Pre and Post Events
Several pre- and post-conference opportunities were arranged for the 2024 Master Gardener Conference experience.
Attendees had time to enjoy these activities before or after the Master Gardener Conference to further enhance horticultural passion, explore new locations and make the most of the trip to/from Interlochen.
Pine Hill Nursery Lunch and Learn
Pine Hill Nursery in Kewadin, Michigan, shared what they have done to be a more sustainable nursery, from marketing native plants, pollinator plants, shoreline restoration and food gardening to not selling invasive species, using earth-friendly packaging, IPM nursery management techniques, and personalized consult to help customers choose the best plants for their site. Pine Hill Nursery brings together the joy of plants, food and a peaceful setting that is sure to improve your mental well-being.
Location: 886 US-31, Kewadin, MI 49648
Otsego Conservation District Demonstration Gardens and Native Plant Nursery
Many Michigan residents are unaware of a hidden garden gem in Gaylord – The Otsego Conservation District Demo Gardens! The garden was developed to educate the public on the importance of gardens, most notably native plants for preserving water quality and supporting ecosystems. Several gardens make up the garden – a Michigan wildflower garden, a songbird garden, a youth seed to harvest garden, etc. Learn about all of the gardens and the connected native plant nursery.
Location: 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 4A, Gaylord, MI 49735
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Tour
Visit the Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, home to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Learn about the extensive sustainable features throughout the facilities and explore the universally accessible Looyenga Family Trail to learn how this new conservation hub shapes land protection and stewardship efforts in our communities. Go behind the scenes of the McMullen Family Conservation Center, the Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, the native plant greenhouse, and the goat barn.
Location: 2846 N Three Mile Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686
Cooking Class
A full-service dinner in Interlochen's beautiful garden pavilion and outdoor kitchen. The hands-on class featured local produce and proteins all sourced within the Grand Traverse region. Participants enjoyed a flavorful meal prepared fresh on the grill and outdoor bread oven, utilizing the freshest foods!
Beauty is Therapy: Tour at The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
The passion and dedication of volunteers have led to the development of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park with a mission of creating a living sanctuary. Over the past ten years, the 26-acre botanic garden has transformed from a blighted abandoned property into a thriving oasis for pollinators and plants. Executive Director, Matthew Ross and the docents of The Botanic Garden gave an in-depth tour including over a dozen feature gardens and the historic dairy barn. Attendees spent time exploring the Anishinabek Medicine Wheel and Foraging Meadow, gott a sneak peak of the development of an innovative Children’s Sensory Garden, and deepened plant knowledge with a brief presentation on the native plants of Northern Michigan.
Location: 1490 Red Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684
Lavender Hill Farm Tour
Established in 2003, Lavender Hill Farm is the largest commercial lavender farm in Michigan. The owners are committed to growing healthy varieties to supply the ever increasing demand for fresh and dried flowers, culinary lavender and a variety of sachets for home use. The farm is an earth friendly farm using no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Over 25 varieties are grown at Lavender Hill Farm, all of which are hand planted and harvested. The tour covered all aspects including planting, growing, harvesting and processing lavender. Attendees learned more about the farm's history, lavender uses and the many products that contain lavender.
Location: 7354 Horton Bay Rd. N, Boyne City, MI 49712
Learn More about Cherry and Apple Research at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center
This 137-acre center sits in the five-county northwestern region that produces almost half of the U.S. supply of tart cherries and is responsible for 83 percent of sweet cherry production in Michigan. Founded through the efforts of the northwestern Michigan area fruit industry, the center is the premier research site for integrated pest management, horticultural production and handling, value-added processing, marketing and farm financial management practices for sweet and tart cherries, wine grapes, apples, plums and hops. In addition to creating and expanding knowledge through leading-edge research on cherries and other fruits, the center disseminates state-of-the-art information to the Michigan fruit industry and the public. Nikki Rothwell led a walking tour of the grounds of the research facility, where attendees learned about new and ongoing projects in apples and cherries designed to benefit Michigan's Fruit Industry.
Location: 6686 S. Center Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684
Other locations that could be visited before or after Conference
There are several public and private gardens that are open to the public in Michigan. The Michigan Master Gardener Association has a list of Places to Visit highlighting several locations in each region of the state. The listing is broken down by region so depending on where you are traveling from, some of these might be along your route or worth a special detour.
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