Educational Programs

Celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall with Hidden Lake Gardens Autumnal Equinox Festivities.  We will learn about the changing seasons through observations and hands-on activities.  Participants will enjoy a guided hike, a short story, art projects, and a sweet seasonal snack.  Let’s reflect on all of the best parts of summer as we look forward to the fall cool-down and color changes. 

Max capacity: 40 people

Cost:  $15/person, $12 for members

Location: Auditorium   

Learn how to identify and manage invasive species.  This class will offer you hands-on experience with several of our common invasive species in southeastern Michigan.  We will get advice on how to implement effective control strategies.  Hear from a panel of property experts about their triumphs and tribulations using different techniques. 

Max capacity: 70 people

Cost:  $15/person, $12 for members

Location: Auditorium   

Live life on the spooky side and join us to learn about bats, pumpkins, and owls.  Enjoy the Halloween decor and get your hands dirty if you dare.  Explore the guts of a pumpkin, learn about what owls eat, and take home a fun bat-themed craft.   

Cost:  $25/person, $20 for members

Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens

Together we will explore the mysterious realm of mushrooms and the fabulous world of fungus.  Fungi play many important roles in our ecosystems.  They can also be a delicious part of our diets.  We will cover the basics of mushroom identification and how to keep toxic taxa out of your foraging basket.  Credible resources will be highlighted, and advice will be provided by an expert mycologist. 

Max capacity: 70 people

Cost:  $15/person, $12 for members

Location: Auditorium   

Join us on National Take a Hike Day to explore the trails with a guided tour. Participants will get a water bottle to stay hydrated while hiking.  We will offer hikes for all fitness and experience levels.  You can sign up for one hike or all three options.  A gentle half-mile hike at 10 AM will allow you to explore at a slower pace.  If you are up for a challenge, we will offer a rigorous 4 mile hike at 1 PM.  Finish up the evening at 3 PM with our 2-mile Goldilocks hike that isn’t too short or too long.  

Cost:  $15/person, $12 for members

Location: TBD at Hidden Lake Gardens

Worms are ecosystem engineers that help to build healthy soil.  They can also help you produce rich soil by composting food scraps.  This process is called vermicomposting.  Vermicomposting can be done on a small scale in your kitchen or on an industrial scale for commercial food waste.  We will discuss the process of vermicomposting, see a working worm bin, and learn how to keep your worms healthy and happy. 

Max capacity: 70 people

Cost:  $15/person, $12 for members

Location: Auditorium   

Be the master of your own world by designing your own terrarium with living creatures.  Learn about how an ecosystem functions with living and non-living parts that work together.  We will provide the supplies that you need to make a mason jar terrarium with living plants and isopods.  You provide the creativity and imagination to build a self-sustaining ecosystem that you can keep for years to come.   

Max capacity: 30 people

Cost:   $25/person, $20 for members 

Location: Garden Room 

Identifying trees can be a challenge once the leaves fall.  Bark patterns, bud shapes, form, and context clues go a long way towards determining which tree species you are looking at in the winter months.  Our expert staff members will guide you through tips and tricks for remembering these more subtle clues to tree identification.     

Evergreens abound in holiday decor, but how do you tell which greenery came from which tree?  Join us to build your own table centerpiece while learning about the plants that are used to build them.  Our experts will introduce you to the world of the friendly fir, spiky spruce, and other evergreen plants that you will see around the holidays.   

Some tough birds spend their winters in Michigan.  A little extra food can help them stay warm during our chilly winter season.  Learn how we can help our wildlife friends weather the winter storms.  Story time will include a book on winter wildlife.  Help birds survive the winter by crafting a feeder for them to hang in your yard. 

Let’s take a day to celebrate our houseplants.  Houseplants boost our mood, increase indoor humidity in the dry winter months, and improve indoor air quality.  Come celebrate houseplants with us by learning how to care for some of the most common indoor specimens.  Take home a small potted plant to add to your collection or start a new one. 

Sowing seeds in the winter has countless benefits.  It is a cost-effective way to germinate seeds in the slower season of the year.  Many perennial plants, and some annual and herbaceous plants, have seeds that require cold stratification.  We will sow common perennial seeds using up-cycled materials.  Expert gardeners will share their advice and stories of success.  Get a jump start on your spring garden by sowing your seeds now.