois Jean Brand-Lee Bob & Philippa Eckert Christopher & Deanna Eckert Joy Eckert Christopher & Deanna Eckert Geraldine Eggleston Richard & Jean Eggleston Janney Sophia Ramirez remembering Juventino Ramirez Christopher & Deanna Eckert Jonathan Ramirez remembering Juventino Ramirez Christopher & Deanna Eckert Juventino Ramirez, Jr. remembering Juventino Ramirez Christopher & Deanna Eckert Sally Schaefer John Schaefer & Doug Proctor Cindy & Peter Seebauer Chris, Kathleen, Joe & Lisa Hanna Debbie & Todd Strain Delores Horn Charlie Tunge & Emery Schafter Anonymous Kyle VanHeulen Jean Magolan & Donald Malcolm Silas & Blair Walker Anonymous Marga Weiss Barbara Weiss
Vander
at Christmas Cabaret
National Bank. Jessica Harris, Wildcrest
Top: Brian
Ark performs
Presented by Old
Studio.
Among many changes at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 2022, these areas have opened, blossomed, shifted throughout the seasons, and brought thoughtful experiences to countless visitors.
Always Growing.
The Sculpture Galleries welcomed guests again on March 1, after being closed over a year while undergoing renovations. We were proud to have our inaugural exhibition be Yinka Shonibare CBE: Planets in My Head, displaying colorful works rife with playful, serious and thought-provoking images.
Always Beautiful.
The Volunteer Tribute Garden was rededicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 20—the 27th anniversary of Meijer Gardens’ opening. Visiting from Italy during the celebration that honored decades of volunteers was Oliviero Rainaldi, sculptor of the redesigned, reinstalled bronze The Tribute
Always New.
The Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden awaits all who enter our doors. Since its July 1 unveiling, those enjoying the garden from inside the building and along its walks are treated to a riot of shape, color, and sound, with sculpture and water features adding to the greenery and blooms.
Top: Yinka Shonibare.
© Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.
Middle: Oliviero Rainaldi. The Tribute, 2006. Bronze and aluminum.
20 Organizational Highlights
Food Man, 2021.
Fiberglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, steel, brass, globe, wood, polyurethane and paint. Erin Zacek.
Nic Sagodic.
Bottom: Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden aerial view. Nic Sagodic.
Right: Joseph Kinkel. Fred and Lena Meijer, 2004. Bronze.
Nic Sagodic.
Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture
October 20, 2023—February 25, 2024
Forest of Dreams will explore various associations and dimensions of trees—among them metaphorical, ecological, mythological, and personal. This upcoming exhibition will feature works from artists in the permanent collection, such as Louise Bourgeois, Michele Oka Doner, and Ai Weiwei as well as several artists never before exhibited here, including Nick Cave and Rona Pondick.
Nick Cave. A·mal·gam, 2021. Bronze. 120 inches tall. © Nick Cave. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. James Prinz Photography.
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admission of $2 per person for up to four people.
Meijer Gardens receives funding from the
for All. Show your EBT/WIC card for a reduced
Sunday 9 am–11 am
membership@meijergardens.org. Meijer Gardens is a proud member of Museums
your copy digitally, contact 616-977-7689 or
Peter M. Wege Library open at regular hours.
agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Michigan Arts and Culture Council, a partner 1000 East Beltline Avenue NE
Keeler Gift Shop, James & Shirley Balk Café and
Gardens is open early to members. The DeVos-
Meijer Gardens members. If you prefer to receive
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Seasons is produced quarterly and mailed to
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FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.