Herald photos by Garret Leiva
Supporters of the Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden also marked the event with the unveiling of a “hands-on” Learning Garden to be planted next spring.
A striking mixture of flowers, trees, unique art and stonework, the Children’s Garden extends across the west side of the library, overlooking Boardman Lake and adjacent to Hull Park. The garden features several specialty gardens, including a waterfall pond with goldfish, a bird and butterfly garden, and scent and touch garden.
It also features unique stained glass art placed on cement pedestals, a human sundial, and a “willow house,” where branches of a champion willow tree on the old state hospital grounds have been planted around a stone circle.
Klaus Heinert and Dave Weston, landscape architects with Sundberg Carlson and Associates of Traverse City, presented design plans for Phase II of the Children’s Garden. The “Learning Garden” will feature garden plots for area youth organizations to grow crops, brick walkways, a gazebo, a garden shed, and a playground area.
The Children’s Garden is supervised by a committee of members from local garden clubs, a representative of Michigan State University’s master gardener association, the Traverse Area District Library and the Friends of the Library group. Plantings and general
maintenance is provided through the master gardener program and numerous community volunteers.
Herald photos by Garret Leiva
“Barney Du Little” entertains Travis, 4, and Kevin Bishop, 2, of Traverse City with big soap bubbles Saturday during the Children’s Garden anniversary party at the Traverse Area District Library.
Black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, butterfly bushes, Moonbeams, and blue bonnets draw humans and creatures alike to the Bird and Butterfly Garden.
Darby, 6, left, and Shea Williams, 8, of Traverse City wait patiently for their animal shaped balloons.
Above: Covered in rain drops, “Galileo,” by Colorado artist Jane DeDecker, awaits visitors to the Children’s Garden.
Gretchen, 5, and Christine, 3, Twietmeyer of Traverse City giggle with delight as they play with their balloons in the Willow House. The Willow House is constructed of cuttings taken from the champion black willow tree on the grounds of the Grand Traverse Commons.
A young visitor to the Children’s Garden hurries down the primrose and assorted flower brick path.