ANNUAL EXHIBITION
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
HORTICULTURE ESSAY
Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming
Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper
For the Love of Flowers
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Spring 2018 Volume 9, Issue 2
MASTER LECTURE SERIES
David Culp: The Layered Garden
BEVERLY PEPPER
SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE
ALL IN THE JOURNEY
“‘I think about the old Chevy slogan, Getting there is half the fun. I think it’s all the fun.’”—Fred Meijer Fred was right. The journey is all the fun. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is most assuredly a place, but it can also be interpreted as a never-ending journey using the art forms of horticulture and sculpture to bring joy to all who visit. Our journey allows us to witness many different exhibitions, programs, and projects. An exciting portion of our journey is the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love capital campaign. Like all our journeys, this one is full of discovery. Unlike many of our journeys, this one has many different and large-scale expansion and renovation activities happening all at the same time.
If you’ve looked out to the west from the BISSELL Corridor, you have seen a concrete slab being poured and a fabric building being constructed in the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden. This structure will be the temporary Cook Entryway, allowing people to enter Meijer Gardens in a safe and comfortable manner. Beginning this summer, construction will begin on the new Welcome Center and people entering Meijer Gardens will go through the temporary Cook Entryway. Also taking shape is the new Peter C. and Pat Cook Transportation Center and the expansion of the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. I’m often asked if the amphitheater will be ready for the 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series and the Tuesday Evening Music Club. The answer is a most definite YES! The amphitheater expansion is being done in two phases. The work being done now is to add a behind-the-scenes loading dock and other support areas, stage improvements to better support our visiting artists and expansion of the lawn seating areas and the sponsor seating areas. In the fall, the current concessions building will be removed and recycled to make room for a new building with expanded concessions, storage, and new green rooms for our performers. We want everyone to know we are going the extra mile to protect our art and horticulture during the expansion. Each piece of art that must be moved is carefully de-installed and moved to one of our secured art storage areas. The objects will then be placed back in the same or similar location when the project is ready. The same is true of the horticulture. The larger specimen trees have been removed and replanted or heeled in and cared for until they can be replanted. While all this exciting activity is happening, we are carrying out our full exhibition schedule and related programs. The Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition is about to open. We have also opened Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper. This exhibition is made possible by a generous gift of prints, drawings, and sketchbooks by Beverly Pepper to Meijer Gardens. Our Vice President and Chief Curator, Joseph Becherer, developed a close working relationship and friendship with Pepper that lead to this amazing gift. Thank you, Joe. Gratefully, David S. Hooker President and CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
BONSAI SHOW
FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS
FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING
Each day the new Covenant Learning Center rises from the ground and its final shape is more defined. The six new classrooms, interactive exhibition space, restrooms and support areas are badly needed to help us care for and service our 89,000 annual guests who are here for an education program. When you visit the Inside/Outside: An Interactive Sculpture Experience for Families exhibition, peer out the windows and see the progress.
HOURS Tuesday, 9 am–9 pm Monday–Saturday, 9 am–5 pm Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
HONORARY CHAIRMAN Frederik Meijer (1919–2011)
EARLY HOURS FOR MEMBERS Saturday, 8 am–9 am Sunday, 9 am–11 am
HONORARY MEMBER Earl Holton
PRESIDENT AND CEO
The first weekend of each month, Meijer Gardens members can take advantage of earlier open hours. The Gift Shop, Café and Library open at normal hours.
David Hooker
EX OFFICIO MEMBER, President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation
CONTACT Main 616-957-1580 Toll Free 888-957-1580
John Baab Ryan Anderson Kim Bruyn Joan Budden Linda Chamberlain Jeff Dean Jocelyn Dettloff Scott DeVecht Suzanne Eberle Joy Fossel Michael Gaudino Meg Goebel Shane Hansen Matthew Heynen Nancy Hickey Ronald Hofman Mike Jeppesen Yang Kim Jeff Lambert
Gloria Lara Elisa Lintemuth Jon March Janet Mason Mary McLoughlin Mark Miller William Padnos Doriane Parker-Sims Jim Preston Bill Schoonveld Joe Taber Edward VanDam Kathleen Vogelsang Jill Walcott Vicky Weller Daniel Williams John Zimmerman
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING DRAWN INTO FORM: SIXTY YEARS OF DRAWINGS AND PRINTS BY BEVERLY PEPPER HORTICULTURE ESSAY
FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT
A NEW CHAPTER FOR MEIJER GARDENS THE LAYERED GARDEN
HONORARY MEMBER OF SCULPTURE COMMITTEE
DEVELOPMENT / MEMBERSHIP
GREAT GARDENS PARTY
Miner S. and Mary Ann Keeler
EVENTS / EXHIBITIONS / CLASSES
A BUTTERFLY BALLET TO SUMMER CAMPS Cover: An American Goldfinch perched on an Amur maackia tree near the Volunteer Tribute Garden. Photo by Peter McDaniel.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS / ATTRACTIONS
Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper MAR 1—APR 30, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming FEB 2—APR 29,
Spring 2018 Volume 9, Issue 2 March 2018—May 2018 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 © 2018 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Seasons is published four times per year for members. Please contact membership@meijergardens.org if you prefer to receive Seasons via email. If you would like to comment on our content, please call membership at 616-977-7689.
4–5
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
MASTER LECTURE SERIES
Meijer Gardens receives funding from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
CONTENT
BOARD of DIRECTORS
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS / ATTRACTIONS
JUN—AUG,
Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens JUL—AUG, Tuesday Evening Music Club MAY 25—AUG 19, Masayuki Koorida: Beyond Existence
#MeijerGardens MeijerGardens.org
6–7 8–9 10 – 11 12 – 13 14 – 15 16 – 23
Two delicate Tree Nymphs alight on a Tropical Ginger. 4
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS: Botanic & Sculpture Societies Event By invitation only. Wednesday, April 25, 6–8 pm. Night of the Butterflies These members-only events provide the perfect opportunity for you to view the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. Join us from 6–8 pm at one of these family parties: March 5, March 12, March 18, March 26, or April 8. A party for adults (18 & over) is from 7–9 pm on March 19. Go to MeijerGardens.org for more information.
Tuesday Night Lights Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, Tuesdays until 9 pm Grab your flashlight and search for butterflies with us!
Children’s Activities In the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden Thursday, March 1—Monday, April 30 Daylight hours only Butterflies are blooming in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden with engaging outdoor activities: • Fly like a butterfly, wrap up like a chrysalis, curl up like a caterpillar, or crawl out of an egg using life cycle costumes and your imagination. • Perform your own butterfly-themed puppet show or read about moths and butterflies in the Log Cabin. • Search for butterfly and moth life cycle stages in a special Treehouse Village hunt. • Ring the bell after successfully navigating through the Butterfly Maze. • Become a butterfly in the Monarch’s Migration game. • Enjoy a springtime puppet show or story-time; days and times vary. There’s something for all ages! Activities vary daily; check at the Information Center for what is happening each day.
Who Am I? A Butterfly Ballet Saturday, March 17, 10 am, 12:30 pm, OR 3 pm Sunday, March 18, 1 pm In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet and presented with support from Karl & Patti Betz and Jesse & Gia Budrick Choreographed by Attila Mosolygo, performed by members of the Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company and narrated by Errol Shewman FEE: $5 members, $8 non-members Free for ages 2 and younger General admission fees apply to see the butterfly exhibition. Don’t miss this thoroughly delightful butterfly ballet. Told through the eyes of a newly emerged butterfly, the story will captivate young and old alike. With colorful costumes, spectacular music and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance will provide a unique and memorable experience. Participate in interactive dance activities before the performance and take advantage of photo-ops on stage with the dancers afterward. Register online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147. An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for the 10 am performance on March 17. Reservations for this service are required. To reserve your space, call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org by March 10.
FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING March 1–April 30
They come from across the world to brighten our little corner of it. Join us as we explore the wondrous journey of thousands of butterflies and moths during spring’s most anticipated exhibition.
This March, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will be aflutter as we usher in spring with the 23rd annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. The largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States, this beloved event brings thousands of winged wonders from Central and South America, Asia, and Africa to the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. 60 species of butterflies and moths will journey from butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines and Kenya to make their home in our five-story, 15,000 square foot glass house abloom with bromeliads, orchids and the rich foliage of the tropics. As you tour this tropical oasis, be on watch for the beguiling blue Common Morpho, captivating Clearwing, larger-than-life Atlas Moth and other spectacular species as they soar, swoop and sip on flowers rich in nectar and feeding stations with dishes of honey water and trays of tropical fruit. Don’t miss the Butterfly Bungalow, where nearly 800 butterflies emerge weekly from delicate chrysalides. Marvel at how these butterflies have made a cross-continental journey to stretch their wings and take their first flight with us. This year, we invite you to immerse yourself in the fascinating science of butterfly farming. On the farm, a butterfly’s life cycle begins in a roomy, enclosed structure. After mating, female butterflies lay upwards of 100 eggs. Caterpillars hatch just days later and eat continuously. In, fact, they eat so much that caterpillars can increase their body mass up to 1,000 times what it was when they hatched. This voracious appetite requires farmers to provide ample cuttings and plants to feast upon. In about two weeks, when they have grown to full size, caterpillars anchor themselves to an appropriate stem or leaf and shed their skin one last time to form a chrysalis. Butterflies are only in the chrysalis, or pupal stage for a short period of time, so farmers must quickly collect, package and ship these precious pupae and send them on their way to Meijer Gardens. Some come wrapped in cotton while others are packed by species in foam dividers. No matter how they arrive, all pupa are carefully inspected and handled by our trained staff to ensure their safe emergence and subsequent release into the warm, humid, lush environment of the Tropical Conservatory. It’s a journey that is nothing short of spectacular. North American native Monarch caterpillars can be seen in our companion display in the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse. Experience this fragrant spring garden and search for brightly striped Monarch caterpillars munching on milkweed host plants nestled in flowering spring plantings. A docent will be on-hand to answer questions. Plan your own journey around more must-see events like Tuesday Night Lights, Night of the Butterflies, the Butterfly Ballet and outdoor children’s activities in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Stop by the Information Desk for exact dates and times. Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming is made possible by
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Volunteers Wanted. Needed. Appreciated. Various jobs and shifts. Mid-February through mid-May. Contact Amber Oudsema at aoudsema@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221.
Media Sponsors
Foremost Graphics Group The Meijer Foundation
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts ANNUAL EXHIBITION 5
Beverly Pepper. Untitled, 1979. Watercolor and pastel on paper. Photo by Chuck Heiney.
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SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
DRAWN INTO FORM: SIXTY YEARS OF DRAWINGS AND PRINTS BY BEVERLY PEPPER
Friday, February 2—Sunday, April 29, 2018 PROGRAMMING Five Great Women Sculptors Sunday, March 18, 2 pm Fee: Included with Admission Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History, Kendall College of Art & Design
Monumental sculpture is often closely associated with men. However, throughout the history of Contemporary sculpture many important female artists, including Beverly Pepper, have worked in a large scale. Join us for a discussion of five female sculptors—Beverly Pepper, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Hepworth, and Louise Nevelson—and their giant impression on the history of art.
A Maker’s Perspective: Artist-Led Gallery Walks Tuesday, March 13, 6 pm Mariel Versluis, Professor of Printmaking, Kendall College of Art & Design
Tuesday, April 17, 6 pm Adam Wolpa, Visual Artist specializing in printmaking
Fee: Included with admission
Join us for a gallery walk with the insight of an artist. Each walk will focus on Beverly Pepper’s transition from her early work of observation drawing to her mature artistic style of bold abstraction. Gain understanding into the techniques of many of the artworks in the exhibition including lithographs, etchings, layered paper collages, monotypes and modified mixed media prints. Exhibition programs are drop-in and registration is not required.
Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper is made possible by Bill Padnos and Margy Kaye The Louis and Helen Padnos Foundation The Meijer Foundation Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to showcase an extraordinary gift from American sculptor Beverly Pepper in a landmark exhibition, Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper. Timed to coincide with the prodigious artist’s 95th birthday, the exhibition includes highlights of her gift of more than 900 works, including her complete graphic repertoire of drawings, sketchbooks and prints. Although drawings and prints have been integral to Pepper’s sculptural practice for six decades, most have never been publicly viewed. Born in 1922, Pepper has been an artistic force for more than a half-century. In 1962, she was one of 10 sculptors, including Alexander Calder and David Smith, to participate in Italy’s historic outdoor exhibition, Festival of Two Worlds. As the only woman, her renown grew steadily and Pepper went on to create hundreds of major public, museum and private artworks across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Together with Louise Bourgeois, Louise Nevelson and Barbara Hepworth, she helped shatter boundaries as a pioneer for women in the visual arts in the 1960s. Drawn Into Form highlights 70 works, tracing Pepper’s extraordinary journey from representational imagery into abstraction; commitment to drawing and printmaking; and astonishing work ethic. The exhibition opens with the late 1940s and 1950s. Despite a vibrant career in commercial art in New York, she was creatively unfulfilled. In 1948, Pepper sailed alone to Europe to pursue painting. Images from England and Paris are her earliest surviving works. She then made a fortuitous trip to Rome, where she met and married reporter, and soonto-be Newsweek Bureau Chief, Curtis “Bill” Pepper. Sketching daily, in her studio and on the streets, she created insightful drawings that remain among her most visually exuberant and historically important. In 1960, Pepper embarked on an extended trip to Asia that revolutionized her style and artistic self-conception. Travelling with her 10-year-old daughter (Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Jorie Graham), Pepper experienced sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, whose monumental temples and carved surfaces stirred a deep appreciation for large-scale, three-dimensional forms. Inspired to pursue sculpture, she frequently drew with sticks and ink, which forced her to render in increasingly expressive and abstracted terms. Pepper’s bold gestures on paper and in steel were closely tied to the revolutionary Abstract Expressionism art movement. Her lyrical style later led to the use of geometry in the late 1960s and 1970s. Pepper realized global success with precise compositions based on the square and rectangle and with sculptures in stainless steel polished to a mirror finish. During this prolific period, her repertoire expanded to include geometry-inspired prints and small-scale models, many of which were gifted to Meijer Gardens. In the 1980s she started working in iron and steel. These widely applauded works are displayed in museums and public spaces worldwide. Among her most profound are sculptures influenced by tools fundamental to human labor or those that take the form of totems, columns or sentinels. These monumental installations feel both ancient and contemporary—Galileo’s Wedge at Meijer Gardens is a prominent example. This period of work extended into the 21st century, expanding Pepper’s drawing repertoire to include preparatory sketches and studies done as meditations after specific sculptures. At 95 years old, Pepper still sketches daily. While she no longer welds or carves, her drawing remains vital. Endlessly inventive, she discovered a system for large-scale drawing in which drawings are cut into individual planes, transferred to cardboard and reassembled into three-dimensional sculpture. She even continues to welcome distinguished visitors from around the world to her studio. SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
