Fernwood Botanical Garden

 

We had a lovely day at  Fernwood Botanical Garden yesterday. In the past as we drove US31 to South Haven, Michigan, I would see a sign for this garden. With good weather arriving, we decided to make the 1 1/2 hour drive north to Niles, Michigan. We saw gorgeous poppies in the median of the highway, red, white, bright pink in big swaths of color.

Fernwood is not overly large but has a variety of natural settings: woodland trails, a pond, a dock overlooking the Saint Joseph River, vast expanses of lawn, a conservatory, a sensory and herb garden, streamside trail, tallgrass prairie allowed to naturalize, a miniature railroad display, nature center, nice cafe, gift shop, art gallery with changing exhibits, and a gardening library. I am sure the botanical displays change with the seasons. Interspersed among nature are several sculptures as well.

We spent about 3 hours there, including eating lunch. There was a picnic shelter available.

The visitor center

An unusual pinkish beech tree

Railroad display. The original display was destroyed in a fire last October and was rebuilt in April.

 

 

A small play area for children adjacent to the railroad exhibit had this elephant figure.

This was called a stick sculpture, a “shelter” woven out of vine-like twigs. There were several in a cluster.

Bridges crossed gurgling streams

 

A dock allowed one to step out over the Saint Joseph River

Yellow irises along the streambed

The lilac garden appeared to be past blooming.

There were several structures, perhaps housing for the Boydstons when they owned the property: a winter house, a summer house, a water wheel. Various ferns were “tested” around this house for desirability for gardens.

This stone structure served as a focal point for the cottage garden and herb garden

I was really impressed by the generous provision of seating (benches, chairs) throughout the gardens, trails, and even among the tall prairie grass. It would be a nice place to while away the day watching birds or reading a book. We saw a deer in the shady ravine not very skitterish so probably used to people.

 A narrow mowed path allowed one to walk out in the middle of the natural prairie. grass. There was a constant soft buzzing of insects.

An observation deck in the prairie allowed one to look for birds and insects. I could hear birdsong all around, but didn’t see any birds.

Flowers on the prairie grass.

Perhaps we will return in the fall. It made a nice day outing. We are not doing any big vacation trips this summer; mostly outings like this.