Meijer Gardens & Scupture Park

Our plans fell through on July Fourth. It was a beautiful day, mid 70s and low humidity. I had recently received two complimentary tickets to Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's a nice ride from my house, so we decided to make that our holiday.
We arrived early enough to avoid crowds; they didn't arrive until we were leaving in the afternoon.
Meijer Gardens is not just a garden tour but a real experience. Every area of garden and nature is represented -- perennials, annuals, herbs, arid, carnivorous, tropical and even a children's garden. The grounds includes 125 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and meadows, as well.
Besides all of this there is a 35-acre sculpture park, which can be viewed by walking or taking a tram tour.
Needless to say, I took so many pictures I hardly know where to begin. Come along with me on my visit to Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.


The walk from the parking lot to the conservatory is lined with pots of herbs. Of course, I just had to stop and look these over.




The entryway is open and airy and alive with color.


After passing through Admissions, we went straight to the Arid Garden. I have to admit that succulents and cactus have never been my passion, but the way these were displayed made it all so interesting. Bronze sculptures are everywhere, and placed in a very appealing way.



Waterfalls and fountains play an important roll in the gardens. Besides artistic value the sound of gentle cascading water offers a feeling of peace and contentment.



These bronze figures are called "Five Meerkats" by Tom Hillis, 1996. This is just one the many pieces that you can see that is appealing to both children and adults.



A few of the huge George Rickey Kinetic Sculptures that move gently with the wind. How do they do that?



Now we're ready for the Lena Meijer Children's Garden. What fun this is. Don't stay away if you're an adult. I'm sorry my camera didn't capture a better picture of this bear. The sun was in the way no matter where I stood.


A topiary of a horse and jockey.





This is one of my favorite parts of the children's' area, and judging by the look on some of the children's faces, it was theirs, too.
It's a big map of Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes. The young ones can float boats through all 5 lakes.





Embedded in the pavement at the base of Michigan are state lines showing all the states that touch the lakes, and here is the Grand River with a marker for Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan.

Meijer Gardens is non-profit and funded only by donations, gifts, and grants. It has a small staff and over 800 volunteers. It truly made me proud of the area I live in and also proud to be an American. What a great way to spend the Fourth of July!

(These are only a few of the pictures I took; I'm going to divide this into a few posts. I don't want to overload with pictures.)