Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Regardless of the time of year you can enjoy the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.  There are 132 acres of natural wetlands, woodlands, meadows and display gardens for you to enjoy with the indoor tropical, arid, carnivorous, Victorian and seasonal gardens.  You will be able to enjoy the changing sculpture galleries with exhibits by some of the worlds greatest artists.  The outdoor area features the internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park, Children’s Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden, the amphitheater for those fabulous summer concert events and of course the wonderful nature trails and boardwalks.

This is a place you can visit and be carried into a world of nature, peace and tranquility.  With its blend of both art and nature you will be welcomed into a new world to enjoy.

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is pleased to be able to provide you with the opportunity to see works by such well-known artists as Rodin, Moore, Oldenberg, DiSuvero, and many others.  The Sculpture Park sits within a wide variety of natural settings connected by waterways, meandering paths and quiet walkways.  There are works of over 30 renowned sculptors to enjoy with approximately 80 sculptures added in time.

The Lena Meijer Children’s Garden is unique in many ways. It has a delightful assortment of child-friendly sculpture, gorgeous and clever plantings, engrossing interactive activities, helpful PALs (Play and Activity Leaders), and a real wetlands running through the middle.

Standing five stories high, the 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Conservatory is the largest glass conservatory in Michigan.  Here you will see plants such as bamboo, palms, and a large collection of elephant ears, acacias, huge travelers trees, and a coffee tree.  There are over 3,000 plants from all over the world shown in this area.

The Arid Garden is host to a large variety of plants specially adapted to survive in some of the driest environments in the world. The wonderfully variable plant collection is divided by a stone arch. On one side, plants of the arid Americas and Australia can be found. These include large Agaves with their sharply pointed and handsomely imprinted leaves, the fuzzy torch cactus and Golden Barrel Cactus to name a few. An Adobe-style display area features rare and unusual potted cacti and succulents from these regions.

As you pass beneath the stone archway, you enter an area featuring plants of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Here members of the Aloe and Euphorbia families dominate. The stately tree-like Aloe ferox, the fuzzy African felt bush and the Cow-Horn Euphorbia are just a few of the plants here. A 7-foot termite mound replica rises above beautiful rock work. Many unusual potted plants from this region are also included.

The Carnivorous Plant House is the only one of its kind in the United States because it is a public exhibit designed in one room dedicated exclusively to carnivorous plants.

Carnivorous plants have bewitched mankind for centuries. Their juices and fluids were used in ancient exorcism ceremonies, medieval medicines and magic potions, or mixed with hog’s lard and applied to wounds. The inspiration for terrifying legends, social clubs and delightful poetry, their savage behavior continues to enchant us all.

There are comfort stations and resting areas throughout the 132 acre site so don’t be concerned about having to hurry through, you can take your time and enjoy the beauty.

Michigan’s Farm Garden is reminiscent of a 1930′s family farm. The farmhouse, barn, gardens, sugar shack and animal pens are reminders of a bygone era when the land supplied the family with groceries and income, a time when every family member helped with chores.

Central to the Michigan’s Farm Garden is the 1880′s farmhouse. It is a three-quarters scale model of Lena (Rader) Meijer’s childhood home. The wrap-around porch has rocking chairs for visitors to reminisce and escape from the summer heat. The windmill was an important feature on the farm, supplying water and powering other machinery. Restored to its original glory, the windmill is from the Rader family farm.

The century-old barn was moved from it’s original site with the help of Amish craftsmen. Awarded “2005 Barn of the Year” by the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, the barn remains a symbol of a vanishing way of life.

The farm animals are shown by bronze sculptures.  You will see pigs, goats, sheep and horses.  There are also stump fences of bronze for you to enjoy.

Following 13 years of planning the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park opened in April of 1995.  The West Michigan Horticultural Society did the fundraising and planning for this beautiful park.

The park offers both self-guided and guided tours.  For groups of 10 or more they will provide a docent to go with the group.  Guided tours are $1 more in addition to the group adult admission rate per person, indoor tours offered by well trained docents, take approximately 45 minutes.  The narrated outdoor tour is on a tram and is an additional
$2 and lasts about 45 minutes.  The tram will tour the Sculpture Park, Michigan’s Farm Garden and the American Horse sculpture.  The tram runs March 1 – December 31, weather permitting.  It is best if, as a group, you call for reservations.  To book an adult tour call: 1-877-975-3171 weekdays from 9 am to 5pm.

Group Rates

Admission for Groups of 10 or more: $7 per person
Admission plus guided indoor tour: $8 per person
Admission plus outdoor tram tour: $9 per person
Admission plus guided indoor tour and outdoor tram tour: $10 per person

Upon arrival, please be prepared to make one payment for the entire group. You may pay with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

To obtain information about school tours you can call 616-974-5239 or contact Suzie Doten .

Rates

Children* (Groups of 10 or more):
2 and under are free
3-18 years: $3 each for tours; $5 each for programs
Teachers and Chaperons: $3 each

Tours are a one-hour, volunteer-led interactive experience.

Programs are exciting, two-hour, hands-on, curriculum-related activities in delightful learning environments.

Upon arrival, please be prepared to make one payment for the entire group. You may pay with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

Rates

Unless otherwise noted, prices include admission to all special exhibitions.

Adults (14 – 64): $12.00
Seniors (65 and older): $9.00
Students (w/ student ID): $9.00
Children (5 – 13): $6.00
Children (3 – 4): $4.00
Children (2 and younger): Free

Special group prices

Adult Groups
10 person minimum: $7.00
For questions and/or registration, call 616-977-7681.

School Groups (PK-12)
10 children minimum: $3.00 per child
Teacher and chaperons rates vary.
For questions and/or registration, call 616-974-5239.

Other Children’s Groups
Please call 616-974-5239.

Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 am-5 pm
Tuesday: 9 am-9 pm
Sunday: 11 am-5 pm

Tram Schedule

Tram Tours for the general public run from March through December, with no Tram Tours in January and February. Rates are $3 per adult and $1 per child (12 and under).
Schedules are posted daily at the Information Desk and the Tram Ticket Office.

Meijer Gardens is open 362 days a year.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Phone: 888-957-1580

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