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FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS My first specific memory of flowers was when I was five years old. A grandmotherly neighbor of mine had a beautiful mixed flower border in front of her house. I decided one day that I would go pick a big bouquet of these flowers for my mom. Her initial joy soon turned to concern upon learning they were picked without consent, and I received a valuable lesson in permission and apology. A few years later, earning some pocket money mowing neighborhood lawns, I learned that a small bouquet of flowers, delivered when the mowing was done, was a great way to earn an extra tip. We are drawn to flowers. They captivate us with color and fragrance. Humankind has been growing flowers for thousands of years, first to provide food and later to provide beauty. Plant breeders have selectively separated a whole multitude of varieties as flowers have been bred over time, selecting for specific traits like color, size, fragrance, or the food these flowering plants produce. As a food source, flowering plants provide us and the rest of the animal world with the nourishment that is fundamental to our existence. A huge assortment of flowers, in every size and texture imaginable, are available for design, arranging or planting. They’ve inspired great artists and even driven the rise and fall of national economies. Flowers have played a role in our collective history. But what is a flower really, and why do plants produce them? Flowers are essentially billboards. They are sensory advertisers for a plant. Through color and fragrance, a flower’s natural job is to attract a pollinator. Most plants are rooted in place and to reproduce they need the wind or another living thing to move pollen from the flower of one to the flower of another. This pollinator, a helper so to speak, is most commonly a flying insect. Many flowers have bright colors and the reward of nectar for those that visit. The most familiar insect pollinators are bees and moths, butterflies, many species of beetles, and even flies. However, there are many animals that play an important role in pollinating flowers. These animal pollinators include birds, bats, and even a few reptiles and primates. The relationship between flower and pollinator can be a simple encounter or a complex association. Stop into the
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HORTICULTURE ESSAY
Kenneth E. Nelson Carnivorous Plant House to find tropical pitcher plants, Nepenthes, in flower. These robust, Southeast Asian tropical vines are known for the beautiful and variable pitchers that different species produce to trap small insects. Mature plants produce flowers at the apex, or end, of the stem. Nepenthes plants are dioecious, meaning that a plant has either male flowers or female flowers, but not both. So, for seeds to be produced, pollen needs to be transferred from the male flower of one plant to the female flower of a completely different plant. These flowers produce large amounts of nectar in the early evening and during the night. This is the perfect lure for insects like moths and flies that are not as active during the day. Often, during early spring visits to the Earl & Donnalee Holton Arid Garden, one might be fortunate enough to experience the blooms of the star fish flower, Stapelia grandiflora, from the Cape Province of South Africa. These reddish-brown, star-shaped flowers have the unmistakable smell of rotten meat. They are pollinated by flies and beetles, so the odor they produce is the perfect calling card to attract their insect helpers. Although the smell is bad, the flowers are stunning and need to be experienced to be truly appreciated. Flowers are everywhere at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and include everything from tropical splendors to seasonal ephemerals. Flowers are a fundamental part of every garden space, providing a textural accent to the tapestry of unique areas both indoors and out. Sometimes the flower takes center stage in rich bold sweeps of seasonal color and other times it is a subtle punctuation amongst a layered background of green. Large, small, indoors, or out, fragrant, or foul-smelling, flowers are a captivating part of the Meijer Gardens experience. They can remind us of the past and enhance a new experience. When visiting Meijer Gardens this spring, take a fresh look at the flowers you encounter all around you. Essay by Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture
Male flowers of Nepenthes—Tropical Pitcher plant. Photo by Steve LaWarre.
HORTICULTURE ESSAY
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The new temporary entrance being erected. This will be the main entrance until the opening of the new Welcome Center. Photo by Nancy Ferriby.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR MEIJER GARDENS How will the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love renovation and expansion affect the guest experience? Since its opening in 1995, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has evolved into a major cultural attraction focusing on horticulture, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts. Recognizing the need for more space, the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love campaign was created. Now well under way, this exciting building project means a number of changes will be coming to Meijer Gardens. As spring approaches, guests will start to see major differences in the landscape of Meijer Gardens. We have heard from our members and guests that being able to see our construction sites up close is desirable. We are making every effort to allow you to witness the expansion and maintain the high quality of horticulture and sculpture presentations we are known for. To make way for the new Welcome Center construction, the Peter C. and Pat Cook Entry Arbor and PNC Bank Garden Portico will be removed and recycled. A new temporary entrance is being constructed—guests will enter the side of the building to the left of the existing Welcome Desk. 10
ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT
COVENANT LEARNING CENTER
OPENING FALL 2018
Opening in Fall 2018, the new Covenant Learning Center will provide six new classrooms, interactive exhibition space, and support spaces that will help us better serve the 89,000 people who participate in educational programs each year.
Photo by Erin Zacek.
This temporary entrance consists of a fabric building with windows and sliding entry doors and will offer exciting horticultural and sculptural elements in a temperature-controlled environment. The temporary entrance will be in use until the opening of the Welcome Center in the fall of 2020. The amphitheater is undergoing a two-phase expansion, with the first phase finishing in time for the 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series. The first phase of expansion includes
AMPHITHEATER
improvements to support spaces and loading dock areas, stage improvements, and the expansion of the lawn seating areas and the sponsor seating area. The second-phase will include the construction of a new concessions building and expand the number of restrooms available to guests. We hope you will visit us often during this exciting time to watch us grow! Following along at MeijerGardens.org/growing
PHASE 1 OPENING IN LATE MAY 2018
The first phase of amphitheater renovations will be complete in time for the 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series and includes additional lawn and sponsor seating. The second phase will add restrooms and a new concession building.
TRANSPORTATION CENTER
OPENING SUMMER 2018
The new Cook Transportation Center will be the central hub for narrated tram tours, offering a comfortable and safe waiting and boarding area. It will be centrally located and provide a convenient restroom stop and water fountains, as well as offices for staff and volunteers.
ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHT
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Tall spires of foxglove and violet spikes of salvia are surrounded by a lush tapestry of roses, alliums, and peonies. Image from The Layered Garden published by Timber Press. Photo by Robert Cardillo. 12 MASTER LECTURE SERIES
THE LAYERED GARDEN This spring, we’re thrilled to welcome the recipient of the Distinguished Garden Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as our Secchia Garden Master Lecturer. David Culp has cultivated a passion for plants into a celebrated career as an award-winning author, Longwood Gardens instructor, sought-after lecturer and developer of the Brandywine Hybrid strain of hellebores, named for his charming Brandywine Cottage nestled in the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania. Join us for a one-night-only, intimate look into Culp’s “layered garden,” a majestic menagerie of color, shape and texture that fluidly evolves and flourishes all year long. Learn how to create this innovative garden design, which combines an intriguing interplay of plant species that peak in layers of visual interest in all four seasons—the layered garden never sleeps. From mastering fundamentals to maintaining a finished layered garden, Culp’s practical approach is sure to inspire novice and expert gardeners alike. Using his own Brandywine Cottage as a backdrop, he will take you on a guided tour of this prolific property, from the woodland garden and perennial border to the kitchen garden, shrubbery and walled garden. His 1790s farmhouse sits on two-acres planted in a naturalistic style that includes plants like snowdrops, roses, hepaticas, cyclamen, euphorbias, arums, peonies, irises and his signature hellebores. Listed in the Smithsonian Institute Archives of American Gardens, Brandywine Cottage has been featured several times on “Martha Stewart Living” and HGTV. Every successful layered garden starts with a vision grounded in a single question: What mood do you want to create? Culp believes that, like every person, every layered garden is uniquely individual. He will delve into how concepts like sense of place, scale and symmetry play into your distinctive vision, exploring how to use succession planting to create an everchanging, always blooming landscape. Layered gardening requires an understanding of the complex nuances of the life cycles of plants and how they relate to one another visually and temporally as a garden grows and matures. Culp will share expert tips, techniques and proven plant combinations, as well as how he infuses containers throughout his garden. Planning is critical to success, and Culp’s plan is a study in the eclectic. He will illustrate how a layered garden expresses unity amid diversity, with repeated themes of color, texture and shape. Admittedly throwing away the rule book, he advocates for striking combinations of perennials and vegetables, herbs and ornamentals, anything that delights the senses. Culp will even share his tried-and-true signature plants for every season, ending with an exploration of beauty itself. Named “Best Overall Book” by the Garden Writers Association, The Layered Garden is Culp’s defining work. Following the lecture, copies of this best-seller will be available for sale and signing by the author.
