October 16, 2002
Forums plant idea of botanical garden
Members of Northwest Michigan Botanical Garden Board hold community roundtable discussions
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Members of the Northwest Michigan Botanical Garden Board are all ears.
Hosting five community forums this month, the board wants to hear what residents in 13 northwestern Michigan counties have to say about their proposed botanical garden.
Karen Schmidt, a member of the board, began the evening by outlining the history of the project and the proposed site near the Grand Traverse Resort. She noted that the acquisition of the 160-acre property, known locally as the Hoxie Farm, is still being worked out.
In the meantime, however, the board wants to get community input and create a sense of ownership for the project. They also want to ensure that the botanical garden continues as a regional effort that includes communities and gardeners from a broad area.
"You are inventing the garden for us," Schmidt told the participants. "The property has varied ecosystems: wetlands, mature forest, high bluffs overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay. There is even some cherry orchards and we've talked about the idea of having a working cherry orchard."
The first roundtable was held in Traverse City last Thursday evening at the Baird Building. Other sessions are scheduled for later this month in Cadillac, Grayling, Petoskey and Lake Leelanau. The board will discuss all ideas gathered at an upcoming strategic planning session.
The ten participants last week were all avid gardeners, many of them master gardeners. They delved into possible visions for the facility, potential educational programs and groups who could use the garden. Ideas flew, ranging from art classes, weddings and school groups to cooking classes with herbs, native plants and environmental awareness.
Classes on composting, insects and hydroponics were also proposed, while the positive impact that a botanical garden could have on tourism was discussed. Besides insects, critters ranging from snakes and toads to birds and deer would make interesting educational topics, participants agreed.
Penny Herberger of Traverse City is a veteran gardener and attended the forum because she strongly believes that a botanical garden is needed in the region. Calling a garden medicine for the soul, Herberger sees limitless opportunities for the community. From her travels to botanical gardens in other cities, she said they can become artistic and community centers.
"What a wonderful place it would be to do botanical painting or hold bereavement groups or bring juvenile offenders to work with the plants," she said. "You could also have a picnic area or a tea room or walking paths."
Volunteer efforts will be key to the botanical garden's success, said Audrey Linder of Traverse City. Linder is president of the Trillium Garden Club and also a master gardener.
"I would like to be a volunteer in the botanical garden because I think gardening is ongoing, a project that never ends," she said. "The gardens could be used by special education children, it might be such a beauty for them and awaken something in them."
The participants also brainstormed possible obstacles that the board might encounter along the way to completing the project. Besides the usual worries about money, time, politics and expertise, participants were concerned that the project would need year-round programs and support to sustain itself. This might mean classes in winter gardens, covering topics such as using seed heads to feed birds in winter.
A botanical garden as an artistic center was an ongoing theme, as participants discussed a variety of art classes that would be appropriate as well as possibly having sculpture included on the grounds.
"We've talked about art in the garden before but it really started filling in some of the blanks as they talked," Schmidt said. "We are so ready to have a botanical garden here, this is such a strong community and a strong gardening community."