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Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

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sightseeingsue
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4 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park

  • January 12, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Sandy Goes from Staten Island, New York
Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park

Lovely display of art and nature at this year-round botanic garden and sculpture park. The design promotes deconstruction of the barrier between art and nature. There are 30+ acres with an outdoor amphitheater presenting evening concerts all summer. Gardens designed to change with the seasons with changing sculptures and exhibitions.
A tram car guides you through the outdoor park for about 45 minutes for $2. The driver narrates. Indoor tours are also available guided by a knowledgeable volunteer docent.

The Tropical Conservatory is more than 5 stories high and the largest in Michigan. Tropical plants from five continents of the world, waterfalls and wonderful plants.
In March and April thousands of tropical butterflies are imported from Central America and fly free within the tropical forest making it the largest temporary tropical butterful exhibit in the nation.

The Sculpture Park is the most comprehensive collection of outdoor sculplture within the Midwest. It contains significant works of art by world-class artists among them Rodin, DiSuvero, Moore, Juan Munoz and Goldsworthy all displayed in natural settings connected by waterways, quiet walkways and paths.

There ae approximately 25 sculptures with space for up to 80 sculptures eventually. Discovering the sculptures in and through meadows and trees, valleys and hills from many different vantage points is charming.

The changing seasons are all recognized. An annual exhibit during Christmas time of Holiday Traditions Around the World features more than 300,000 lights, trees and displays from all of the world, outdoor horse-drawn carriage rides and entertainment.

Lovely bright cafeteria inside for a light lunch.

Provides for a relaxing day viewing the exhibits both indoors and outdoors as well as the plants, flowers and trees.

www.meijergardens.org

(888-957-1580)

From journal Journey to the Heartlands

Editor Pick

Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

  • October 28, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MaryJohnson from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

One of the greatest assets of Meijer Gardens is its consistent variability. Year after year, season after season, visit after visit, there is always something new.

Each year during March and April, the conservatory hosts "Butterflies are Blooming", the largest temporary butterfly exhibit in the US. www.foremostbutterflies.com More than 6,000 butterflies representing dozens of species from Asia and South America flutter freely indoors for nine weeks. Throughout the year, the Gardens host a number of plant shows such as the Bonsai Show, Orchid Show and Iris Show, as well as classes, lectures, and tours. Every year the summer concert series brings a fresh lineup of national headliner musical performances to the outdoor amphitheater. Christmas time brings 300,000 lights twinkling indoors and out as "Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World" showcases the decorations, music and food of more than 40 countries and cultures. New galleries and exhibits are constantly being introduced. Construction and expansion are familiar themes. You will want to periodically visit online to get the scoop on the latest happenings. One constant is assured, you will not be bored at Frederik Meijer Gardens.

This year was no exception, actually entirely unique as it ushered in a new dimension to the Gardens, the art of humor. On September 16, 2006 the outdoor sculpture park launched a brand new sculpture exhibit featuring Francesco Nicola Sansovino's "PALETTA GRANDE" which means "Big Scoop" or "Large Shovel" in Italian. A big scoop it was, measuring 12 foot by 12 foot with a 22 foot handle, the largest public scoop exhibit in Grand Rapids history. The curator/director of the sculpture program at Meijer Gardens said it best at the exhibit's media introduction. "Meijer Gardens is delighted to bring art into our community by presenting Francesco Nicola Sansovino in Grand Rapids, an exhibition that complements the history and significance of Leonardo Da Vinci's great horse 'Gran Cavallo' and expresses nature's call as we all can relate. We are pleased to work with Fondamento per la Scultura Naturale (Foundation for Natural Sculpture) to bring about this important piece of whimsical imagery. Sansovino's grand vision is now fulfilled, to see us smile at ourselves and find playful delight in the creativity of art in all its frolicsome forms, even mischievousness." Smile and laugh at ourselves we did, and Sansovino must have been giggling in his grave as well.

The exhibit featured its own web site for visitors to enjoy well after the curtain closed on this interim exhibit: http://palettagrande.blogspot.com

From journal Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Editor Pick

Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Coming to Grand Rapids wouldn’t be the same without stopping at one of its most favorite attractions the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. This magnificent charm was made possible by the generosity of Fred and Lena Meijer who donated all the funds, and their entire sculpture collection to get this project underway.

It is the second most-popular cultural destination in Michigan with 600,000 visitors annually, and is funded almost entirely by private donations. “Meijer Gardens” as we call it, has inside it’s 125-acres Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory, the nations most extensive carnivorous plant house, outdoor gardens, boardwalks and nature trails, the most comprehensive outdoor sculpture collection in the area, library, amphitheater, gift shop, classrooms and conference rooms, and a café. See why more than 3 million visitors have flocked to this place in the last 10 years.

This is a horticulturalist's heaven with its ever changing botanical exhibitions found here. The Conservatory is a 5-story, indoor, 15,000 feet² greenhouse filled with tropical plants found around the world; which include massive palms, exotic orchids, bamboo and banana trees which are displayed amongst ponds, fountains, and charming sculptures spotted everywhere. The temps are always in the 80ºs inside, making this a haven on those cold winter days. Other indoor gardens offer seasonal displays of beauty. You may visit during a bonsai exhibit or an English cottage themed tour but whenever you do you will always find an impressive array of nature to be discovered and experienced.

Go outside to experience the sculpture park which features over 170 different pieces from over 30 renowned sculptors, as well as abundant seasonal plantings which surround the winding paths of this section. Each season you will be surprised by all that is there to explore. With its wetlands and other variety of foliage seen everywhere you will understand why it’s also a bird lover’s paradise as well. The most famous sculpture in this collection is the Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse. At 24 feet tall it’s the largest bronze equine sculpture in the Western Hemisphere, and one of only two in the world.

During March and April the butterfly exhibit is the most popular, with over 6000 tropical butterflies let lose to flutter inside freely inside the conservatory. It's amazing to see them land on your hands, head or shoulder. This is one of my favorite exhibits.

Christmastime is magical at the gardens. Its display of over 40 international trees, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers singing, strolling the grounds, and the awesome vision of over 300,000 twinkling lights makes this a holiday treat. Newly added was the Polar Express Railway exhibit for us to experience.

From June through September an outdoor concert series is offered, showcasing some great entertainers at the gardens amphitheater. This is a great place to spend time outdoors amongst the beauty of the gardens, wonderful musicians, and friendly people.

Open daily from 9am to 5pm, Tuesdays 9am to 9pm. Adults are $12, students and seniors are $ 9, children are between $6 and $4, and children under the age of 2 are free. Guided tours are available and everywhere is handicapped accessible.

From journal Great- Grand Rapids My Hometown

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