Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Lovely place to relax and take in nature. The conservatory is filled with all sorts of cactus and tropical plants. The plants needed watering, many of them were brown or dead. Outside there are gardens including a new one for bonsais’. The gardens can use more water features to make it feel more special currently there is only one.
There are three or more walking trails for exploring. The peace and quiet was deafening, I thoroughly enjoyed nature’s escape.
The gift shop sells unique naturistic stuff from cards, books, plants to jewelry and clothing.
Parking is available at $ 1.50 per hour. I highly recommend the botanical gardens.

Well, maybe not a fan of all the rattlesnake warnings. And how lucky we would be to see one they say!
I have been to bigger, more elaborate gardens, but for its size and the size of the community, this was very nice. The interior had many varieties of plants from around the world. Nestled among the large plant displays were ceramic art pieces. It was a nice touch, though a few were rather odd. There were formal gardens just outside the greenhouse area and a children’s garden too.
My favorite part was the bonsai garden, which also included some examples of penjing which are recreated natural landscape groupings rather than the traditional single tree. The exhibit included many examples of bonsai tradition that had taken very many decades to grow and train. Exhausting work for someone with a lot of patience. We also took a walk along the creek and ponds and found that it was a casual stroll, ever looking out for the possible rattlesnakes. Did not see a one! We did see a large turtle and heard a bullfrog or two. This is not the rigorous hike that the other UMich nature area, Nichols Arboretum is. Casual enough for all types. Later in the spring and summer I am sure there will be more in bloom outside and it should be very pretty in the fall.
There is lots of parking but you must pay to park. This is the only admission fee though.

Was a little disappointed that I paid for parking, then walked to the doors and they were locked. Knocked on the door and a rather strange girl came over and explained to me that there were signs posted all around with the hours posted (honestly didn’t see them). I feel as though the meters should not accept money after closing hours, but I guess that would be too honest for the Wolverines! Go Buckeyes! We did walk around the outside a bit, but not for long since it was chilly and all we saw was grassy areas.

A beautiful, sprawling botanical garden. The tropical & desert domes are a year-​round attraction full of interesting, exotic plants. The bonsai tree display and the Michigan swamp boardwalk are my personal favorites. There are beautiful, well-​kept hiking/​walking trails on the grounds that are easily accessible. There’s an area for kids which looks like fun, although I haven’t really explored it. I’ve always found something useful or interesting in their gift shop, too. It’s free to explore (donation recommended) so why not check it out?

Was quiet disappointed today when driving out to the gardens. Got there and there was no sign notifying guests or public about a wedding event. I park and put 3 dollars in the meter and walk to the front of the building and was notified that the garden was closed. Google said it was open until 8pm. Thought that was pretty shitty!

One of my favorite places in Ann Arbor. The indoor gardens with the tropical and desert varieties are balm to the soul during the cold Michigan winter.
All other seasons, I highly recommend the butterfly, herb, and native gardens encircling the information center. Really fantastic place to wander and explore. There’s a beautiful woodsy play area for kids including a mini amphitheater dug into a hillside.
The rocking chairs off to the side of the info center are perfect for sitting and visiting with folks.
There’s aren’t entrance fees only suggested donations. You’re only required to pay for parking. Some days the botanical gardens are open longer so be sure to check the schedule.

This is the perfect tropical getaway in the dead of winter. Beautiful flowers and a couple of koi fish ponds. The trails are great for exploring and running. Very kid friendly. There is a children’s area for kids to play. There are shows on certain weekends. Most recently, there was a Bonsai show going on and bonsai sale.
FYI: You have to pay for parking on Sunday.

Beautiful gardens. Peaceful and picturesque. Lots of play options in the kids area (August), and more trails and areas than we had time to discover. We packed a lunch and ate on the serene terrace. We will be back.

Sort of fan.
I like the Gardens, or perhaps it is more accurate to say I like the concept. I can’t walk with my dog here so that means I rarely visit. I am a volunteer for the burn crew — really cool burning up the prairie! My real gripe is the parking fee, even for volunteers. I drive 40 minutes, volunteer my time and am expected to also pay for parking. Why would you do this to volunteers, especially when you are in a rural setting with no other paid parking around. I know their stated reason re university parking policies in general, but why specifically, do this to volunteers.
So if there is a burn, I have to get a membership or pay the hourly parking rate.

