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Matthaei Botanical Gardens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Matthaei Botanical Gardens (300 acres, 121 hectares) are botanical gardens with a conservatory operated by the University of Michigan. They are located at 1800 North Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The grounds are open daily without charge while the conservatory requires an admission fee.
The gardens include outdoor display gardens, a 10,000+ square-foot conservatory, and natural areas with walking trails.
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The gardens and hardy collections consist of outdoor plantings as follows:
- Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden - modern version of a Tudor period garden, with hedges of yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Green Gem’), as well as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’), creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), and winter savory (Satureja montana).
- Deconstructed Landscape - a modern grass garden.
- Demonstration Prairie - a restored prairie, restoration beginning in 1967, on previously agrigultural land.
- Double Helix - an entryway.
- Gateway Garden of New World Plants - ornamental plants native to the Americas, including coreopsis, cosmos, marigolds, ornamental peppers, petunias, phlox, sunflowers, tropical salvias, and verbenas.
- Helen V. Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden - more than 100 native species of wildflowers, woody plants, and ferns of the southern Great Lakes Region.
- Marie Azary Rock Garden - a rock garden.
- Norman Memorial Garden - undergoing extensive renovation (as of 2005).
- Pathways & Vistas - an island garden with walkway.
- Perennial & Rose Garden - English perennial border and shrub roses.
- Sam Graham Trees - native trees and shrubs, including 60 elms resistant to Dutch elm disease, and bur, black, red and white oaks.
- Transitions - entryway to trails and wetlands
- Urban Pocket Garden - European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), eastern white pines (Pinus strobus), and Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus).
The 10,000+ square-foot conservatory was designed by architect Alden Dow, and completed in 1964. It is believed to be the largest university-operated display greenhouse in the United States. The conservatory contains three distinct areas, as follows.
- Tropical house - Collections include Ananas comosus, Annona muricata, bromeliads, Caryota mitis, Cocos nucifera, Coffea arabica, cycads (including a Dioon spinulosum given by Smith College in the 1920s), Heliconia vellerigera, Kigelia pinnata, Musa, orchids, Oryza sativa, Piper nigrum, Rhizophora mangle, and Theobroma cacao.
- Temperate house - representing the Mediterranean region and warm-temperate Asia. Collections include bonsai displays (more than 40 specimens) and an Oriental camellia display, as well as Camellia sinensis, Ceratonia siliqua, Cyperus papyrus, Ficus carica, Gossypium arboreum, Laurus nobilis, Olea europaea, Phoenix dactylifera, Phyllostachys nigra, and Quercus suber.
- Arid house - representing hot deserts of the world. Collections include cactus, succulents, euphorbia, and lithops, as well as Agave americana, Aloe marlothii, Bowiea volubilis, Cyphostemma juttae, and Euphorbia milii.
The natural areas include mature woodlands, wetlands, several ponds, and a constructed tall grass prairie, with four nature trails.
- Uplands - previously agricultural, now meadow and second growth oak forest. Meadow areas contain European plants (smooth brome, timothy-grass, Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), etc.), as well as native Michigan plant species, such as tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) and side-flowering aster (Aster lateriflorus). Forested areas are mainly second growth oak-hickory forest but also include red and white ash and basswood.
Wetlands - common tree species include silver maple, tamarack (Larix laricina), red and black ash, cottonwood, and black willow. Herbaceous plants include cattails (Typha spp.), sedges (Carex spp. ), swamp aster (Aster puniceous), marsh marigold, and Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum).
| The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |