Hidden Lake Gardens
Encyclopedia
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Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
and an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
operated by Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
situated in the Irish Hills
Irish Hills
The Irish Hills is an area of land located roughly in southeastern Jackson County and northwest Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its name comes from the Irish immigrants who settled there from 1830-1850...
of southeast Michigan
Southeast Michigan
Southeast Michigan, also called Southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan that is home to a majority of the state's businesses and industries as well as slightly over half of the state's population, most of whom are concentrated in Metro...
. The Gardens are known for their large collection of native and nonnative trees, shrubs and flowers. HLG was given to Michigan State University by Harry Fee in 1945. Today it is visited by nearly 45,000 people annually. Hidden Lake Gardens mission is to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the gardens and to display plants for the inspiration and education of the public.
History
Hidden Lake Gardens began with Harry Fee, an AdrianAdrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
businessman, purchased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of land surrounding the "Hidden Lake" upon his retirement in 1926. He began with the intent to farm, but after realizing the land was not suitable for agriculture, he began to grow nursery stock instead. Fee decided that he did not want to compete with local nurseries during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, so he began planting his trees and shrubs on the property. Fee sought to create picturesque landscape scenes, embellishing on the natural beauty of his property to create a “series of pictures.” In 1945, Harry Fee would donate Hidden Lake Gardens to Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and his generous Financial endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
continues to develop the gardens with additional land acquisitions, building construction, and educational programs and visitor services.
Arboretum
A large portion of Hidden Lake Gardens has been planted as an arboretumArboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
- a collection of trees and shrubs. Here visitors can view a wide variety of flowering crabapples, beeches, lindens, maples, oaks, lilacs and other trees and shrubs. A large collection of conifers is also included.
Harper Collection of Rare & Dwarf Conifers
This collection contains approximately 600 specimens of conifers. Selected cultivars of pinesPines
Pines may refer to:*Pine, coniferous trees of the genus Pinus, in the family Pinaceae*PINES or Public Information Network for Electronic Services- People with the surname :...
, firs, spruces, larches, hemlocks, false cypress, arborvitae and junipers are displayed in a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) garden setting. These rare conifers and slow growing cultivars are labeled so that they can be easily identified. Justin (Chub) Harper donated the collection to Hidden Lake Gardens in 1980 and Jack Wikle worked to establish the conifer collection at Hidden Lake Gardens.
Hosta Hillside
Situated along the shore of Hidden Lake, the hillside garden provides the perfect shaded setting for hostaHosta
Hosta is a genus of about 23–45 species of lily-like plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to northeast Asia. They have been placed in their own family, Hostaceae ; like many 'lilioid monocots', they were once classified in the Liliaceae...
. More than 700 cultivars are displayed here showing off the wide variety of foliage colors, textures, and sizes of hosta that are available. Other shade loving plants are intermingled with hosta along the cascading stream and pond. Daffodils provide an early spring display of flowers. In 1995 the garden was officially named and dedicated as the Ralph H. (Herb) and Dorothy Benedict Hosta Hillside.
Conservatory
The conservatory complex consists of more than 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) of gardens under glass. It inspires visitors year-round with its tropical dome, arid dome, and temperate house displaying plants of ornamental and economic value from all around the world. Palm trees, bananas, bird-of-paradise, cactus, succulents, orchids, gardenia, and hibiscus thrive here. The adjoining lathhouse provides a shaded outdoor environment for ferns, begonias, caladiums and other plants from late May into October.Bonsai Collection and Courtyard
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Bonsai
is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. Similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Chinese tradition of penjing from which the art originated, and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ...
on display in
the Midwest, the collection was created in honor of and tended to by acclaimed bonsai expert Jack Wikle.
The trees in the collection range from 40-100 years old, and many are native
Michigan tree species, including maple, larch and tamarack. Around 20 of the Bonsai in the collection are displayed in the courtyard each season from May - October. The bonsai in the garden, are displayed on benches, giving the visitor an eye-to-eye view.
The Elsie MacCready Memorial Bonsai Collection Endowment helps support the Bonsai collection.
Demonstration Garden
This area demonstrates how plants can be combined in attractive groupings. Annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, conifers, flowering trees and shrubs are displayed here. The new award winning All-America SelectionsAll-America Selections
The mission of All-America Selections is “to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.” To accomplish this, the All-America Selections organization oversees a collaborative testing program involving horticulture professionals...
of flowering annuals are also planted in this area. Summer and early autumn provide an abundance of blossoms but no matter what time of year, this garden offers something of interest in each season.
Hidden Lake & Pond
A large portion of Hidden Lake Gardens remains as undeveloped natural areas. An auto road and six miles (10 km) of marked hiking trails allow visitors to explore the property which consists of oak-hickory forests, open fields, glacial kettleholes, and wetland areas. Wildflowers abound in spring and autumn brings beautiful fall foliage colors. White-tail deer, wild turkey, many songbirds and other wildlife can be seen on the property.More than six miles (10 km) of marked hiking trails provide access to the woodland area, meadows, and the glacial kettlehole.