The Master Lecture Series SECCHIA GARDEN LECTURE Tuesday, April 24, 7 pm Speaker: David Culp
FEE: Free for members, general admission for non-members. Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Please direct registration questions to Shelly Kilroy at skilroy@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3144. Captioning service will be provided. This annual lecture is made possible by The Secchia Family.
MASTER LECTURE SERIES
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“The progressive dinner we attended in October was truly a remarkable and most enjoyable evening. The areas where we were served became very special; the food and drink were superb and imaginative—beautiful to look at and delicious. The staff who cared for us were so pleasant and attentive. Even the floral arrangements were amazing! Truly, a memory to be cherished!” —Don Kelley
GREAT GARDENS PARTY
Kelley and Borre families pose for a group picture during the progressive dinner, an auction package won at the 2017 Great Gardens Party. Photo by Erin Zacek.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018, 6–9 PM The Great Gardens Party is a signature fundraising event at Meijer Gardens every year, and in 2018 it will be even more special. This year’s celebration will pay tribute to one of the event’s founders and longtime Meijer Gardens Board Member, Eileen DeVries. She loved this event, serving as Committee Co-Chair for many years. Please help us continue her legacy by joining us for one of the most colorful and engaging events of the year! You will wine and dine with friends and colleagues and have an opportunity to support Meijer Gardens’ mission by participating in silent and live auctions, a raffle, wine garden, and a few special activities based on Eileen’s favorite things. 14
DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP
There are many ways to participate: 1. Host a table for 10 people by becoming an event sponsor. Sponsorship levels include Blossom ($7,500), Bud ($5,000) or Seed ($2,500).
2. Purchase event tickets for yourself, friends, family and/or clients at $100 each.
3. D onate an item for the silent auction or live auction. Unique or experiential items are welcome.
4. P urchase raffle tickets for a chance to win two reserved-seat concert tickets for the entire 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series.
QUARTERLY TRIBUTES The following gifts were received between October 1 and December 31, 2017. Those honored or memorialized are shown in bold type, while the donors are in regular type.
IN HONOR Mark & Tracy Brant Anne Marblestone Emma Louise Davis Gary & Diane Richmond Earl & Donnalee Holton Michael Holton Lena Meijer James & Gail Fahner
IN MEMORY Harvey Beltman Lu Beltman Liz Skronski Lavonne Eva Benner Ed & Joyce Zaagman
Anita Bennett Eric Bennett
Walter McVeigh Pamela McVeigh
Marjorie Daverman Barbara Rothmeier
Robert Meyers Elaine Meyers
Edward Dee Carolyn Dee
Irene Rypstra Linda Affholter Nancy Haney
Helen DeVos Landscape Design Services, Inc. John & Anita Savio Eileen DeVries Bank of America Charitable Foundation Judith Hooker Ward Paul & Charles Schoenknecht
Chris Southwick Gay Adams Sue Spence Lynne Vinkemulder Margaret Swartz Angelyn Royce Jana Vredevoogd Bruce & Cheryl Schreur
REFLECTING ON CHRISTMAS CABARET On December 7, 2017, Meijer Gardens welcomed over 450 guests to a dazzling display at the 2017 Christmas Cabaret event. Attendees reflected on the spirit of the holiday season while enjoying the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition, cocktail hour, and a delectable three-course meal. Holiday sounds filled the facility with a rousing parade by the Caledonia Pipes & Drums ensemble and after-dinner entertainment by Brian Vander Ark & Lux Land with special guests Channing & Quinn. A special thanks to the Christmas Cabaret Committee, lead by co-chairs Linda Chamberlain and Vicky Weller. The Committee also included Doriane Parker-Sims, Marie Preston, Jill Walcott & John Zimmerman. With the support of our fantastic sponsors and guests, Meijer Gardens raised $105,000 in support of our mission. Event photos may be viewed at: bit.ly/17Cabaret The event’s success was made possible by the following generous donors: POINSETTIA SPONSORS
DOUG, SARAH & KENDALL MEIJER
LENA MEIJER
MISTLETOE SPONSOR
HOLLY SPONSORS 2017 Christmas Cabaret. Photo by Anthony Norkus.
Great Gardens Party Committee: For more information, contact Matt Eickhoff, Fundraising Events Manager at 616-975-3168 or meickhoff@ meijergardens.org. You may also find information online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar/ great-gardens-party. We hope to see you there!
Committee Co-Chairs Elisa Lintemuth
Mary McLoughlin
Committee Members Sam DeVries Joy Fossel Todd Harvey Lindsay Slagboom Jorie Sligh Michael Toth Susan Wright-Miller
Aquinas College BHS Insurance Cascade Engineering Peter C. & Emajean Cook Foundation Crowe Horwath Mimi Cummings Deloitte Ellis Parking Company Fence Consultants Gilson Graphics Grand Valley State University J.C. & Tammy Huizenga The I.C.N. Foundation
InnoValuation Materials Testing Consultants MeXo / Zoko822 Meijer Inc. Northpointe Bank Owen Ames Kimball Jim & Marie Preston Rothbury Farms The Sharpe Collection SoundOff Signal Star Tickets Gary & Kathleen Stec John & Vicky Weller
Mark your calendars for next year’s Christmas Cabaret event, to be held Thursday, December 6, 2018.
DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIP
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EVENTS
Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet.
Saturday, March 17 10 am, 12:30 pm or 3 pm Sunday, March 18, 1 pm
WHO AM I? A BUTTERFLY BALLET In collaboration with Grand Rapids Ballet and with support from Karl & Patti Betz and Jesse & Gia Budrick
FEE: $5 members, $8 non-members Free for ages 2 and younger General admission fees apply to see the butterfly exhibition.
Choreographed by Attila Mosolygo and performed by members of Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company; narrated by Errol Shewman.
Don’t miss this thoroughly delightful butterfly ballet. Told through the eyes of a newly emerged butterfly, the story will captivate young and old alike. With colorful costumes, spectacular music and exquisite choreography, this enchanting performance will provide a unique and memorable experience. Participate in interactive dance activities before the performance and take advantage of photo-ops on stage with the dancers afterward. Register online at MeijerGardens.org/ calendar or call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147 An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for the 10 am performance on March 17. Reservations for this service are required. To reserve your space, call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147, or email classes@meijergardens.org by March 10.
HOURS Tuesday, 9 am–9 pm Monday–Saturday, 9 am–5 pm Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
LENA MEIJER CHILDREN’S GARDEN
MICHIGAN’S FARM GARDEN
March 1–April 30 Daylight hours only
Tuesdays: April 10, 17 and 24 10 am
FRED & DOROTHY FICHTER BUTTERFLIES ARE BLOOMING
SPRINGTIME WALKS
FEE: Included with admission Butterflies are blooming in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden with engaging outdoor activities: •F ly like a butterfly, wrap up like a chrysalis, curl up like a caterpillar, or crawl out of an egg using life cycle costumes and your imagination. • Perform a butterfly-themed puppet show or read about moths and butterflies in the Log Cabin. • Search for butterfly and moth life cycle stages in a special Treehouse Village hunt. • Ring the bell after successfully navigating through the Butterfly Maze. • Become a butterfly in the Monarch’s Migration game. • Enjoy a springtime puppet show or story-time; days and times vary.
ANNUAL MEETING
Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
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EVENTS
FEE: Included with admission The Farm Garden will be the focus for these wonderful springtime walks for preschoolers and their families. Walks include: • Finding out About Farm Animals • How Does the Farm Garden Grow? • Old-Fashioned Farm Fun 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!
There’s something for all ages! Activities vary daily; check at the Information Center for what is happening each day.
Saturday, April 21 1-4 pm
EARTH DAY
FEE: Included with admission Celebrate earth awareness in the Children’s Garden by: • Investigating what’s blooming on a fun-filled, earth appreciation walk • Exploring vermiculture with a kid-friendly worm hunt • Celebrating the natural world with an ecofriendly craft • Listening to stories all about the earth
Saturday, May 12 10 am–Noon
JUST FOR MOMS Wednesday, May 23 6 pm
CONTACT Main 616-957-1580 Toll free 888-957-1580 MeijerGardens.org
FEE: Included with admission Treat your mom (or another special person in your life) to unique Mother’s Day activities in the Children’s Garden. Activities include: • Crafting a colorful “forever flower” with bright tissue paper • Participating in a clever color hunt in the Kid-Sense Garden • Listening to a variety of stories focused on mothers
Tuesday, May 8 10–11:30 am
READ & EXPLORE: ART AND GARDENS BOOK GROUP
FEE: Included with admission If you love birds and great book discussions you’ll want to join us as we explore the birds that inhabit and migrate through our wetlands area and discuss The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. We will begin our morning on the Frey Boardwalk with one of our volunteers, an avid birder, sharing with us the unique and interesting birds that inhabit this part of Meijer Gardens. The walk will be followed by a discussion of Mark Obmascik’s “dazzling and fun narrative" of three obsessed bird watchers competing to spot the most species in the course of one year. Limited to 20 adults, reservations required. RSVP to 616-975-3144 or skilroy@meijergardens.org
EVENTS SUMMER CONCERTS
BUS TRIP
Photo by Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co..
Wednesday, May 9, 6:45 am–7:30 pm
ART GLASS IN KOKOMO
FEE: $135 members, $155 non-members Join us as we tour Kokomo Opalescent Glass, Co., one of America’s oldest art glass companies, established in 1888 and in continuous operation ever since. Its primary product is opalescent sheet glass, including many types produced for Louis Comfort Tiffany. Many of the early glass formulas are still used today, and the process has changed very little. Watch as glowing hot glass is hand-ladled and rolled into sheets. The factory now includes a Hot Glass Studio, added in the late 1990s, producing quality hand-blown and hand-cast glass functional and sculptural objects. Enjoy lunch at a local favorite, the rustic and cozy Foxes Trail, located in a restored historic building which originally served as an icehouse.
On display are tools from the time period and images of ice being cut and harvested. Our 2nd stop, Seiberling Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built by entrepreneur Monroe Seiberling in the Romanesque Revival style. He was attracted to the area by the offer of free natural gas for those who would locate factories in Indiana when a huge reserve was discovered in the 1880s. Three plate glass factories were among the many factories that he established. This elegant Victorian home features ornate interior woodwork and, of course, many beautiful examples of stained glass windows that have survived to this day, some of which were made using glass from KOG. The trip includes an en route talk by glass artist, Gloria Badiner. Fee includes transportation, a snack, restaurant lunch, boxed dinner on the bus, guided tours, and all gratuities. Safety considerations: All participants must wear thick-soled shoes. No high heels, open toe shoes or sandals are allowed. Please be aware that the factory floors are rough and uneven in some areas. Dress for the weather as the factory in not climate controlled. Guests will need to navigate stairs and stand for approximately one and one-half hours. Register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147.
FIFTH THIRD BANK SUMMER CONCERTS: MEMBERS-ONLY PRESALE
Member presale: Saturday, April 28 at 9 am; presale ends Friday, May 11 at 5 pm On sale to public: Saturday, May 12 at 9 am As spring approaches, we invite you to look forward to warm weather and beautiful sunsets in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater. The full lineup for Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens will be announced in mid-April.
Tuesdays in July & August, 7 pm
TUESDAY EVENING MUSIC CLUB
FEE: Included with admission Save the date for Tuesdays in July and August—join us in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater for the best live, local performances. The full lineup will be announced in mid-April.
THE RICHARD & HELEN DEVOS JAPANESE GARDEN SUNDAYS: May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, 1–4 pm
INSIDE THE JAPANESE TEAHOUSE
Photo by Midwest Wanderer.
FEE: Included with admission Experience the tranquil ambience and exquisite architecture of our authentic Japanese Teahouse on the third Sunday of the month from 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 firstcome, first-served basis. Guests will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the teahouse.
SATURDAYS: May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20 11:30 am or 2 pm
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY IN THE TEAHOUSE
FEE: $50 members, $60 non-members (Space is limited.) Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar or call 616-975-3147. Witness the Japanese art of chanoyu, or tea ceremony. Graceful Japanese tea masters, in elegant kimono, will perform the ceremonial cleansing of the utensils, 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 the sweets and matcha green tea. As an integral part of this experience, all guests will utilize and enjoy original works of Shigaraki pottery from Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection. Each object is a work of art especially commissioned from many of Japan’s leading ceramic 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.
Photo by Peter McDaniel.
EVENTS
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EVENTS BONSAI SHOW & WORKSHOPS Saturday, May 12: Vendors 9 am–5 pm, displays noon–5 pm Sunday, May 13: Vendors and displays, 11 am–5 pm
MICHIGAN ALL STATE BONSAI SHOW
FEE: Free admission to the Bonsai Show View a variety of stunning bonsai trees, skillfully trained by bonsai artists from across the state. A vast range of styles will be on display, including forest plantings, cascade, windswept, and upright styles and a diverse range of species will be included, such as maples, pines, junipers, azaleas, figs and more. View trees small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and some too heavy for one person to lift. See which trees won trophies and ribbons and be sure to vote for your favorite bonsai in the show. The top ten vote-getters will be recognized. This year, we are delighted to feature William Valavanis as our Guest Artist. Mr. Valavanis has been studying bonsai for more than 40 years and conducts workshops internationally. He regularly leads tours to view and study bonsai in Japan and produces International Bonsai, a quarterly publication distributed worldwide. At the show, watch him as he refines a large bonsai—he will share his vision for the tree and then prune and wire its branches. Additional demonstrations featuring some of the top artists in the region will take place during the show. Visit MeijerGardens.org for a complete schedule. A variety of workshops for bonsai enthusiasts of all levels will take place during the show, including two “Bring Your Own Tree” workshops taught by our Guest Artist. Register early—they fill quickly! While at the show, be sure to visit the sales area featuring vendors from across the Midwest selling bonsai trees, nursery stock with bonsai potential, handmade bonsai pots, specialty tools, wire, bonsai potting mix, and more.
