Three Gardens In One

Michigan State University is one of the participants in the Michigan Garden Trials which affords those on the tour to spend a few hours strolling the three gardens that are located next to each other on the campus in East Lansing. The well kept gardens have a banquet facility which was hosting a wedding the day we toured. It was lovely, a great billowy tent whose high roof was lit with delicate white lights, musicians setting up in the glass greenhouse and the couples family gathering around the portable pergola a great spot for nuptials. Perennials, annuals and shrubs peaking in the August heat provided a stellar backdrop has we viewed the bridal party posing happily for the photographer.





Trial plants were displayed both in ground and container mostly in The Horticulture Demonstration Gardens which is a relatively new garden established in 1991. The W J Beal garden is the oldest continuous running university garden in the US first plantings were in 1873 and it houses some rare plant and shrub species. The 4 H Children's Garden is a lively variety of plants that educate, set imagination in motion and provide a sensory experience for young and old alike. Names like witch's broom, fur ball and cat eyes delight children while durable construction and a interactive maze are meant for kids to play in and get hands on dirty.



These gardens were a delightful surprise with well planned focal points, easy flow and a great variety of plant material. The single best use I have even seen of Alaskan Weeping Ceder is definitely the great background they provide for this pergola and seating area. The shrubs/trees are the healthiest forms I have seen in our climate, what great specimens these weepers make when used properly.


Several new varieties of petunias were displayed in unique ways such as the petunia tree, while not that fond of petunias I admit that some of the waves, velvet flower stripes and one particular cultivar called , The Blues really caught my attention. Petunias are really gaining in popularity and the new varieties have spurred the boom, they even make a fertilizer just for petunias now.



Spending half a day at these gardens is worthwhile. It would make a great side trip for Spartan fans attending early fall football games. The giant head amaryllis caught my attention with its rather suggestive shape and I spotted this goldfinch munching seed heads.

Flower Power

The Michigan Garden Plant Tour is in its seventh year, it is a coordinated open house of ornamental plant producers and Michigan State University. It is a terrific way to observe plant performance at different locations and evaluate plants grown in the ground and in containers. Each site showcases their specialties and new plant introductions. The tour runs for a two week period and we were able to visit two sites over the weekend.






These photos were a fraction of the varieties we viewed, it was super groovy. I have never been a huge fan of zinnias but some of the new bold reds and oranges are changing my mind. There must have been 20 different varieties of lobelia with delicate subtle differences in color and height. One particular coleus looked more like a venus fly trap than a coleus and there were plenty of begonias growing in full sun. These were the flowers from one stop, C. Raker and Sons in Litchfield, MI.