FAQ about Meijer Gardens Outdoor Concerts

The first show is just around the corner. With tickets now available to everyone and 5 sold-out concerts (and counting), we tend to receive the most questions about what to expect at concerts around this time.

Will there be food, or more importantly, can we bring our own?
What does “lawn seating” really mean?
Does rain mean the concert is delayed?
When can I line up?!

We’ll do our best to answer your most frequently asked questions so you’re ready to go when concert day arrives! Get ready to take some notes.

BUYING TICKETS
Tickets are now available for members and the public. Various ways to purchase tickets:

1. Online at StarTickets.com
     + Find a link on MeijerGardens.org to BUY TICKETS through Startickets.com
     + Handling fee of $3.25 per order (not per ticket) and convenience fee of $5 per ticket*

2. By phone at 1-800-585-3737
     + Handling fee of $3.25 per order (not per ticket) and convenience fee of $5 per  ticket*

3. In-person at Meijer Gardens Admission Desk
+ During normal business hours to avoid handling and convenience fees

*Handling fees are subject to change

TICKET PRICES
Concert ticket prices can be found on our website or this previous blog post.

TICKET SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorships include two tickets to every concert, snacks and beverages and standard-height chairs reserved in the East and West Terraces. Contact 616-975-3177 or kkane@meijergardens.org if interested.

FOOD/COOLERS
Feel free to bring in your own picnic while enjoying a concert – that includes everything from cheese and crackers to Jimmy Johns. Keep in mind that glass containers are prohibited and unfortunately will thrown out before entering the grounds (example: no salsa in a glass container).

We have a variety of affordable and delicious food options at our Concession Stand to right of the front gates. From hotdogs to deli sandwiches and popsicles, there’s something to satisfy your hunger during the show.

Coolers are also allowed, but we ask that they aren’t the “large-sized beach coolers” as courtesy to other concert-goers since they take up valuable space and cannot be used as seats.

DRINK
Factory sealed bottles of water, pop and other beverages are permitted, but glass containers will not be allowed through the gates.  Alcoholic beverages cannot to be brought on the premise. Wine and beer will be available for purchase at our Concession Stand and tents located within the Amphitheater.

CHAIRS/BLANKETS
All seating is general admission lawn seating. This means it’s first-come, first serve basis with concerts enjoyed on a beautifully manicured grass hill.

Any low-back chair measuring 12″ or less from the ground to the front of the seat bottom and 31″ to the top of the chair back in its highest position will be allowed. Blankets can be used for seating, but please be courteous of other guests by not saving larger-than-needed amounts of grass.

If you’re in need of a chair, consider:

• Purchasing a low-rise chair at the Meijer Gardens’ gift shop or amphitheater. We offer a high-quality “GCI Wilderness Recliner” with our logo.
• Rent a standard-height plastic venue chair for $5 (quantities limited). Pay at the box office, then bring this chair to one of the rented chairs’ designated seating areas.

Note: Several popular chairs measure 31.5″ from the ground to top of chair back (some “Tommy Bahama” chairs and other brands). These will be allowed, but as long as the chair back measures less than 32″ to the top and 12″ in front of seat bottom. Any chair more than 32″ will not be allowed.

WEATHER/RAIN POLICY
Rain or shine! Bring your ponchos and/or smaller umbrellas if there’s a high probability of rain. Please be courteous to your neighbors by not blocking their views with large or golf umbrellas.

Our weather policy is – if there is either a watch or warning (tornado or lightning storm) for our area, the concert will be canceled. If a concert is underway and a lightning storm or tornado situation arises during the concert, the concert will need to end, and there will be no refunds.

The decision to continue a concert after adverse weather passes will be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on consultation with appropriate weather experts. Concerts are rain or shine unless there is severe weather as previously stated.

ACCESSIBILITY
We are an accessible facility and proudly comply with ADA regulations. Guests with medical or mobility issues may request special consideration for seating by visiting the box office window.

If seating in low chairs will be a mobility issue, we have standard-height white plastic chairs for rent ($5) while quantities last. Pay at the box office, pick up the chair by the merchandise tent and bring the chair to one of the designated seating areas.