Photo by Tim Priest.
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EVENTS
SATURDAY, MAY 12 10 am–12:30 pm
BONSAI FOR BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Martinez FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members Maximum: 10 participants Learn the basics of bonsai while working on a juniper. This hardy evergreen offers many styling options and is a great choice for beginners. Learn what to look for when selecting a potential bonsai and then gain hands-on experience pruning, wiring and re-potting. Learn how to care for your new bonsai and receive tips on future care and development. All materials, including a juniper, training pot, wire and bonsai potting mix provided. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
11 am–1:30 pm
CREATE A SHOHIN ‘GREEN MOUND’ JUNIPER
INSTRUCTOR: Jim Beck FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members Experience level: all, Maximum: 12 participants Create a “Shohin” bonsai—a classic bonsai form that is gaining popularity due to its smaller size, requiring less space, time and expense. Participants will work with ‘Green Mound’ juniper that has been grown specifically for bonsai. This cultivar has tight, compact growth, responds well to pruning and is easy to grow. Learn how to “clean out” your tree and find a good line and then begin developing it into a bonsai tree by wiring and styling. Participants should bring their own tools or basic pruning shears. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
2–4 pm
BRING YOUR OWN TREE FOR “NOT-QUITE” BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTOR: Michigan Bonsai Artists, Maximum: 3 students per instructor FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members This is the perfect workshop for anyone who has a bonsai from a previous workshop or recently purchased a tree and just needs some help with it! Bring 1-3 trees and work with a Michigan bonsai artist who will provide suggestions and guidance as you prune and wire. Bring a pot if repotting is needed and we’ll supply the bonsai mix. Each artist will work with only three students, so you will receive individual attention and have an opportunity to learn by observing other participants at work. Bring your own tools if you have them. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
2–5 pm
BRING YOUR OWN TREE WITH WILLIAM VALAVANIS
INSTRUCTOR: Guest Artist William Valavanis FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Experience level: intermediate to advanced Maximum: 10 participants Bring one to three bonsai currently in development and work on styling and refining your trees with expert guidance from Guest Artist William Valavanis. Mr. Valavanis will spend time with each participant analyzing their trees and then provide one-on-one assistance. Participants are encouraged to observe the instructor working with all participants in the workshop. Bring your own tools and appropriate wire (copper for conifers; aluminum for deciduous and broadleaf evergreens). Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
SUNDAY, MAY 13 11 am–1:30 pm
BONSAI FOR BEGINNERS: BONSAI FROM A HOUSEPLANT
INSTRUCTOR: Bill Struhar FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members Maximum: 12 participants Learn the basics of bonsai while working on a Ficus (fig). This easy-to-care-for houseplant can be trained into a handsome bonsai tree and enjoyed indoors year-round. Receive a primer with common bonsai terms and concepts prior to class and then gain hands-on experience pruning, wiring and re-potting. All materials, including a Ficus, ceramic pot, and bonsai mix provided. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
11 am–1:30 pm
STYLE A SHOHIN GARDENIA
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Fields FEE: $110 members, $118 non-members Experience level: intermediate to advanced Maximum: 8 participants Work with a gardenia, a lovely flowering shrub with dark green, glossy foliage and fragrant white flowers. “Shohin” refers to its size, a bonsai that can be held in the palm of your hand. The instructor will help students analyze each tree, assist in formulating a plan, and then students will begin re -styling. Receive tips on how to care for your gardenia bonsai. All materials, including a gardenia, pot, soil and wire provided. Bring your own tools. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
CL ASSES
REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR E-mail classes@meijergardens.org to ask questions. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class. Fee for extra participant in Child/Adult pairs classes: $17.50 each member, $21.50 each non-member.
BONSAI WORKSHOPS (cont.)
SPRING CLASSES
Find out more information about the classes below at MeijerGardens.org.
Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147.
SUNDAY, MAY 13
Wednesday, March 14 (Adult) 5–7 pm
2:30–4:30 pm
CREATE A ROOT-OVER-ROCK BONSAI
AN INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE GARDENING*
INSTRUCTOR: Ken Huth FEE: $65 members, $73 non-members Experience level: all, Maximum: 15 participants Create a root-over-rock bonsai using trident maple seedlings and a technique known as “trunk fusion.” Start with an introduction to bonsai and then utilize a variety of trident maples to form a root and trunk structure that will be placed on a rock. The workshop includes all materials, including 10 trident maple seedlings, a rock and pot. Bring your own tools if you have them. Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members
Saturday, March 17 (Adult) 10 am–12:30 pm
MULTI-LAYER BLOCK PRINTING FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members
Tuesday, March 20 (Adult) 6 pm–7:30 pm
BIG IMPACT FROM SMALL SPACES
2–5 pm
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members
BRING YOUR OWN TREE
INSTRUCTOR: Guest Artist William Valavanis FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Experience level: intermediate to advanced Maximum 10 participants Bring one to three bonsai currently in development and work on styling and refining your trees with expert guidance from Guest Artist William Valavanis. Mr. Valavanis will spend time with each participant analyzing their trees and then provide one-on-one assistance. Participants are encouraged to observe the instructor working on all trees in the workshop. Bring your own tools and appropriate wire (copper for conifers; aluminum for deciduous and broadleaf evergreens). Bonsai workshops register at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
(*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.
Tuesday, March 6 (Adult) 6–7:30 pm
GLASS-TOPPED KEEPSAKE BOX FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members
Thursday, March 8 (Adult) 6–7:30 pm
Saturday, March 24 (Adult) 10 am—12 pm
ROCK PLANTING WORKSHOP
FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members
Tuesday, March 27 (Adult) 6:30–8 pm
GROUNDCOVERS REIMAGINED*
SQUARE FOOT GARDENING: FOR BEGINNERS ONLY*
Sundays, March 11, 18, OR 25 (Adult) 9–11 am
Tuesday, April 10 (Adult) 6:30–8 pm
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members
BUTTERFLY PHOTOGRAPHY
FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members
Tuesday, March 13 (Adult) 7-8:30 pm
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members
MORE SUCCESS WITH SQUARE FOOT GARDENING*
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Spring Gardening Classes are made possible by
MORE THAN MOORS: THE GARDENS OF SCOTLAND
FEE: $20 members, $28 non-members
CANCELLATION POLICY
Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance, a refund is issued minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7 to 29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-975-3147 for class cancellations due to severe weather. CLASSES
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CL ASSES
Scholarship assistance is available. Call 616-975-3184 or 616-975-3147.
REGISTER ONLINE AT MEIJERGARDENS.ORG/CALENDAR E-mail classes@meijergardens.org to ask questions. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Non-member class fees include admission to Meijer Gardens for class participants on the day of the class. Fee for extra participant in Child/Adult pairs classes: $17.50 each member, $21.50 each non-member.
(*) Applies toward MSU Extension Master Gardener education credit.
Saturday, March 3 (Adult) 10 am–3 pm
Wednesday, March 28 (Adult) 6–8 pm
Monday, April 9 (Adult) 5–7:30 pm
PHOTOGRAPHY BOOT CAMP
ECO-FRIENDLY LAWNS*
A GLIMPSE OF SPRING: PASTEL FLOWERS
INSTRUCTOR: Ed Post FEE: $70 members, $78 non-members Learn the foundations of digital photography and how, when and why to take your camera off automatic. Explore aperture, shutter speeds, ISO and photographic composition, and learn how to find great light. This class will allow you to take control of your camera and move to the next level of digital photography. A one-hour break is scheduled for lunch on your own and independent photographing. For beginning and intermediate photographers using digital SLR cameras. The class is not recommended for children or point-and-shoot camera users.
Saturday, March 10 (Adult) 10 am–1 pm
INTRO TO ART JOURNALING: WHERE COLOR AND WORDS COLLIDE
INSTRUCTOR: Katie Reitemeier FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members Do you collect beautiful words, images and craft supplies but wonder how to artfully enjoy them? 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"x 12" art journal and use sprays, stencils, sponging, transfers, oil pastels, artist inks and much more to create backgrounds for your journaling. No prior art experience required.
INSTRUCTOR: Steve Veltheen FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover how to achieve an attractive lawn while ensuring a healthy environment too. Learn about the best organic fertilizers and natural practices from mowing to aerating. Determine a fall ritual that will enrich your soil, save time and help prevent weeds.
Wednesdays: April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2 (Adult) 6–8 pm
LANDSCAPE FOR LIFE*
FEE: $125 members, $135 non-members INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Marquardt Discover how to bring nature back to your yard in aesthetically pleasing ways and benefit from the “ecosystem services” that nature provides—controlling erosion, pollinating flowers, cleaning the air and waterways, sheltering wildlife, and providing beauty. Whether you are interested in adding native plants into existing planting beds, incorporating water harvesting techniques, or converting your whole yard to a purer native landscape, we’ve got you covered! This series is based on a program developed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, US Botanic Garden, and the American Society for Landscape Architects and tailored for West Michigan by landscape architect and native plant enthusiast, Rebecca Marquardt. The class will include lecture and studio time as well as “field trips” outside the classroom to discover some of the sustainable practices and plants at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Discover how careful observation will reveal the “sense of place” for your unique property, how to analyze your site, and learn creative solutions to problems through case studies and design styles. Learn how to landscape for life while exploring a variety of design, installation, and care techniques to maximize ecosystem services for your yard. Class is limited to the first 24 students.
CANCELLATION POLICY
INSTRUCTOR: Kathleen Kalinowski FEE: $45 members, $53 non-members Strengthen your inner artist as you begin with a mini-lesson on how to layer chalk pastels. Then choose from several still lifes that include the breath-taking colors of spring flowers. Create a small chalk pastel drawing suitable for framing. Beginners welcome. All materials provided.
Saturday, April 14 (Adult) 10 am – 12 pm
INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTROOM
INSTRUCTOR: Ed Post FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members Looking for imaging software? Curious about Lightroom’s features? Investigate the possibilities of Lightroom with an experienced photographer who will explain features and discuss how the software fits into a photographer’s workflow. The instructor will emphasize using Lightroom as an image organization and cataloging solution. In addition to learning Lightroom as a digital asset management tool, the class will contain an overview of Lightroom’s image processing capabilities.
Monday, April 16 (Adult) 6–8 pm
VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: FROM THE GROUND UP!* INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Pitzer FEE: $30 members, $38 non-members Learn how to successfully grow delicious and nutrition-packed vegetables using organic methods. Whether your garden is large or small, receive tips on how to select the perfect location and prepare a healthy, living soil. Discover which vegetables should be sown directly from seed and which to plant using transplants. Also learn about crop rotation, organic fertilizers and more.
Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance, a refund is issued minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7 to 29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-975-3147 for class cancellations due to severe weather.
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Tuesday, May 15 (Adult) 6:30–8 pm
APRIL 2018
LOVELY LAVENDER
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
INSTRUCTOR: Connie Hanson FEE: $40 members, $48 non-members Many would agree that lavender is the most useful herb in the garden! It can be grown for easy landscaping, as a food for pollinators, as a flavorful addition to many foods, for its distinct fragrance, or simply for its beauty. In addition to learning all about lavender, guests will sample foods made with lavender, create a flavorful Herbes de Provence Blend, make a relaxing herbal sleep pillow, and take home 3 unique varieties of lavender, including Hidcote, Provence, and Munstead.
Wednesday, May 16 (Adult) 6–7:30 pm Thursday, April 19 (Adult) 6–8 pm
FABULOUS PERENNIALS FOR SHADY AND SUNNY GARDENS*
INSTRUCTOR: Barb Balgoyen FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover perennials with gorgeous, long lasting blooms, dazzling colors and fabulous foliage. Learn which ones thrive in the shade or shine in the sun and don’t require pampering. Be inspired by winning combinations for a lovely garden from early spring through late fall.
Saturday, April 21 (Ages 4-5 with Adult) 10–11:30 am
GRANDMA AND ME: CHERRY BLOSSOM ART
FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adults $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adults Spend time together in the Japanese Garden with a spring search-and-find: flowering cherry blooms appearing, buds starting to open, fern fiddleheads unfurling, early spring flowers blooming, robins and chickadees exploring. Then, use your imagination to create a piece of cherry blossom artwork using tissue paper and paint.
Tuesday, May 8 (Adult) 6–7:30 pm
GORGEOUS ANNUALS FOR SUMMER-LONG EXCITEMENT*
INSTRUCTOR: Micki Buist FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Discover show stopping annuals that will brighten your garden from spring through fall. Learn the best choices for sun and shade to provide your garden with non-stop flowers, unique colors and extravagant foliage.
PLANT A HANGING HERB BASKET AT THE FARM
INSTRUCTOR: Gwen Hughes FEE: $35 members, $43 non-members Plant a hanging basket filled with culinary herbs including parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and basil. Receive tips on how to use and harvest these culinary favorites and learn how to care for it. Find a sunny spot outside your kitchen door and snip as needed. Includes a tram ride to the Farm Garden and back to the parking lot after class and a short tour of the farm’s herb garden.
Tuesday, May 22 (Adult) 5–7 pm
WHAT’S EATING MY GARDEN? INSECTS!*
INSTRUCTOR: Elly Maxwell FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Learn what to do when insects enjoy your garden more than you do–nibbling on foliage, sucking sap from stems, and dining on roots. Learn how to identify the most common and damaging garden insects and how to discern the beneficial ones. Discover eco-friendly approaches to managing these resilient six-legged plant lovers.
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SPRING BREAK CLASSES Monday, April 2 (Age 3 with Adult) 10–11:30 am
GRANDMA AND ME: READY FOR RABBITS
FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adults $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adults Visit the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden and discover what rabbits eat, where they sleep and how they move, through activities and stories. Then come inside and pet a real rabbit! Make your own rabbit ears and a simple snack to round out the fun. This class is for age 3 only with an adult.
Monday, April 2 (Ages 8+ with Adult) 10–11:30 am
GRANDMA AND ME: TROPICAL ZENTANGLE
FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adults $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adults Have a tropical “stay-cation” here at Meijer Gardens! Learn fun tropical Zentangle patterns and work together to decorate tropical leaves, shells and other objects. Feel free to dress the part with sunglasses, shorts and flip-flops! After the class, be sure to visit the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory to complete your experience! This class is for an adult and child pair.
Tuesday, April 3 (Ages 5 – 7) 10–11:30 am
BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES: MASKS AND WINGS
FEE: $25 members, $33 non-members Let the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition spark your imagination as you observe an array of colorful butterflies flying, landing and eating. Learn how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly by playing an engaging butterfly game. Back in the classroom, create a mask and wings to wear while listening to butterfly stories.
