Finding the art in building gardens

Traverse City is what most people consider a small town and not only that, a small town in sparsely populated  Northern Michigan. However, arts and culture are part of our social fabric. This includes all art forms, be it visual, audio, getting top notch authors to visit our Opera House to discuss best selling books, entering the beautiful Interlochen campus to take in world class events of all different art forms. I could go on. Then, you include our surrounding rivers, lakes, forest and of course living on ‘the big lake’. It’s no wonder so many like to visit our area.

            There is another art form very special to this small town, we have a Botanic Garden. It started as an idea about 15 years ago and with community support the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park has blossomed. The early founders of the gardens realized the old State Hospital Grounds was a special place to build this garden, unique to just Traverse City. And, what a place to make it happen. Dr. Munson was an avid plant collector and many state champion trees were or are still on the hospital grounds. I found a State Champion Nordmann Fir on Red Drive while dropping my son off to daycare. It was most likely planted by Dr. Munson many decades ago.

So much dedication came from those who wanted the seed to grow. They canvased the community for support and the public responded, both small and big, keeping that seed growing. There were many steps taken to get to where the gardens are today. One of the best things the directors of the Botanic Garden did was seek out an executive director. One that had energy, a love of plants, whose knowledge of plants was worldly and who wanted an opportunity to build this Botanic Garden into something very special. They found that person in Matthew Ross. We have to appreciate the foresight in hiring this special person. When I visit the botanic gardens I am blown away at what has been created.

It takes vision to develop on a large scale and it’s not for how the gardens look tomorrow but how it looks after a decade or two of tomorrows. That’s how botanic gardens become a legacy enjoyed by generations to come.

We gardeners have much to be grateful for in the botanic garden board for their dedication, the countless volunteers helping to create this beautiful art form that keeps on growing and the community that made sure it happened.

I’m a fourth generation Traverse City native and I can’t think of a better place to live. The arts, the natural beauty and the dedication to keep our area a special place means so much to me.