LINING UP/GATES OPEN
Guests may line up outside the gates as early as they please. Placing of an empty chair or “place holder” will not be allowed – guests must be physically present to reserve their spots in line.

Refer to your ticket for information about when gates open– times vary.

Have questions that weren’t answered? Comment below and we’ll help get those solved for you.

How to Buy 2013 Summer Concert Tickets

Are you as excited as we are about the 2013 lineup?! From country to jazz to bluegrass to classic rock ‘n roll, this series runs the gamut on musical selection. Many of you have questions about how to purchase tickets to some of these shows. Here’s the where and how of our most FAQ about purchasing concert tickets.

Members-Only Presale – APRIL 27 at 9 AM
Members may buy tickets during the exclusive members-only presale beginning at 9 a.m., April 27 through 5 p.m., May 10. Members save $5 per ticket purchased during the presale. Tickets will be available through the following ways:

1. Online at Startickets.com -> CLICK HERE FOR WHOLE LINEUP on StarTickets
          – Handling fees of $8 per order (not per ticket)

2. By phone through StarTickets at 1-800-585-3737
          – Handling fees of $8 per order (not per ticket)

3. In-person at Meijer Gardens Admission Desk
          – During normal business hours to avoid a handling fee

4. Join us on April 27 for a unique buying experience
          – Meijer Gardens’ Grand Room will open at 7 a.m. for members who would like to begin lining up to buy tickets at 9 a.m. Visitors can eat breakfast in Taste of the Gardens Café or purchase coffee and a quick bite to eat while waiting in line. The Gift Shop will also be open, selling low-rise concert chairs with the Meijer Gardens logo.

To join or renew your membership before April 27, visit our membership page.

Public Ticket Sale – MAY 11 at 9 AM
Sales to the public begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Members save $2 per ticket purchased at this time.

1. Online at StarTickets.com
         - Handling fee of $3.50 per order (not per ticket) and convenience fee of $5.25 per ticket

2. By phone at 1-800-585-3737
          – Handling fee of $3.50 per order (not per ticket) and convenience fee of $5.25 per ticket

3. In-person at Meijer Gardens Admission Desk
          – During normal business hours to avoid handling and convenience fees

Number Allotment
There is no limit on the number of tickets an individual can purchase during the presale and public ticket purchasing periods. Please be aware that we will investigate if we believe a person to be purchasing large quantities of tickets for the purpose of scalping.

Season Ticket Sponsorships
Season ticket sponsorships are available again this year. Sponsorships include two tickets to every concert, snacks and beverages and standard-height chairs reserved in the East and West Terraces. Those interested in sponsorship may contact Katherine Kane at 616-975-3177 or kkane@meijergardens.org.

Concert ticket prices can be found on our website or this previous post. For additional questions about the concert series, stay tuned for a FAQ concert blog post that will cover questions about chairs, weather, parking and everything in-between. Head to our FAQ page on the website for the time being.

What concert(s) are you looking forward to seeing? 

“All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun” this Summer at Meijer Gardens

We know all you “wanna do is have some fun” this summer during the 11th season of the Meijer Gardens Outdoor Summer Concert Series. That’s why there are 30 concerts that take us into September—making this the largest ever series to date! From legends like The Beach Boys, Sheryl Crow and B.B. King to new favorites like Owl City and Grizzly Bear, this series is full of surprises and music for every taste.

We created a Spotify playlist of all the artists’ top hits – so tune in while you scroll through the 2013 lineup!

B.B. King—Monday, June 3 at 7PM
$57 Presale | $60 Member | $62 Public
For decades, there has been only one King of the blues— affectionately known as B.B. King. He has released over 50 albums, many of them considered blues classics, like 1965′s definitive live blues album “Live at The Regal,” and 1976′s collaboration with Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Together for the First Time.”
B.B. King Facebook

Dwight Yoakam on July 7 has been CANCELLED due to the artist’s filming schedule. We apologize for this change in schedule. 

