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Michigan State University Gardens

© Howard Deutch

This giant peacock, smothered in begonias, greets visitors to the Michigan State UniversityHorticultural Demonstration Gardens. It is but one of six public gardens operated by MSU. The Michigan 4-H Childrens Garden and the Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum are adjacent to it. With the peacock's tail spread over the ground rather than up in the air, I thought it looked more like a Grouse. Its topknot did it in. I guess Floral Peacock sounds better than Floral Grouse. It must be quite a project to replace each year. This past year I raised and planted almost 700 annuals. That number would have only made a dent in this bird. I think one of the reasons I enjoy gardens such as MSU's is the awe I feel in the presence of such horticultural profusion. My efforts are most puny in comparison.

The demonstration gardens are over seven acres in size and in addition to spring bulbs, flowering shrubs and perennials, contain over 30,000 annuals. The perennial garden is just inside the entrance, past the peacock. One of the beds had coneflowers, phlox, meadow phlox, globethistle and daylily. Most serious gardeners seem to do detailed planning before planting, even going so far as to consider balancing color. My method is more haphazard, general plans are dramatically modified in the implementation. I also get carried away when I have a trowel in hand, a flat of plants by my side and an empty space in sight.

The combinations of plants were quite varied, this group also contained Turk's cap lily. The beebalm dominated this section. . Some of my fellow editors have gardens that compare favorably with the likes of this. I am glad they have not seen mine. But I love it just the same.

These Horticultural Demonstration Gardens are in the Department of Horticulture of MSU. The university has been associated with gardening for some 140 years. The demonstration gardens are used for teaching as well as being available to the general public for viewing. There is much to view here.

Click on this miniature to be able to see a more reasonable size. There is a white Phlox in front of the Heliopsis. The daylily is 'Prairie Blue Eyes'.

The 4-H Children's Garden is near the front entrance. Its entrance is a kaleidoscope of color, from the paving and the gate to its continuation inside. A living alphabet is the series of plants with names starting with A and ending with Z. Click on it.

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