Experience the Diverse Outdoor Gardens

We welcome you to stroll through the diverse outdoor gardens at Matthaei Botanical Gardens - spaces filled with seasonal blooms, tranquil water features, and world-class plant collections that provide a unique escape into the natural wonders of the world.

Bonsai trees at the bonsai garden

AT MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

Melvyn C. Goldstein Bonsai Garden

Enjoy nationally and internationally ranked specimens of azaleas and pines of all sizes. 

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AT MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

Gaffield Children's Garden

Make aquatic friends, see a pollinator garden in action, make stories in an amphitheater, stroll rustic trails, and build creations with nature's elements in the Fairy and Troll Knoll.

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Entrance to Gaffield Children's Garden
Two people admiring the Great Lakes Garden

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Great Lakes Garden

Celebrate our region’s natural heritage and re-create many of the special habitats found here such as dune, limestone plain, and prairie. 

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Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden

The Herb Knot Garden reflects the diversity of cultures and traditions that have influenced our connection with plants and showcases various plants used for culinary, artistic, and healing purposes around the world.

Two people strolling in the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden
Flowers in front of the Labyrinth

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Labyrinth

Experience a novel and sublime moment in this one-of-a-kind reflection garden. Because of its secluded location, it’s the perfect site for visitors to have a calming and restorative experience.

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Kimberly Maged Perennial Garden

This garden showcases vibrant perennials that return every year, creating an ever-changing canvas of colors, shapes, and fragrances that celebrate the timeless allure of nature.

Two flowers in the perennial garden
A closeup of a plant in the rock garden

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Rock Garden

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Gateway Garden

This garden showcases the beautiful plant life of the Americas before it was colonized, making every visit a walk through history.

Entrance to the Gateway Garden