Dear MBGNA Community,

Reflecting on an eventful year at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA), I am filled with gratitude and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Our mission – to act as a transformative force for social and ecological resilience – was put into action this year as we faced unprecedented challenges and unexpected victories.

One of this year’s most captivating moments has been the return of beavers to Matthaei after over a century. These industrious creatures, now back after a 200-year absence, symbolize the resilience inherent in our work and stand as living proof of our successful conservation efforts.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of our Great Lakes Gardens. The Native Plants Symposium, celebration, and other engagements elevated and highlighted our interdependence with the region’s unique biodiversity, as well as the Great Lakes Garden and MBGNA’s natural areas serving as immersive experiences in that interdependence’s complexity and wonder.

2023 also saw the renaming of our bonsai collection to the Melvyn C. Goldstein Bonsai Garden, thanks to Dr. Melvyn Goldstein’s generous contribution including his renowned azalea bonsai collection. MBGNA now boasts one of the finest bonsai collections in the region, free and accessible to all.

We also took significant strides towards sustainability, launching a composting initiative in collaboration with the UM Athletics Department and the Office of Sustainability. This partnership aims to reduce waste from football games while enhancing soil health, and furthering our commitment to being a sustainability-forward organization.

To top it off, alongside College of the Menominee Nation MBGNA was awarded the honor of serving as the Midwest Hub co-lead for the Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS). Launched and organized through a 5-year, $30M grant led by UMass-Amherst, CBIKS is a decentralized NSF Science and Technology Center that aims to effectively and ethically braid Western and Indigenous science research, education, and practice related to the urgent and interconnected challenges of climate change, cultural places, and food security. This follows a successful LSA Meet the Moment grant for $248,000 to restore wild rice (mnomen) to these lands with Tribal partners and UM faculty.

But not all elements of 2023 were as favorable for MBGNA. A severe storm in August led to significant damage to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens facility and greenhouses as well as the profound loss of over 150 mature trees in Nichols Arboretum. However, your incredible support soon turned a tragedy into triumph; with your generous donations to the “Heal the Arb” campaign, we are now poised to restore and rebuild, ensuring that the Arb continues to be a cherished immersion in the natural world for all.

Looking ahead to 2024, we’re excited to recognize the Gaffield Children’s Garden’s 15th anniversary and launch MBGNA’s year-long “Ways of Play” celebration. Focusing on nature play and the future of outdoor learning, Ways of Play aims to deepen the connection between families and our natural world, renew MBGNA’s commitment to nature play and outdoor education’s transformational roles in cognitive development and pro-earth behaviors, provide adventurous landscapes for childhood learning, and cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your patronage, commitment, and belief in our mission have made all of these achievements possible. We look forward to welcoming you back to MBGNA in the new year, filled with hope, resilience, and growth.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2024!

Warmly,

Anthony J. Kolenic
Director, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum