Flowers, gardens and restored landscapes are not only inviting in themselves, but great "natural ambassadors" to understand that how we use our land has significant impact on local ecosystems. Visit these enticing places and see:
- featured plants and points of interest
- beautiful gardens and landscapes appropriate for our climate and conditions
- ecologically sound horticulture in practice
- restored areas that may inspire you to engage with ecological restoration work
- natural areas that are part of our regional heritage
With so much to choose from, you may need more than one visit. The links below highlight each special place.
The Gateway Garden of New World Plants presents ornamental plants originally native to South, Central or North America
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The perennial garden demonstrates exuberant, color-coordinated waves of bloom from plants appropriate for our region
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Every culture has traditional herbal remedies. Our herb knot garden is a modern interpretation of a Tudor (16th century English) garden style featuring plants used in Asian, Native American and European cooking and healing traditions
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Deconstructed Landscape integrates environmental art and a challenging location to make an attractive deer- and drought-resistant garden using ornamental grasses
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Expand your definition of ground covers. Mass plantings of a few genera demonstrate alternatives to the often aggressive invasive exotics so commonly used in our region
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More than 100 native species of spring wildflowers, ferns and woody plants of the southern Great Lakes Region thrive here
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The Marie Azary Rock Garden presents a range of plants suitable for our calcareous (high pH) soils and water
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Double Helix is named for the intertwined path and hedge, but the garden demonstrates plants that look good year round, yet require few resources in a challenging site
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The Normal Memorial Grove is a natural gathering place near the west entrance to the Sue Reichert Discovery Trail
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Survey records from the early 1800s indicate that before settlement, an oak savanna, or grassland with scattered oaks, occupied this area
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At the East entrance to our trail system, Transitions deftly takes the visitor from the modernist building and formal garden areas to the floodplain woods and the trailhead pavilion
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The challenges of an awkward, difficult and simply ugly "utilitarian" site that can't be hidden need inspired design and thoughtful plant selection related to urban ecology to be transformed into restful spaces
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The island has a sense of sanctuary, even though it is near major public areas
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