CLASSES
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2018 SUMMER CAMPS
ONE-DAY CAMPS
TWO-DAY CAMPS
Tuesday, May 29 (Ages 4–5 with Adult) 10–11:30 am OR 2–3:30 pm
Monday AND Tuesday, July 23–24 (Ages 10–14) 9 am–2 pm
GRANDMA AND ME: PLANT PALS
FEE: $18 member child, $18 member adults $22 non-member child, $22 non-member adults Hunt for plants used to make gum, chocolate, baskets, flooring and musical instruments. Make an edible sculpture out of colorful vegetables. Then take home a tomato plant in your own decorated pot and tend to it all summer long.
Monday, July 30 (Ages 6–9) 9 am–2 pm
PLENTY OF ART
FEE: $50 members, $58 non-members Tap into your creative energy! Using a variety of art materials, you’ll work on engrossing projects. Walk to the Japanese Garden to try oil pastels and create an animal with colored clay. Use recyclables and patterned duct tape to create a sculpture all your own. Bring lunch and a water bottle.
BUILD A MODEL TREE HOUSE
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Explore Meijer Gardens to gather ideas from animal habitats, sculpture environments, the sculptures themselves and our own Treehouse Village. Make sketches, discuss ideas and problem-solve together. What will your tree house be made of? How will it be attached to a tree? How will it be balanced? And if you were two inches tall and lived in it, where would you eat, sleep and play? Experiment with a variety of materials such as wood, metal and vinyl to come up with the most creative solution. Campers will create an 18-inch model to take home. Bring lunch and a water bottle.
Monday AND Tuesday, August 13–14 (Ages 6–7) 9 am–2 pm
EVERYDAY EXPLORERS CANCELLATION POLICY
Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance, a refund is issued minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7 to 29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-975-3147 for class cancellations due to severe weather. 22
CLASSES
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Investigate woods, wetlands and meadows with your own explorer kit and learn to identify birds, bugs and intriguing plants. Record your findings in a journal and create nature-inspired artworks each day! Bring lunch and a water bottle.
Your child must fit in the listed age range by the first day of camp.
Monday AND Tuesday, August 13–14 (Ages 6–9) 9 am–2 pm
CURIOUS AND CREATIVE KIDS
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Solve a “Critter Clues” mystery, build a waterwheel and experiment with the energy of falling water. Then think like an artist and scientist while observing intriguing sculptures and create a unique piece of art using a variety of media such as foil, string, clay, paint and wire. Bring lunch and a water bottle.
2018 SUMMER CAMPS
Your child must fit in the listed age range by the first day of camp.
FOUR-DAY CAMPS June 18–21 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–Noon
July 9–12 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–Noon
July 30–August 2 (Ages 10–12) 9:30 am–Noon
MOVIN’ AROUND THE GARDENS
AMAZING ANIMALS
PHOTO OPS
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Join us for a fun, active camp experience by marching, jumping, dancing and “flying” your way around Meijer Gardens. Explore sculpture with music and art and have fun with obstacle courses and parachute games. Then use your imagination to join a marching band, take frogsized leaps, learn a pollination bee dance and take center stage as a dancer.
June 18–21 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–Noon
PAINT EXPLORATION
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Get out your paint clothes and have fun painting both inside and outside! Learn to paint trees, flowers, fruit, sculpture and more using watercolors, acrylics and oil pastels. Learn about warm and cool colors and even mix and name your own color!
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Explore animal habitats to look for turtles, wood chucks, birds and more. Compare animal features and create a dazzling artwork each day from a colorful windsock fish to painted and bejeweled stick animals.
July 16–19 OR July 23–26 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–Noon
LITTLE DIGGERS
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Pick a vegetable, start a seed, create an “underground” picture and look at soil with magnifying glasses. Participate in games, listen to stories about the environment and make a nature-inspired work of art each day!
July 16–19 (Ages 8–9) 9:30 am–Noon
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Use your imagination and a variety of materials such as wood, clay, cardboard, stones and wire to create a house, bridge, sculpture and public building. Discuss landscape design and work together to create a mini-city, complete with green space and roads.
July 9–12 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–Noon
SILLY SCULPTURE
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Play silly games and take wacky walks through the gardens, including the Rock Quarry, Sculpture Park, Arid Garden and Japanese Garden. Create new sculptures every day using plaster, clay, recycled products and more.
July 30–August 2 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–Noon
JEEPERS CREEPERS
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Learn about weird and wonderful insects through activities such as the Ladybug Munch, the Flea Jump and the Flyswatter Relay. Examine the insect zoo and make a honeybee from clay and a butterfly from jigsaw puzzle pieces.
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Combine learning about photography with fun art projects in this engaging camp! Explore how to photograph landscapes, close-ups, portraits, and trick shots. Then use your own photos to create pieces of artwork by combining photos in interesting ways, hand-coloring black and white photos for special effects, and creating tiny clay sculptures to produce a short animated film. A tablet or iPad is required.
August 6–9 (Ages 4–5) 9:30 am–Noon
CREATURE FEATURE
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Get to know the animals and sculptures at Meijer Gardens—turtles, frogs, birds and horses and learn the different characteristics of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Take mini-walks, listen to stories, play animal games and create unique art projects using colored clay, yarn and paint.
August 6–9 (Ages 6–7) 9:30 am–Noon
CLAY EVERY DAY
FEE: $80 members, $88 non-members Roll, squeeze and shape your way through the week as you work with a different type of clay every day. Learn about chocolate in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory and make your own chocolate clay sculpture. Visit the farm orchard and make a bowl of fruit using scented clay. Experience the textures in the Rock Quarry, then make your own creature out of sandy clay. Use colorful sparkly clay after viewing the Dale Chihuly sculpture, Lena’s Garden.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Withdraw from a class at least 30 days in advance, a refund is issued minus a $5 processing fee. Withdraw 7 to 29 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Less than 7 days, no refund. Call 616-975-3147 for class cancellations due to severe weather.
FIVE-DAY CAMP June 25–29 (Ages 6–8) 8:30 am–4:30 pm
CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE: A WACKY WEEK OF FUN
FEE: $225 members, $250 non-members Explore the Japanese Garden, Children’s Garden, Farm Garden and Sculpture Park with a kaleidoscope of kid-friendly activities. Make butter, design boats, play a survival game, take a wetlands walk, build a 6-foot arch, and create a collection of unique works of art. Get to know Meijer Gardens in a whole new way with new skills, new experiences and endless fun. A snack is provided each day. Bring lunch and a water bottle.
Space is limited! Register at MeijerGardens.org. Questions? Call 616-975-3147 or 616-975-3184. CLASSES
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Masayuki Koorida. Cell, n.d. Stainless steel. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Masayuki Koorida: Beyond Existence Friday, May 25—Sunday, August 19, 2018
Masayuki Koorida: Beyond Existence is made possible by
The Meijer Foundation Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts
HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION
SPRING 2018 Volume 9, Issue 2
24 18-105
Would you prefer to receive Seasons via email? If so, please contact the Development/Membership Office at 616-977-7689 or membership@meijergardens.org.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, but now working in Shanghai, China, Masayuki Koorida is a major talent and dedicated figure in Contemporary sculpture. Celebrated for partially carved and polished boulders like Existence, permanently sited in The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, Koorida has a broader repertoire that includes highly geometric pieces in a variety of materials and exquisite, large-scale drawings. All aspects of his work will be on display in this exhibition organized with the artist exclusively for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Although well known in Asia and Europe, this will be among Koorida's first exhibitions in the United States. Taken together with the multi-part Existence in the Japanese Garden, this is a must-see experience.
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
MAY 25–AUG 19
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.
UPCOMING