By Staff
Spring Garden Bus Tour
May 3 and 4: Dow Gardens and Frederick Case Trillium Garden, Midland, Spring bulbs and flowering trees await us at Dow Gardens in Midland. Trails wind throughout the present 110-acre naturalistic gardens, past streams, waterfalls, ponds, and hidden nooks and crannies, begging exploration.
Also in Midland, we'll visit the John Pratt Mosaic House, an amazing home covered in hand-pieced mosaic designs. Then travel on to Saginaw and spend the night before heading to the gardens of "Mr. Trillium," Frederick W. Case, author of a 1997 book titled, Trilliums. Mr. Case's garden contains 38 varieties of trilliums, as well as rock gardens, rhododendrons, pools, bog gardens, and a greenhouse of all North American pitcher plants.
The weekend includes round trip motor coach, Saturday night lodging, and all admissions. Meals are on your own. Space is limited. Departs from Fernwood parking lot Saturday May 3 at 8 am and returns to Fernwood Sunday, May 4 by 6 pm. Members $200, Public $240. Registration is required by May 1.
Spring Plant Sale
May 9, 10 and 11: Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the gardens while doing your spring plant shopping at Fernwood's annual Spring Plant Sale. New plant introductions as well as many tried and true favorites will be offered. Several varieties propagated from Fernwood's own collections are also available at bargain prices. The Lake Michigan Chapter of the Azalea Society of America is back for a second season. This year the Society is adding a line of rhododendrons to their assortment of hardy azaleas specially selected for our region of the Midwest. Our sale is a great way to meet fellow gardeners, get expert gardening advice, and help support Fernwood's many fine programs. Remember, your Fernwood membership entitles you to 10 perccent off of your purchase. Not yet a member? Sign up on the spot to receive your membership discount! The sale is open during regular Fernwood visiting hours. Please note that this weekend is also Fernwood's annual Mother's Day celebration – the Festival of Blooms.
Festival of Blooms
May 10 and 11 Celebrate spring at Fernwood with food, children's activities, and live music! Saturday's festivities includes "Music on the Green" by Brent &Lisa Chilton 1-3 pm and John Tolhuizen 3-4:30 pm. Sunday's activities include the Second Sunday Concert at 4:00 with "Lake Effect Winds" and a special "Mother's Day" buffet 11 am-3:00 pm with musical performances by "Maeven" and Rebecca Barrows (reservations recommended, see details below). Both days feature a food tent (pulled pork on Saturday afternoon and shish-ka-bobs on Sunday), children's activities 1:00-5:00 pm, and a free plant for mom (while supplies last).
Special Mother's Day Buffet
Sunday, May 11: Show your Mom how special she is this Mother's Day. Bring her to Fernwood on Sunday, May 11 for an elegant and scrumptious buffet prepared just for her by Executive Chef Tim Carrigan. Fresh flowers and live piano music will accompany the menu of carved roast beef, chicken with basil-mushroom sauce, vegetable medley, herb-roasted red skin potatoes, tossed salad, pasta salad, and fresh fruit. But be sure to save room for a luscious sweet treat from the dessert station. Celtic women's group "Maeven" performs on harp, dulcimer, and guitar from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and pianist Rebecca Barrows performs from 1-3 p.m. Prices are $14.95 for adults, children 6-12 are $7.95, and children five and under are free. Please call ahead to reserve seating on the half hour beginning at 11 a.m. Last seating is at 2:30 p.m. Stay around until 4:00 for the Second Sunday Concert on the Green, where "Lake Effect Winds" will be performing. Add a plant from the spring plant sale and you are sure to be "Mom's favorite." Oh, and Dad's are welcome, too!
Knee-High Naturalists: Salamanders
Friday, May 2; 1:30-3:30 pm: Today we go on a salamander safari in the forest! Four- and five-year-olds explore the hidden world that awaits under fallen trees. Although we are searching for salamanders, other interesting creatures await discovery under logs. And before you go, make a cool salamander craft to take home. Please dress for walking the trails. Class size is limited; please call ahead. Members $8, Public $10
Nature Saplings: Spring Flowers
Sunday, May 4; 3:00-4:00 pm: Come and explore the colorful and sweet-smelling world of flowers! Enjoy an afternoon stroll as we take a close look at the many different colors and shapes of flowers that can be found at Fernwood. For children ages 21/2 to 31/2 years old accompanied by an adult. Please dress for walking the trails. Class size is limited; please call ahead. Members $4 for each child/adult pair; public $5 for each child/adult pair.
Photographing the Flowers of Fernwood
Saturday, May 17 (rain date Sunday, May 18); 10:00 am-5:00 pm: Nationally known photographer Danny Burk presents an informative workshop on flower photography. Learn how to choose good subjects, create attractive compositions, use a light meter properly, and much more. Please bring a tripod and camera (either digital or film) with interchangeable lenses or close-up settings and user-adjustable settings. Instruction is tailored to your individual level, whether beginner or advanced. Lunch is available in the Fernwood Cafe or bring your own for a picnic in the gardens. Class size is limited; please call ahead. Members $85, Public $100. Advance registration is required by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, May 14.
Hypertufa Tough Class
May 17 from 10 a.m. until noon: Once treasured and hard to find carved stone containers or 'alpine troughs' were a gardening sensation in the 1920s. The limited supplies of these containers were soon exhausted. English alpine enthusiasts, not to be without their beloved containers, developed a concrete-like mixture called Hypertufa. Hypertufa could easily be formed into durable stone-like planting containers. Hypertufa containers are well-suited to the climate of the Midwest because the container can withstand the freeze and thaw of Midwestern winters. Fernwood has offered workshops on making these troughs in the past and people have asked for more. Nancy Clifton, Horticulture Program Specialist at Chicago Botanic Garden, teaches this workshop on making hypertufa troughs on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. until noon. She also gives us ideas on how to plant them and shows some of her creations. There is a 24 to 36 hour delay from molding the trough to unmolding and weathering it, and Nancy shows us how to finish it at home. The price is $60 for members and $75 for non-members and includes all materials.
Niles Train Depot Garden History
Saturday, May 17; 1:00 pm: Do you know why Niles is called "The Garden City?" Beginning in 1891, the massive gardens at the historic Niles Train Depot, managed by skilled Master Gardener John Gipner, grew and supplied all of the flowers for lady passengers, the dining cars, and train station restaurants on the Michigan Central Railroad line between Detroit and Chicago. Elaine Metzger from the Four Flags Garden Club digs into the history of the gardens at the train station and explains the garden club's involvement in maintaining the gardens today. Don't miss this wonderful historical perspective. Members Free, public Free with Admission.
Window Box Challenge
Beautify your block: Enter the Fernwood window box challenge: Residents and businesses of cities such as Brooklyn, New York, and Salem, Massachusetts, have taken the challenge to beautify their homes and their blocks through window box competitions. Now Fernwood is offering residents and businesses of Niles and Buchanan to do the same. Registration is free-just give us a call or come out to Fernwood to be assigned an entry number and get in on the challenge. Resources will be available to help you in purchasing or making your window box, as well as information on plant design and maintenance. There are three categories: Business, Residential, and Youth. Criteria include Most Creative Window Box, Best Use of Color, Most Original Container, Best Theme (culinary, butterfly garden, etc.), and Best Overall Design. Judging will be August 1 and awards will be given in each category. Winners will be featured on our web site and in our newsletter. But the big reward is the challenge itself- beautifying your home or business and neighborhood, and being the envy of your neighbors. Registration deadline is June 1 so get in on the challenge today! Call Fernwood at 269-695-6491, or email us to register.
Fernwood will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6.