Tennant Lake Interpretive Center and Fragrance Garden

This is my favorite place in Ferndale. I wish I had a green thumb so that I could enjoy such a treat for the senses in my own yard. I wish I could take my pug on a walk with me through the boardwalk, but I understand how pets could upset the balance in this serine environment.

This is our favorite Ferndale park. The boardwalk takes you into an environment that you seldom get a chance to experience. It’s nice and shady in the summer. The boardwalk frequently floods in the wet months. The fragrance garden is a treat for the senses! Don’t miss the dyke walk that connects to Hovander Park.

Tennant Lake Interpretive Center and Fragrance Garden is a unique and educational park. If you’re a sniffer like me, you’ll think the Fragrance Garden is like heaven on earth — smelling and touching over 200 plants in raised beds that are wheelchair accessible and have a unique Braille system that provides plant identification for the blind. I like the thoughtful and inclusive way that this park was developed.
There’s a 50 foot tower. Climb it, pretend you’re a pirate or pioneer. I read that for persons in wheelchairs there’s a setup so they can see the views from up top, too.
There are boardwalks connecting trails so you’re right there experiencing the park just above wetland levels. At the end of one of the boardwalks you’ll come upon acres of lily pads, I betcha more lily pads than you’ve EVER seen in one place in your entire life.
Fun park for birders.
Over 600 acres of wildlife and nature treasures for us to enjoy. Lots of parking, too. These trails are available at the park: Boardwalk Loop Trail, the Hovander Homestead Trail, River Dike Access Trail.
— NOTES —
Bikes and pets not allowed on all of the trails.
The Interpretive Center is open Fall, Spring and Summer, but hours vary according to season. Summer hours are Thursday — Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. The site is open 8:00 a.m. to dusk daily.
The boardwalk is open Mid January to early October. It is closed to all public access for part of October, all of November and December and part of January during waterfowl hunting season.