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2011 SPEAKER SERIES
Evelyn J. Hadden June 16th 7:00 pm Jolly Pumpkin Conference Center Old Mission Peninsula
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A garden is a public service and having one a public duty. It is a man's contribution to the community.
-Richardson Wright
Truly Rural, 1922
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Garden Hero
Deering Tree Service
Many, many thanks to Deering Tree Service whose employees recently donated $3000 of time, labor and expertise to complete the initial phase of tree maintenance in our picnic grove. Dead tree limbs were pruned and some large hazardous hollow/rotting trees were removed. Although old dead or dying trees can provide wildlife habitat, we needed to make the picnic grove safe for public use and accessibility, as well as focus on the care and health of the remaining trees. The western end of the picnic grove is now more open, providing an ideal area for the planting of native wildflowers, shrubs, and young native trees such as dogwood, wild plum, beech, birch, rowan, oak, etc. that are known for supporting wildlife. We are working with Saving Birds through Habitat, Master Gardeners, and Brian Zimmerman of Four Season Nursery to improve this area of the grove. Deering Tree Service will be back this Spring to grind the stumps. |
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2011 Speaker Program adds Bonnie Blodgett and Mike Nowak
The Botanical Garden Society is hosting a number of outstanding speakers in 2011. On June 16 award-winning author Evelyn J. Hadden will present new information on how to encourage natural processes like nutrient cycling, drought tolerance, runoff absorption, and insect population control in her "Eco-Friendly Gardens" program. You'll see many examples of healthy, sustainable landscapes that are also comfortable and rewarding places for people to spend time in. Eco-friendly ideas include Rain Gardens, Slope Gardens, Veggie & Herb Gardens, Pavement Islands, and more! You'll explore answers to these questions: - Who lives in your soil?
- Why are decomposers essential for healthy natural communities?
- What services can a well-designed landscape provide for you?
- How can you let nature do more of the work?
The program will be held at the Jolly Pumpkin Conference Center (behind Bowers Harbor Inn) on Old Mission Peninsula Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. Admission is $15. Mark your calendar now! On-line registration will be available later in April. Circle October 15 on your calendars as well, for a very special 'double feature'! We'll be hosting two outstanding garden speakers for a full day of garden inspiration. Bonnie Blodgett,award-winning garden writer (The Garden Letter, Fine Gardening, Garden Design) and author of four books, including a guide to the best plants for Midwestern gardens, will present "My New Zone 5 Garden: Welcome to Climate Change". You'll also have the wonderful opportunity to laugh and learn with Mike Nowak, Chicago's radio voice of gardening and the environment. Mike is an award-winning columnist for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and co-founded the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association. He's also president of the Chicago Recycling Coalition. Mike will keep you laughing while also inspiring and informing. His topic will be "Good Planets are Hard to Find", showing new ways of looking at pests, pathogens and low-impact gardening solutions. October 15 will be a day you'll not want to miss! |
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Collaborating with The Grand Traverse Band
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Chairman Derek Bailey with BGS Chair, Karen Schmidt |
It is because our botanic garden site is on the historic grounds of the old State Hospital, healing gardens will be an important theme. We would like to be able to showcase plants that are presently used in the pharmaceutical field, as well as those used by early settlers and the indigenous people of this region. Derek Bailey, tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, recently met with Karen Schmidt, BGSNM Board Chair, to discuss ways the Band and the Botanical Garden Society could collaborate in this effort. The design and construction of a Medicine Wheel Garden at the site would be an excellent way to highlight the herbs and other plants used by Native Americans for healing, We look forward to working with the Band in this endeavor.
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March 15 - September 30
The Better Homes and Gardens Subscription Program is Back
 The Botanical Garden Society of Northwest Michigan (BGSNM) is an institutional member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). This Spring APGA is partnering with Better Homes and Gardens magazine in a special membership promotion for all its institutional public garden members with the goals of "increasing memberships in public gardens, educating the public about the joy and satisfaction of gardening, and making the world a greener place, one garden at a time."
This special promotion is offered to each new or renewing member of the Botanical Garden Society during the period of March 15 - September 30, 2011. As a new or renewing member to BGSNM you will receive from us in your membership packet a subscription card that you can fill out and return to Better Homes and Gardens. The subscription card includes postage. If you are a current subscriber to Better Homes and Gardens one year will be added to the length of your current subscription.
This special membership promotion affords you the opportunity to join us in "growing" the botanic garden at Historic Barns Park and also to receive a monthly magazine filled with informative, inspiring articles to make your personal garden a "satisfying, greener place!"
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Juniper Garden Club
The Botanical Garden Society gave an update on the progress of the garden to the Juniper Garden Club on Wednesday, February 2. Despite a major snowstorm there was a great turnout, which says a lot about these wonderful ladies! The Juniper Garden Club has been a supporter of BGSNM since our incorporation back in 2000. It was one of the first Founding Affiliates and has continued to be a faithful partner. This club has made yearly donations to BGSNM and has provided on-going encouragement and support. Individual members of the Juniper Garden Club have also made their own donations. Member Ann Luedtke has been a passionate spokesperson for our botanic garden for over ten years. We are extremely appreciative for everything this group has done for the garden and look forward to hosting one of their meetings at the site! |
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Native Viburnums - A gift for any garden
 Michael Dirr, one of America's leading horticulturists, says "A garden without a viburnum is akin to life without music and art." One would only have to watch a viburnum throughout the year to see why Dirr feels so strongly about this wonderful shrub.
In the spring, Viburnums are filled with beautiful rings of flowers, similar to a lace-cap hydrangea. Flowers are then followed by edible fruit - colorful berries that are relished by a wide variety of birds. Foliage changes to flamboyant colors in the autumn, providing wonderful interest in the garden. Native viburnums have few major pest or disease problems and are not especially enamored by deer. Viburnums come in many shapes and sizes - there's one for every garden. We recommend native viburnum species, including Mapleleaf viburnum (V. acerifolium), Arrowood (V. dentatum), Hobblebush (V. lantanoides), Nannyberry (V. lentago), and American Cranberry Bush (V. opulus). While showy Asian species have more fragrant spring flowers, the American species excel in all of the seasons, providing larval food for many native moths and butterflies. The Arrowood Viburnum, for example is a favorite for the beautiful spring azure butterfly, and its berries attract bluebirds, cardinals, mockingbirds and robins. Why not gift your garden with a Viburnum this year? |
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