Hidden Lake Gardens : Events

Discover how creativity takes root in the natural world. In the fall of 2025, ACA members foraged the 80‑acre woodland of Lindisfarne Bridge in Tipton—gathering twigs, bark, stones, seeds, and other found materials much like earlier cultures once did for survival. But here, these natural elements fuel artistic expression.

Each work in Rooting Around at Lindisfarne incorporates materials gathered from the land, celebrating the diversity, texture, and spirit of the forest. The resulting pieces reveal how deeply art and nature intertwine when artists create directly from the world around them. Learn more on our Art Exhibitions page.

Spend an evening with featured guest speaker Kurt Hagemeister, past president and co‑founder of the Michigan Bluebird Society, and a leading voice in bluebird conservation across the state.

Admission is $5 per person at the door, and the event would be open to all community members interested in birds, conservation, and the natural world. Program will be hosted in the Auditorium inside the Visitors Center.

About the Speaker
Kurt Hagemeister is a respected conservationist and educator with nearly three decades of experience supporting Michigan’s bluebird populations. As past president and co‑founder of the Michigan Bluebird Society, he has helped guide statewide efforts focused on education, habitat protection, and nestbox stewardship. His many articles on bluebirds have been published both locally and nationally, and he has shared his expertise through presentations across Michigan for more than 20 years.

With 28 years as a dedicated bluebird nestbox landlord—successfully fledging hundreds of young birds—Mr. Hagemeister brings firsthand knowledge of bluebird behavior, challenges, and conservation strategies. He is also the founder of the Ann Arbor Wild Birds Unlimited store, which he owned and operated for 15 years.

Shirley and Bryan VanBenschoten were instrumental in the establishment of the Adrian Center for the Arts, lending their vision and dedication to transform Studio One from a former office building into a thriving creative space. As president of the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts (LCVA), Shirley helped guide the organization from having no physical home to a growing arts community with 55 acres and six buildings.

Following her passing this past year, the LCVA honors Shirley’s legacy with this special exhibition, featuring a selection of her paintings alongside Bryan’s ceramic works—celebrating two artists whose impact continues to shape the region’s creative landscape. Learn more on our Art Exhibitions page.

Explore the inventive world of assemblage art, where ACA artists transform found objects into three‑dimensional works of imagination. Inspired by pioneers like Joseph Cornell, Louise Nevelson, and Betye Saar, artists reimagine cast‑off boxes—metal, wood, plastic, clay, and more—by creating artworks in, on, and around these everyday forms.

CompARTments invites visitors to discover how ordinary materials gain new meaning when placed in the hands of artists who see potential in the overlooked and beauty in the unexpected. Learn more on our Art Exhibitions page.

Experience the inaugural Fall Fruit & Foliage Bonsai Exhibition at Hidden Lake Gardens, presented in partnership with the North American Bonsai Federation (NABF). This special event will showcase outstanding bonsai from across the region, highlighting the beauty of fall color and fruiting varieties.

Guests will enjoy a curated exhibition featuring exceptional trees selected through a juried application process, celebrating both artistry and horticultural excellence. In addition to the displays, the event will include an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony, VIP reception, tea ceremony, educational presentations, on‑site vendors, auction, food and beverage offerings, and more.

Whether you're a lifelong bonsai artist or simply appreciate the craft, this exhibition invites you to explore the diverse styles, colors, and creativity that define fall fruiting and foliage bonsai.

Learn more at our Fall Fruit & Foliage Bonsai Exhibition page.