Johnson Nature Center
October 9, 2023
We enjoyed a lovely trip in the Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Township with a guided walk through the trails learning about the flora and fauna in the gorgeous property. After a wonderful visit a group of us went out to lunch. It was a cool but beautiful fall day.
Thank you to Wojo’s for having us!
Our club visited Wojo’s Greenhouse in Ortonville, MI Monday, April 10th and learned all about their growing techniques and saw thousands of flowers blooming in their many greenhouses.
Wojo’s has automated so many thing – getting soil and plants into pots and soil, seeds and water into seed trays. Each hanging basket has a tube going into it so it’s watered automatically.
From their website: “In 1983, Wojo’s began as a roadside stand at the corner of Oakwood and Hadley Roads selling produce. Since then, we have continued to grow to what has become over 275,000 square feet of greenhouse space, acres of outdoor growing area, and a diverse selection of garden plants from annuals to perennials, trees and shrubs to veggies”.
After the field trip the ladies had a delicious lunch and wonderful fellowship at 15th Street Tavern in Clarkston.
Such a fun day!
Thank you Lindsay Pielack – Keep Growing Detroit – for such a meaningful and important message!
We were so fortunate to have Lindsay Pielack, Co-Director of Keep Growing Detroit speak to us on Monday, February 13, 2023 at our monthly meeting.
We learned so much about KGD’s mission to promote a food sovereign city where the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed by Detroiters are grown by residents within the city limits. Their vision is that there are places to grow food in every neighborhood in Detroit.
KGD also operates a 1.38 acre urban farm and teaching facility located in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market.
KGD just celebrated their 10 year anniversary and are proud to be part of Detroit’s food ecosystem.
We host a plant sale at the annual Franklin Labor Day Round Up. Members make a float, ride in the the Round Up parade and work the plant sale to raise funds for our scholarship fund.
Members donate plants from their gardens to sell at our plant sale at Round Up. All monies raised go to our scholarship fund for students at University of Michigan and/or Michigan State.
We visited MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center in April 2022. We learned so much about this huge and historic farm and all they do for the community.
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022: we learned so much from our wonderful guide!
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022: the historic grain silo
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022: we saw colorful eggs from their hens!
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022: their children’s garden
MSU Tollgate Farm 4/2022: we had a great turnout on a cool spring day!
Members gather at the Detroit RiverWalk on October 10, 2022 to hear the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy guide detail all the changes and development going on along the Detroit River! October 10, 2022
The beautiful Detroit RiverWalk right on the Detroit River. October 10, 2022
The trip included a tour of the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. We had a gorgeous fall day! October 10, 2022
We had a great turnout of members for this amazing field trip and enjoyed lunch out at Atwater Brewing together after!
We learned about all the stages and changes of the Detroit riverfront, RiverWalk and park throughout the years…such an incredible transformation! October 10, 2022
The Dequindre Cut Greenway is an urban recreational path that opened to the public in May of 2009. Well-known for its examples of urban artwork and graffiti, the greenway features a 20-foot-wide paved pathway, which includes separate lanes for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. October 10, 2022
The Cullen Family Carousel was specifically designed for the Detroit River Conservancy. In August of 2006, Briggs Design began designing and sculpting an all new custom carousel for the Riverfront Park along the Detroit River in Michigan for Fabricon Creations. Instead of traditional horses, the animals were all creatures indigenous to the Detroit River area including an egret, a snail, a loon, a frog, an eagle, a heron, a sturgeon as well as the mythical River Mermaid and River Monster. October 10, 2022
We loved seeing beautiful gardens along the RiverWalk and Detroit riverfront. October 10, 2022
Since before our founding in 1953 to the Time of COVID, we have always been adapting. While the pandemic interference has shifted our schedules and methods, our Club has continued, with appropriate protections, to tour sites and share our members’ gardens in small gatherings. We continue to adjust while maintaining our core purpose in supporting our communities in our relationships with nature. As we ponder both the fragility and resilience of our climate, flora and fauna … and human environments, it seems obvious we will continue to adapt.
Earthworks Urban Farm – We toured their gardens, an outgrowth of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s work in Detroit. It was inspired by “the belief that communities must restore our connection to the land as a source of food that sustains life.” We joined the regulars who gather for a hot meal and camaraderie at the Soup Kitchen. Memorable, indeed!
GARDEN Patterns & Elements – A garden is like an evolving painting with color, texture, perspective, and an element of surprise. One senses patterns in the evolving seasonal relationships interrelationships of elements of a garden. Pattern repetition and variations in pathways, water features, borders, and architectural elements are key to integration. Like a musical score, that repeats with slight variations … whether a classic monastic garden or the free-flow of wafting grasses and wildflowers, such as Belle Isle’s famous new Oudolf Gardens, good design delights.