Dwight Yoakam—Friday, June 7 at 7PM 
$48 Presale | $51 Member | $53 Public
Celebrated as a pioneer in country music, Dwight Yoakam has recorded more than 21 albums and charted more than 30 hit singles, including: “Honky Tonk Man,” “Please Please Baby,” “Little Ways,” and “I Sang Dixie.”
@DwightYoakam
Dwight Yoakam Facebook

Smokey Robinson—Sunday, June 9 at 7PM
$77 Presale | $80 Member | $82 Public
His legendary singing, songwriting and producing skills have spanned over the course of four decades and earned him inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, as well as a Grammy Award.
@smokey_robinson
Smokey Robinson Facebook

Gov’t Mule—Thursday, June 13 at 6:30PM
$35 Presale | $38 Member | $40 Public
Formed in 1994, Gov’t Mule is a Southern rock jam band created as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody and has produced eight critically acclaimed records.
@govtmuleband
Gov’t Mule Facebook

Sheryl Crow—Sunday, June 16 at 7PM
$75 Presale | $78 Member | $80 Public
Superstar singer and songwriter, Sheryl Crow is a nine-time Grammy winning performer. She’s best known for her hits: “If It Makes You Happy,” “A Change Would Do you Good,” “Soak Up the Sun” and “Picture” with Kid Rock.
@sherylcrow
Sheryl Crow Facebook

 

Frampton’s Guitar Circus featuring Peter Frampton along with Robert Cray—Monday, June 17 at 6:30PM
$68 Presale | $71 Member | $73 Public
British rock musician, Peter Frampton is a Grammy-winning guitarist, singer, producer and songwriter who is best known for classic rock staples such as, “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do you Feel Like We Do.”
@peterframpton
Peter Frampton Facebook

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis—Thursday, June 20 at 7PM
$65 Presale | $68 Member | $70 Public
Wynton Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer and educator. He became the first artist ever to win Grammy Awards for both jazz and classical records and repeated the distinction again the following year.
@wyntonmarsalis
Wynton Marsalis Facebook & Jazz Facebook

Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys with special guest Alejandro Escovedo—Friday, June 21 at 6PM
$53 Presale | $56 Member | $58 Public
Los Lobos experiments with sounds from their Mexican heritage using rock, blues, jazz, which lead to three Grammy awards. Debuting in 2003, Grammy award winner Los Lonely Boys earned fans with their fusion of electric blues and rock and roll. Alejandro Escovedo has grown his eclectic solo career with musical tastes ranging from Americana to roots rock, with his 11^th album, Big Station, released in 2012.
@LosLobosBand & @LosLonelyBoys & @alescovedo
Los Lobos Facebook & Los Lonely Boys Facebook & Alejandro Escovedo FB

Pink Martini—Monday, June 24 at 7PM
$45 Presale | $48 Member | $50 Public
This 12-piece band draws inspiration from all genres of music—mixing classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop to create a sound that is entirely their own.The group has sold over 2 million albums worldwide and released their latest CD, Splendor in the Grass, in 2009.
@PinkMartiniBand
Pink Martini Facebook

Brandi Carlile wsg The Lone Bellow—Thursday, June 27 at 7PM
$40 Presale | $42 Member | $45 Public
A songwriter whose music splits the difference between pop/rock and folksy American, Brandi Carlile is known for her 2007 song, “The Story.” Carlile was named by Rolling Stone as one of “10 Artists to Watch in 2005” and three songs from her album were featured on ABC’s hit drama Grey’s Anatomy.
@brandicarlile
Brandi Carlile Facebook

Umphrey’s McGee—Wednesday, July 3 at 7PM
$35 Presale | $38 Member | $40 Public
Thirteen years and counting, Umphrey’s McGee built their reputation based on marathon concerts that mix original, technically demanding tunes with complex epics and playful covers. Their newest studio album, Death By Stereo, is the follow up to 2009′s Mantis.
@Umphreysmcgee
Umphrey’s McGee Facebook

Montgomery Gentry—Friday, July 5 at 7PM
$62 Presale | $65 Member | $67 Public
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, who’ve produced more than twenty chart singles including the number one hits: “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something to Be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” and “Roll with Me.”
@mgunderground
Montgomery Gentry Facebook

David Byrne & St. Vincent—Sunday, July 7 at 7PM
$60 Presale | $63 Member | $65 Public
David Byrne was a founding member of the Talking Heads and has received Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe awards. Touring with Annie Erin Clark, known as St. Vincent, is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Together, St. Vincent and David Byrne released a collaborative album titled Love This Giant.
@st_vincent
David Byrne & St. Vincent Facebook

Old Crow Medicine Show—Thursday, July 11 at 7PM
$37 Presale | $40 Member | $42 Public
Labeled as bluegrass and folk-country, their hit single, “Wagon Wheel,” was co-authored with Bob Dylan and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Released in 2012, their newest album Carry Me Back crafts classic American roots music.
@crowmedicine
Old Crow Medicine Show Facebook

Michael Franti & Spearhead—Monday, July 15 at 7PM
$38 Presale | $41 Member | $43 Public
Michael Franti & Spearhead blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk and rock. They’re best known for hits like, “Say Hey (I Love You),” “Hey Hey Hey,” and “Sound of Sunshine.”
@michaelfranti
Michael Franti Facebook

Harry Connick, Jr.—Wednesday, July 17 at 7PM
$87 Presale | $90 Member | $92 Public
With three Grammy awards, two Emmys, and more than 28 million albums sold, Harry Connick, Jr. has made a lasting impression on the entertainment industry over the last three decades. His musical foundation started at the age of five in New Orleans when we began performing as a pianist and vocalist.
@HarryConnickJr
Harry Connick, Jr. Facebook

Steve Miller Band—Thursday, July 18 at 7PM
$80 Presale | $83 Member | $85 Public
Producing number one hits like “The Joker,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Rock’N Me” and “Abracadabra,” the Steve Miller Band is considered a classic rock legend. Since forming in sunny California in 1968, the band has released more than 18 studio albums, three live albums, seven compilation albums and numerous singles.
@SMBofficial
Steve Miller Band Facebook

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals—Sunday, July 21 at 6:30PM
$37 Presale | $40 Member | $42 Public
A rock band with six albums under its belt, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are like a modern-day version of Tina Turner fronting the Rolling Stones. Their latest album, The Lion, The Beast, The Beat was released last summer.
@GracePotter
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals Facebook

Chris Isaak—Thursday, July 25 at 7PM
$55 Presale | $58 Member | $60 Public
Chris Isaak has been nominated for two Grammy awards, released nine albums, 12 singles and acted in several films and TV shows. Featured in David Lynch’s film Wild at Heart, “Wicked Game,” catapulted Isaak’s fame and reached number six on the Billboard pop charts in 1991.
@chrisisaak
Chris Isaak Facebook 

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell—Monday, July 29 at 7PM
$71 Presale | $74 Member | $76 Public
Steve Martin is currently in the fifth decade of an accomplished career  as a comedian, actor, author and playwright, and a Grammy-winning bluegrass banjoist. Edie Brickell initially burst onto the music scene fronting The New Bohemians. Together, their rootsy compositions are a combination of Martin’s inventive five-string banjo work with Brickell’s distinctive vocals.
@stevemartintogo & @ediebrickell & @SteepCanyon
Steve Martin Facebook & Edie Brickell Facebook & Steep Canyon Rangers Facebook

The Beach Boys—Thursday, August 1 at 7PM
$60 Presale | $63 Member | $65 Public
Debuting more than 50 years ago, The Beach Boys are one of the most iconic American rock ‘n roll bands of all time with hits like, “Surfin’,” Good Vibrations,” and “Kokomo.” Their accolades range from being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honored at the Grammy Awards to receiving The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.
@thebeachboys
The Beach Boys Facebook

John Butler Trio—Friday, August 2 at 7PM
$35 Presale | $38 Member | $40 Public
John Butler, Byron Luiters and Nicky Bomba compose the Australian jam band, John Butler Trio. Their albums have all topped Australia’s charts, but April Uprising released in 2010, was deemed the most popular with two hits, “One Way Road” and “Close to You,” appearing in the Top 40.
@JohnButlerTrio
John Butler Trio Facebook