My boyfriend and i met up with my parents and god parents here on sunday and had a wonderful time. We wandered through the botanical garden, which was nice and warm and still has plenty of green plants. Then walked some of the outdoor trails. While it was a bit chilly out, the sun was shining and there were still plenty of plants and animals to see along the trail. This is such a nice place to visit and just costs you a few bucks in parking and donations.

We didn’t get a chance to utilize the trails (maybe on a different visit!), but the actual botanical garden was very lovely. Parking is $ 5 for a day or $ 1.40 per hour. You could buy half-​hour times too. The garden part itself can easily be accomplished in a 2-​hour span. You may need to do a full day pass if you try all the trails, though. Anyway, we came here mid-​June and there were a decent amount of flowers bloomed. The reason why it hasn’t quite reached 5 stars is because there just aren’t as many flowers as I’d expect from a botanical gardens (I’ve been to a few others in the past and they have had more).
I’m looking forward to my return visit for the trails!

Indoors it was gorgeous, very educational and beautifully laid out. Outdoors left a bit to be desired. My kids liked the children’s garden and it was pretty cool. The perennial garden was very pretty as well. Other than that it left a little to be desired but worth a trip back for sure.

Try and use the very strange pay-​for-​parking machines in the dead of winter with your arms full of plants. People line up, older folks don’t know how to use the machines. It’s dreadful and ruins an otherwise lovely venue. I won’t go into my experience with the management here, because you would not believe what I wrote anyhow, given so many positive reviews. The place itself is fantastic, of course — but with the problems I have experienced it’s difficult to enjoy.
In response to Joe:
Hello Joe — I personally do NOT need help with the kiosks. Did you read my review? Other people seem to need help with them. I have had to stand in line behind 4 or 5 people, none of whom know how to use the machines. I try to help people when I can. The machines are very slow so people start to hit random buttons. I usually have my arms full of plants, so I have to walk into the auditorium, put them down, walk back outside to continue my wait.
I wish that if MBG needed money quite this badly, they had simply asked. I, for one, would have gladly joined as a member. As it currently stands, I weigh whether I’d rather go to our meeting or stay at home. What was once an enjoyable visit is no longer.

Why we don’t all visit the Matthaei Botanical Gardens every day, I do not know.
Well, I do know, it’s a little far. But as far as I can tell, that is its only drawback. Still, you can get there by car and mostly there by bus, and once you’re there–
Plants! Plants everywhere! Exotic flowers, broad leaves, bonsai trees, cacti, lily pads, orchids. Room after room (for three or four rooms…), you can walk among our planet’s most beautiful flora. You can touch it too, shh! I’ve come here with classes, I’ve come here on my own, I’ve come here for my birthday, I’ve come here with loved ones. And each time I’ve felt such a sense of peace. The gardens don’t get overly crowded, so there’s a quietness. And you can hear the birds outside or the rush of water in the indoor waterfall. You can have a haptic experience – running your fingers along a cactus.
And when you’re done inside, stroll outside. There is a long and meandering path through the woods, as well as some manicured gardens. There’s an eco house you can peer into. I once even saw a live and large turtle strolling around.
This is all free for UofM affiliates (just pay for parking, which is cheap).
Oh, and there’s a gift shop. And a chocolate tree. (The latter is not for sale, I’m afraid.)

Really nice garden. Cute random stuff in the kid’s part e.g. a turtle statue and I think some sort of chimes.
Saw the end of a wedding ceremony the last time I went. It looks like a beautiful venue.

I’m sure a lot of what I’m about to say has already been said.
Linda’s a doll. She was great to work with. Communication was on point, offered helpful advice without being pushy, and did everything I could have asked for.
It is a bit pricy when comparing to other venues– it was $ 1100 for my ceremony in September. I scheduled my wedding for 5pm so that I could have the greenhouse as backup in case of inclement weather. The weather was perfect, so I was married in the Gateway Garden.
The timing thing is a bit tricky– a lot of rushing to try to do everything in time constraint.
However, not having to pay for ceremony decorations was nice :)

