Calendar
Michigan's Farm Garden 10th Anniversary
Sunday, May 12, 2013 from 1-4 pm
Many people are delighted to find a farm reminiscent of the 1930s era at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The idea for Michigan’s Farm Garden arose directly from the nostalgia Fred and Lena Meijer had for their respective childhoods in rural Michigan and their concern that audiences today and in the future might have limited knowledge of where the food they eat comes from. Indirectly the idea arose from the Long Range Planning Committee sessions in the late 1990s and early 2000s. We embraced the 1930s pre-war era as a moment in time when many Americans were still connected to a farm and were more connected to gardens and gardening as a way of life rather than as a pastime. On May 17, 2003, Michigan’s Farm Garden debuted as a place for families to experience heirloom vegetable gardens, orchards and farm animal sculptures within a 1930s-era farm setting. This combination of displaying farm animal sculptures within an appropriate farm setting is fitting for our organizational mission.
Join us to celebrate the horticultural heritage of Michigan as represented at Michigan’s Farm Garden. In anticipation of the 10th anniversary celebration, our horticulturists and horticulture volunteers have planted hundreds of heirloom bulbs for spectacular spring displays. Special spring flower plantings include pansies, primrose, sweet William and wallflowers. May is also a wonderful time to enjoy the old-fashioned fragrant lilacs at the farm. To commemorate the anniversary, we invite you to plant a seedling to take home.
Family-friendly farm activities during this special celebration include:- Climb aboard an authentic milk wagon and pretend to deliver milk the old-fashioned way.
- Participate in a milk taste test. Can you tell the difference between whole milk and skim? Cow’s milk, soy milk and goat’s milk? Try them all, and vote for your favorite.
- Pose your family as Grant Woods’ American Gothic,
complete with costumes and a pitchfork. Bring your camera to capture a unique family portrait.
- Challenge yourself and your family to a fun farm tool guessing game.
- Enjoy an interactive musical farm story time and
try your hand at playing the cowbell choir.
- Plant a seedling to take home.