Grizzly Bear—Saturday, August 3 at 7PM
$40 Presale | $43 Member | $45 Public
Formed in 2002, this New York-based quartet consists of Chris Bear, Ed Droste, Daniel Rossen and Chris Taylor. Their music includes a mixture of folk rock, four-part harmonies and folksy guitars with experimental flourishes.Their recent release, Shields, is the fourth album for the group.
@GrizzlyBear
Grizzly Bear Facebook

Garrison Keillor’s A Prarie Home Companion Radio Romance Tour 2013 wsg Sara Watkins—Monday, August 5 at 7PM
$67 Presale | $70 Member | $72 Public
A Prairie Home Companion‘s Radio Romance Tour 2013 stars host Garrison Keillor, singer and fiddler Sara Watkins, comedian Fred Newman, Rich Dworsky and The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band with guitarist Pat Donohue and violinist/mandolinist Richard Kriehn. It includes two hours of duet singing, absurd improv with sound effects, Guy Noir Private Eye, poetry, outright foolishness, and the News from Lake Wobegon.
@NotQuiteKeillor & @Prairie_Home
Garrison Keillor Facebook & A Prairie Home Companion Facebook

Randy Newman—Thursday, August 8 at 7PM
$45 Presale | $48 Member | $50 Public
Randy Newman has long been one of the most musically and lyrically ambitious singer-songwriters ever to be at play in the fields of popular music. Newman earned an Emmy and several more Grammys for work on films like Toy Story, James and the Giant Peach and A Bug’s Life.
@RandyNewman
Randy Newman Facebook

Owl City—Sunday, August 11 at 7PM
$35 Presale | $38 Member | $40 Public
Founder and creator, Adam Young presented Owl City to the world in 2007 via MySpace. This newly introduced electronica music project began in Young’s parent’s basement and erupted with the quadruple-platinum hit “Fireflies” and “Good Time” collaborated with Carly Rae Jepsen.
@OwlCity
Owl City Facebook

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Thursday, August 15 at 7PM
$38 Presale | $41 Member | $43 Public
Largely responsible for the mid-’90s revival of swing, the energetic nine-piece band is renowned for their impeccable performances and ’40s-era zoot suits and their big singles include, “You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby),” “Go Daddy-O,” and “You and “Mr. Pinstripe Suit.”
@BBVD
BBVD Facebook

Michael McDonald—Wednesday, August 21 at 7PM
$52 Presale | $55 Member | $57 Public
This former Doobie Brother and five-time Grammy winner is known for his soulful baritone singing style. McDonald has one of the most effortless and powerful voices in modern soul/rock. “Aint No Mountain High Enough,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and “I Keep Forgettin’” are just a few of his many successes.
@Mike___McDonald
Michael McDonal Facebook

Lyle Lovett and his Large Band—Saturday, August 24 at 7PM
$62 Presale | $65 Member | $67 Public
Lovett’s Grammy award-winning music is beyond country and his diverse collection of songs mixes gospel, blues, confessional rock, swing and Americana to weave stories with a rare literary talent. Lovett’s well known songs over the decades include, “If I Had A Boat,” “If I Were the Man You Wanted,” “Family Reserve” and “Her First Mistake.”
@LyleLovett
Lyle Lovett Facebook

Indigo Girls—Thursday, September 5 at 7PM
$45 Presale | $48 Member | $50 Public
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers began performing together in high school and introduced themselves as the Indigo Girls while in college. This rock-folk duo took off with the 1989 release of their self-titled album, which included the first hit, “Closer To Fine,” and went on to win Best Contemporary Folk Recording at the 1990 Grammys.
@Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls Facebook

TICKETS
Members may buy tickets during an exclusive members-only presale Saturday, April 27 at 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. May 10. Tickets are open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Become a member before April 27 to be a part of the ticket presale.

Learn more about the 2013 Outdoor Summer Concert Series and lineup on our website. Stay tuned for a blog post on the various ways to purchase tickets and FAQs about concerts.

Spring weather is coming… is your garden ready?

By Julie Francke, Curator of Horticulture Education
PART III OF A THREE PART SERIES

The last week of the Spring Gardening Mini-Series concludes on April 11!

Courtesy photo from Ginny Pearce.

If you have a shady garden, but find yourself envying your neighbor’s sunny flower beds, be sure to join us on Thursday, April 11 for “Gardening in the Shade” from 1–2:15 p.m. during the last leg of the Spring Gardening Mini-Series.

Ginny Pearce will inspire you with ways to create a beautiful shady sanctuary that is cool and inviting during a mid-summer day. She will introduce you to a wide variety of plants that thrive underneath the canopy of trees—from plants that provide colorful foliage such as European ginger, Japanese forest grass, variegated Solomon’s seal, and hostas to those that offer splashes of color—such as astilbe, anemone and hardy geraniums.

Gardening in the shade can present a unique set of challenges—competition from tree roots and varying levels of shade determine what will thrive. According to Ginny, the key is to match a plant’s growing preferences to your garden’s natural conditions. Garden smarter—not harder.

Taken from Google

During “Rhododendrons and More” from 2:30–3:45 p.m., Jeri Kiel will dispel the myth that rhododendrons are difficult to grow in West Michigan. According to Jeri, if you purchase hardy varieties and pay attention to their physical requirements, “you’re golden.” She also suggests keeping the motto “buy local” in mind when selecting rhododendrons. Plants produced by local nurseries have been carefully chosen to thrive in our climate and are already fully acclimated to our conditions. Why waste your time and money on plants that won’t succeed?

Jeri will also introduce you to the rhododendrons’ gorgeous relatives—azaleas, mountain-laurels and even decorative varieties of blueberries. They’re beautiful and easier to grow than you might think.

Taken from Google

Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension Educator said, “Pruning can be one of the most perplexing rituals for the spring gardener because pruning requirements vary with each species.”

In “Pruning Trees and Shrubs” from 4–5:15 p.m., Rebecca will take the confusion out of pruning and discuss the best timing, tools, and techniques.

Simply noting when a shrub blooms can reveal when it should be pruned. Shrubs that flower in the spring, such as forsythia and lilac, should be pruned after they bloom. Those that bloom in the summer, such as rose-of-Sharon and Annabelle hydrangeas, should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Rather than getting out the hedge shears and carving your shrubs into “meatballs and tuna cans” she will provide alternative techniques that will bring out their natural form and help maintain a desirable size. Whether you’re a “reluctant pruner” or an “overachiever,” this class will help you prune with greater confidence and skill.

Spring Gardening classes are also available on April 9. To find out about these classes and how to register for any class, follow this link.

Achieve Beautiful Gardens – March 26 Gardening Mini-Series

By Julie Francke, Curator of Horticulture Education
PART II OF A THREE PART SERIES

“Garden Design: Composition in the Garden”

On March 26, Meijer Gardens’ Spring Gardening Mini-Series will reveal ways to make your garden more beautiful!

We’ll begin with “Garden Design: Composition in the Garden” from 4–5:15 p.m., taught by Chris Major, landscape designer with Blue Ridge Landscaping. Chris will help reexamine your garden through a garden designer’s eyes and inspire you with great plant combinations. More importantly, he’ll reveal why these combinations look great and how to apply these principles to your garden. Chris will also reveal how hardscapes (anything that is not a plant) can help tie the overall garden design together.

When asked, “What is the most common mistake people make when designing their gardens?” Chris revealed it is not paying enough attention to the scale.

“When selecting hardscapes, such as boulders, sculptures and walkways, we need to select materials with respect to the scale of their outdoor environment—this is generally larger than the homeowner realizes.”

In regards to plants, scale is equally as important. Understanding a plant’s growth habit and rate need to be taken into consideration. “We’ve all seen the cute spruce trees at the garden center and proceeded to plant them a few feet from the corner of the house. At first, this makes sense because that little guy would look ridiculous if you planted it 15 or 18 feet away. Unfortunately, the end of this story usually involves a landscaper having to remove said tree 15 years later as it is now attacking the side of the home!”

“Perennials: The Power of One”

If you are searching for the “best of the best” perennials for your West Michigan garden, you won’t want to miss “Perennials: The Power of One” from 5:30–6:45 p.m. presented by Susan Martin, perennial specialist and director of marketing communications for Walters Gardens. Susan is passionate about perennials and writes about them in the Walters Gardens catalog, on websites, in industry publications and Michigan Gardening Magazine. With more than 1,000 perennials growing in display and trial gardens right outside her office door, she sees first-hand how they perform.

Susan’s profession is also her hobby—she describes her own garden as a “collector’s garden” that includes a broad mix of perennials, annuals, shrubs and vines. In this class, Susan will reveal some incredibly improved perennials including:

• A series of Tickseed (Coreopsis) that blooms for 5 months non-stop
• A hardy perennial with dinner plate-sized blossoms that will be center of attention for a full three months in the garden
• A shasta daisy (Leucanthemum) that puts out four rounds of flowers from early summer into mid-fall
• A tall garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) that never gets powdery mildew
• A tall stonecrop (Sedum) with stems so strong you’ll have to cut them down in spring–it never flops!

According to Susan, “To find out which varieties they are, you’ll have to attend my talk!”

“Drought Tolerant Landscapes”

In “Drought Tolerant Landscapes” from 7–8:15 p.m., Richard Sierra, senior sales representative for Hortech, will reveal ways you can help your garden thrive despite our hotter and drier summers and suggest plants that thrive on less water.

According to Richard, Hortech has seen an increasing demand for plants that require less water and maintenance. Gardeners are changing the way they think about water and are becoming more aware of water as an important resource—both from an environmental standpoint as well as financial. Last summer, some Midwestern cities even experienced water restrictions and bans.

Richard came into the green industry by accident—24 years ago he began working as a team leader in the shipping department and later became certified as a Green Industry Professional—and now advises landscapers and garden centers across the Midwest on the best plants for their needs. He also landscaped his first home in Grand Haven entirely with groundcovers and rocks; a low-growing sedum was his lawn, surrounded by drought-tolerant ornamental grasses, and punctuated by boulders.  Richard’s garden only needed to be irrigated during periods of extreme drought, saving time, money, and the important water resource.

All classes in the Spring Gardening Mini-Series are offered at the affordable price of $10 for members and $15 for non-members thanks to the support of the Association of Grand Rapids Landscape Professionals.

Click here to register for any of these classes, as well as classes held on April 9 and April 11. Full descriptions and other information are also included. Walk-ins welcome.

Spring Ushers in Spring Gardening Mini-Series, first one March 21

By Julie Francke, Curator of Horticulture Education

Part I of a three part series

Butterfly Bush in front of Meijer Gardens.

March 20 is the vernal equinox—what most of us refer to as the first day of spring. While this may conjure up images of flowers blooming and bees buzzing, we could welcome a fresh blanket of snow or summer weather in mid-Michigan (do you recall last year’s record-setting temperature of 86 degrees?). The days will continue to lengthen, the weather will warm, the flowers will bloom, and the Meijer Gardens Spring Gardening Mini-Series will begin!

The Spring Gardening Mini-Series showcases four days of inspiring gardening classes at Meijer Gardens. These classes are on Thursday, March 21, Tuesday, March 26, Tuesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 11 throughout the day.

On March 21, the Mini-Series classes address the nation’s new gardening passion—growing your own vegetables. In “Growing Vegetables from Seed” from 1–2:15 p.m., you will learn about the different types of seeds (hybrid, heirloom and ark) and the best ways to start them.

Heirloom Garden in the Meijer Gardens Michigan Farm Garden.

“Patio Vegetables: Thinking Outside the Plot” from 2:30–3:45 p.m. reveals a new and attractive way to grow your own food—in containers right on your patio. Delving deeper, discover the rewards of “Underground Vegetables” from 4–5:15 p.m.—everything you need to know about growing “root vegetables,” from colorful potatoes to unusual sunchokes.

The local experts who will teach these classes are not only passionate about gardening, they understand the challenges and opportunities that West Michigan gardeners face. Meet the instructors even before you attend a class:

Growing Vegetables from Seed, 1–2:15 PM

Karen Lubbers owns Lubbers Family Farm, a picturesque farm nestled along the Grand River, where her family grows their own food and raises their own livestock using sustainable practices.  Their farm is also home to Cowslip Creamery and Little Rooster Bread Company. They began growing their own food in 1993 after their youngest daughter, then six, was diagnosed with brain cancer.  As Karen describes, “We began extensive research into the origins of cancer, which led us, inevitably, to our food supply, along with other things over which we had no control. We became increasingly alarmed by what was in our food in the form of pesticides, herbicides, dyes, preservatives— it is a very long list. Then we became equally alarmed by what we found was not in our food nutritionally.”

