Join us for a docent-led visit at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory and Great Lakes Garden. Matthaei is a remarkable facility dedicated to sharing knowledge and promoting stewardship of nature. We will tour the Conservatory in small groups, providing an excellent opportunity to both see and hear everything. We will experience the facility’s three major climate zones – the tropical, temperate, and arid biomes – and achieve a better understanding of how the collections serve the sciences, the arts, and the wider public. The Matthaei Conservatory, commissioned by Alden B. Dow, was opened in 1964. Built in an era pre-dating computer models, the building is believed to be the largest free-span Conservatory of its kind. It is home to more than 1,000 different plant species from across the globe. The Great Lakes Garden represents unique and ecologically important plant communities of the Great Lakes Region, including alvar, dune, prairie, and woodland. The Great Lakes Garden features common as well as threatened plant species. A variety of research is conducted at Matthaei-Nichols sites, including the Botanical Gardens, Nichols Arboretum, and Horner Woods. Matthaei’s mission spans both the needs of the University and the enjoyment and education of the general public including K-12 youth. 
Please note: This is an in-person, off-site field trip. Enrollment is limited to 25 attendees.
The tour will be led by Matthaei-Nichols Professional Docent Staff. Driving and parking directions will be sent to registrants in advance. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 North Dixboro Road. (The fee for this tour includes an additional $5 for the program and parking.)