Check out the bloom calendar.


This beautiful garden does hard work! Here at the head of School Girls' Glen the severe erosion is stabilized by a series of rain gardens integrated into a demonstration of New American Design by Oehme van Sweden, the originators of this movement. The path leads to the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center where the public is welcome. Click here to help plan your visit to the Arb.
The Nichols Arboretum Gateway Garden works every day, "24/7", to greet visitors to The Arb while controlling water erosion, holding the fragile banks and creating a beautiful setting for the James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center. The plants are a mixture of familiar garden favorites as modern carpet roses (Rosa) and sedums (Sedum) with less-commonly used natives as sedges (Carex) and blazing stars (Liatris). This is a site worth visiting throughout the year.
The Nichols Arboretum Gateway Garden is at the Nichols Arboretum site.
This garden was made possible through generous individual gifts, in-kind business support and University of Michigan funding. Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum needs private support and provides donors with many giving opportunities and recognition. For more details, please contact the Development Office at 1-734-615-9475.
back to displays & natural areas