Patio Vegetables: Thinking Outside the Plot, 2:30–3:45 PM

Stacey Hirvela, social media specialist for Spring Meadow Nursery, is looking forward to the release of her first book by Rodale Press (due out January 2014) which will detail all the information you need to grow edibles in raised beds and containers of all types. After earning her bachelor’s degree in linguistics at the University of Michigan, she changed direction and followed her passion by attending school at New York Botanic Garden. Stacey has been a rooftop gardener in Manhattan, the horticulturist at the former Tavern on the Green restaurant and has worked for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You will love Stacey’s passion and enthusiasm for all things green.

Underground Vegetables, 4–5:15 PM

Ana Bosma is horticulturist at Meijer Garden and is responsible for Michigan’s Farm Garden as well as the Gwen Frostic Woodland Garden. Ana was born and raised in Grand Rapids and attended Michigan State University earning a degree in Horticulture with a focus on organic vegetable production. Before joining the Meijer Gardens staff, she worked for several years growing vegetables for farmers markets and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs.

All classes in the Spring Gardening Mini-Series are offered at the affordable price of $10 for members and $15 for non-members thanks to the support of the Association of Grand Rapids Landscape Professionals.

Click here to register for any of these classes, as well as classes held on March 26, April 9 and April 11. Full descriptions and other information are also included. Walk-ins welcome.

Watch for future blogs that will provide an inside look at the topics and instructors of the next Spring Gardening Mini-Series classes!

2013 Outdoor Summer Concert Series Sneak Peek

We’re excited to share a “sneak peek” at four of the artists who will be part of the Meijer Gardens 2013 Outdoor Summer Concert Series! Hear what’s in store this summer by listening to this Concert Sneak Peek Spotify playlist!

Montgomery Gentry

Montgomery Gentry – Friday, July 5

Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, both natives of Kentucky. The duo is known for its Southern rock influences, and has collaborated with Charlie Daniels, Toby Keith, Five for Fighting and members of The Allman Brothers Band.

The duo produced more than twenty chart singles including the number 1 hits “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something to Be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” and “Roll with Me.”

David Byrne & St. Vincent

David Byrne & St. Vincent – Sunday, July 7

David Byrne was a founding member and principal songwriter of the American New Wave band Talking Heads, best known for their Top 10 hit, “Burning Down the House.” Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography, opera, and non-fiction. He has received Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Touring with Annie Erin Clark, better known as St. Vincent, is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Together, St. Vincent and David Byrne released a collaborative album titled Love This Giant.

Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller Band – Thursday, July 18 

Producing number one hits like “The Joker,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Rock’N Me” and “Abracadabra,” the Steve Miller Band is considered a classic rock legend. Since forming in sunny California in 1968, the band has released more than 18 studio albums, three live albums, seven compilation albums and numerous singles.

After more than fifteen years, Steve Miller recently went back to make a new album with classic rock engineer, Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones) and the band produced almost three dozen tracks. “Bingo!,” the first album from the sessions, was released in May 2010.

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell  – Monday, July 29

Steve Martin is currently in the fifth decade of a uniquely varied and accomplished career in which he’s excelled as a comedian, actor, author and playwright, and as a Grammy-winning, boundary-pushing bluegrass banjoist and composer.

His fellow Texas native Edie Brickell initially burst onto the national scene in the late 1980s fronting the New Bohemians. Together, their rootsy compositions are a combination of Martin’s inventive five-string banjo work with Brickell’s distinctive vocals and vivid, detail-rich lyrics.

Reminder that tickets go on sale to members on Saturday, April 27 and the general public on Saturday, May 11. More information on prices and purchasing locations will be available following the release of the full lineup in mid-April, so check our website and social media sites for details around that time.