Blog | Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum

Viva la Nature Play

MBGNA knows open-ended nature play is recorded in children’s hearts and souls, in their memory and imaginations, to be recalled many times in their lives, to be transformed into creative impulse, scientific exploration, the ability to think broadly and widely, and to carry a desire to help the future of our Earth.

Summer 2022 Nature Play Pop-Ups at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

The Gaffield Children’s Garden at Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting weekly hands-on Nature Play Pop-ups for summer 2022.

Bugs with Beth: Mining bee

by Beth Weiler This week’s featured bug is a Mining bee (genus Andrena)! These bees get their name from their nesting habit, which is to “mine” and create their nests in bare ground. All bees in this genus are solitary ground-nesters. Female Mining bees excavate a...

“100 Years in Bloom” W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden Centennial Celebration

After over a year of planning, the W.E. Upjohn Centennial Celebration took place on June 5, 2022. The weather was perfect, and the peonies were ready to impress. MBGNA Director Tony Kolenic gave remarks on the garden’s impact and noted “When I’m in the...

Bugs with Beth: Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons

by Beth Weiler Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons This week’s featured insect is a familiar species with a bad reputation – the Eastern yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons. V. maculifrons is one of many species of yellowjackets in the...

What’s in a Name?

by Michaela Kotziers As you walk through the garden at Nichol’s Arboretum, you might notice that several varieties of peonies are named after women. For instance, there are peonies named after Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Spencer, and Alice Harding, to name a few. Some...

From Legacy to Catalyst: Innovation and Impact at the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden

The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2022 and with that comes a question that I am often asked: what do you do with a historic peony garden at a leading public research university? to be honest, it’s a question I truly love answering.

Peony Viruses: what we know and why it matters

by Drs. Nastassia Vlasava and David Michener Plant viruses 101 Just like humans, plants have a range of viral relationships and diseases. Plant viruses are ultra-small (less than 200 millimicron) RNA or DNA-based entities and they usually can survive only in their...

People behind the Peonies: Managing the Collection w/ Doug Conley, Carmen Leskoviansky

By Alyssa Abaloz Garden coordinator Doug Conley and collections and natural areas specialist Carmen Leskoviansky spoke about their work in the peony garden this spring, looking ahead to the 100 Years in Bloom celebration, as well as the next 100 years for the garden....

What’s in Bloom May 27, 2022

At Matthaei Botanical Gardens Siberian Iris Golden Ragwort Wild Columbine Prairie Rose Silverweed In Conservatory at Matthaei Botanical Gardens Butterfly Bush Bananas! Crown of Thorns Madagascar Periwinkle At Nichols Arboretum High Noon – tree peony, S.Gizzi...