On October 1, 2011 I had my wedding ceremony in the gateway garden with our reception in the auditorium. The day turned out to be perfect (no rain, a little cool, and lots of sunshine). The garden was a beautiful setting for our ceremony and everyone who has seen pictures has commented on how pretty the background is in all of the pictures.
We searched for over a year for an outdoor location for our ceremony, and kept being drawn back to Matthaei as the best choice. We went to the gardens in Oct of 2010 to see what the flowers would look like for our wedding and immediately fell in love. We contacted the gardens that week and made the reservation for our wedding day.
During the entire year leading up to our wedding the garden coordinator, Linda Neely, was extremely helpful and very patient with my million e-​mails and phone calls. The month leading up to the event she was even more helpful in talking me through details that weren’t thought of prior (we didn’t use a wedding planner). The day of the event the garden host was more than helpful and did a fantastic job of making sure we had everything we needed and made sure our wedding was a spectacular event.
I can’t say enough how happy I was with the location, the garden, the auditorium and the staff. They made my special day all the more special because I didn’t have to worry about anything once we had everything set up. I would highly recommend Matthaei for your event whether it’s a wedding, meeting, party, etc.

Very nice gardens and trails. I went a little early in the year, so few plants were blooming, but I thought it was pretty. I didn’t go inside, but the solar house they had was neat too.

I had a lovely walk along the trails, a picnic by the stream, and saw the turtles in Dix pond swimming oh so very awkwardly. It is a lovely place full of flowers, birds, turtles, and mosquitoes. I’d always wanted to come here when I lived in Ann Arbor, but the wait was worth it. It isn’t quite as perfect as the Arb for a picnic, but it comes close.

The inside:
Wonderful small conservatories: tropical, temperate, and desert climates. In the winter, you can feel your oxygen and moisture-​starved skin visibly relax in the soothing warmth and humidity *ahhh!* Any time of there year, there are plants, shrubs, and trees flowering, changing, sending up stalks, waxing or waning with water and season, it’s magical.
Aside from the conservatory, there are public bathrooms and a gift shop. Be sure to check to see what classes and seminars are being offered over the next few months — frequently they are very interesting (and not expensive!)
The outside:
5 miles of beautiful trails, very clearly marked — many running next to the creek which is extremely soothing. It can be boggy in the springtime, usually drying out around mid-​June. In mid-​April-​to-​May, there are thousands of daffodils and narcissus on the grounds, and on the trails are hundreds of white Trillium beneath the still-​bare oak trees.
Closer to the main building are the perennial, herb, and rose gardens… Ahhhh! Sometimes in late-​June you can smell the roses on the long-​drive onto the grounds.
I love that we have this resource available for whomever wants to visit.

The grapefruit tree is flowering right now! Going here in the winter makes me feel like I’m back out west or visiting the tropics. It’s a great place to become a member then just stop in for a quick winter pick me up.
Ahh, much needed warmth and humidity, not to mention luscious plants and flowers.
Also good for taking the kids when hubby is at the game and leaves us to keep busy. They just love seeing the bananas still on the tree. Walk the grounds outdoors when the weather is nice!

What is not to love about the Botanical Gardens?
The greenhouse is full of all kinds of plants, separated by climate zones. I LOVE the desert room. The themed displays they sometimes put together are always great.
The gardens are lovely. They are great to walk around either by oneself to contemplate, or with friends.
Likewise, the hiking trails are beautiful. I especially enjoy finding my way around when the creek is in flood.
I cannot recommend this place enough. If you are local, check it out.
(Side note: the wonderful MoonWink’s Café is just down the road. Check them out for pre or post-​visit coffee or bite to eat.)

Yet another awesome place to study in Ann Arbor. I know, you’re thinking, who the hell studies in a greenhouse? But when it’s cold and snowy and dry out and all I want is hot humid greeness, this is the place to go. The staff don’t care (and in fact encourage) students to use this space to study and they will even direct you to a nice study spot if it’s your first time here. My favorite places outside are the picnic area by pond and a couple of the benches in the gadens (read a bit, look up and see the flowers). The greenhouse is also quiet and condusive to studying most of the time (and it’s oh, so so so warm). If you need internet, there’s a library in the visitor’s center that has wi-​fi for those of us with umich access.

We would have visited the Botanical Garden in any case since my husband «loves his garden more than his children» according to our then 5 yr. old son apparently neglected during the landscaping of our raw tract house. But it so happened we arrived just before the big rush attending the opening of the Children’s Garden — a site obviously planned and grown with a lot of love. I just hope the living «toys» can hold up to enthusiastic playing. It made me wish I was sharing the charming areas with a 5 yr. old like the little girl digging at a dirt table equipped with kitchen utensils. Her parent continuously called to her to look at something new, and she acknowledged with, «I see that», and kept on digging. Just like me and Social Gourmet 18 years ago!