DYK about an excellent, FREE gardening resource in Grand Rapids that is sure to inspire? It’s run by the Michigan State University Extension, called the Grand Ideas Garden … and that’s exactly what it is! A GRAND garden, albeit a compact one, taking up the length of just one city block, right next to the Kent County MSU Extension office, 775 Ball Avenue NE. Planted in 2003, the Grand Ideas Garden brightens up the stretch of Bradford Street between Ball and Mayfield Avenue in this mostly residential, mixed use neighborhood tucked away off Leonard and Fuller on the Northeast side of GR.
Attractive and Educational
Grand Ideas Garden (GIG to those in the know) provides serene spaces sure to stimulate your creativity and motivate your own gardening pursuits. The space is laid out to help you explore and learn about various garden styles and habitats. You’ll find sun and shade gardens, container gardens throughout, a stunning water garden complete with waterfall, gardens to attract pollinators, and more!
Gardens and plants are well marked with signage, placards, and displays, to help you learn about and replicate the plants, looks, and styles at your own home. Information is also provided about garden-related topics like mulching, native plants, pest resistance, earth-friendly practices, etc. The GIG is run by an institution of higher learning after all, so there’s a lot of information presented — but in such a non-obtrusive way that you may not even realize how much you are learning.
So much plant power in such a small space! With literally hundreds of trees, shrubs, and perennial and annual plant varieties on display (some provided by Knapp Valley Gardens), visitor Rebecca Finneran summed the GIG up perfectly as, “A living laboratory where gardeners of all ages can observe and learn about gardening, nature, and environment.”
Once you see all GIG has to offer, bring your new knowledge and ideas to Knapp Valley Gardens. We are located less than five miles from GIG. You can purchase many of the plants you saw in the Garden, and get our experts’ advice on how to achieve those looks in your own space.
Stay for a Picnic
Make a day of your visit to GIG and Knapp Valley, with a picnic in between! Tables, benches, and blanket space in the Garden make it easy to enjoy a picnic among the plantings while listening to the sounds of the waterfall, birds, bullfrogs, and insects. (And, of course, the sound of occasional passing vehicles that you can’t see through the foliage but remind you that you’re still in the city). Just remember, you’ll be expected to pack out whatever you bring in as trash cans are not provided.
The MSU Extension office next to the GIG is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to wander the garden during business hours, or even beyond, as long as they follow a few posted rules. If you stop by during business hours, check out the office, too: MSU Extension offers a variety of resources for gardeners in addition to the GIG.
Get to Know the Extension
For those who are not familiar, the MSU Extension is a statewide outreach network that brings Michigan State University’s research and educational resources directly to residents. With locations in all 83 Michigan counties, MSU Extension’s goal is to help people improve their lives by providing them with practical, real-world education and solutions.
With a massive variety of programs, classes, and services tailored to each community, MSU Extension covers a wide range of issues from agriculture and agribusiness, to health and nutrition, youth education and outreach, and community and economic vitality. You can even ask questions online with the Ask an Expert tool. Here are some more links to connect with MSU Extension resources:
Kent/MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden | Facebook
MSU Extension District 7 | Facebook (Allegan, Barry, Kent, Ottawa counties)
