Hidden Lake Gardens : Events

FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | SEPT | OCT 

Check back for more 2026 events to be announced!

FEBRUARY

ACA Exhibit: Rooting Around at Lindisfane

February 24 - April 6, 2026 | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

Adrian Center for the Arts Logo.

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 Lindisfane 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.

Dates & Hours:
Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Gallery of the Visitors Center
Closed on Mondays

MARCH

The Spring Flower Show

March 1 - 29, 2026 | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

Tulips at the 2025 Spring Flower Show.
Ready for spring? 
 
Celebrate a century of beauty at Hidden Lake Gardens! Our Spring Flower Show returns with a spectacular tribute to 100 years of growth and inspiration. Step inside the Conservatory and experience its breathtaking transformation into a vibrant showcase of color—daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, amaryllis, and more—ushering in the season of renewal and honoring the legacy that began in 1926.
 
Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Closed on Mondays
Last Admission at 4:30 p.m.

Open for a special after-hours evening on Friday, March 27 until 7:00 p.m. with last admission at 6:30 p.m.

Admission to HLG includes full access to this dazzling celebration of spring along with all garden attractions. Immerse yourself in nature’s finest blooms and be part of our 100‑year story! Learn more at our Spring Flower Show page.

The Volunteer Fair

Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM

A Hidden Lake Garden's volunteer badge with a tree in the background.
Looking for a rewarding way to give back to nature and your community?
 
Stop in our Visitors Center to learn more about our many volunteer and docent opportunities, meet our team, and find the perfect way to share your time and talents.
 
Discover the many ways you can get involved whether it’s assisting with events, helping at the Sky Walk, or tending to our beautiful garden spaces, including the Conservatory, Hosta Hillside, Harper Dwarf Conifer Collection, Demonstration (Gazebo) Garden, and Elardo Garden . . . there's a place for you at HLG!
 
For more details and to fill out a volunteer application, visit our Volunteer Program page.
 
We can’t wait to grow with you!

APRIL

Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up

Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 9:15 - 11:15 AM

Hidden Lake Garden's Adopt-a-Highway sign.
Join the Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens in helping to keep our community clean and beautiful! Volunteers are needed to assist with picking-up litter along the M-50 corridor that fronts Hidden Lake Gardens. This is a great way to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and make a positive impact on the environment.
 
Who Can Participate?
Anyone 12 years of age or older
Children 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult
 
What to Expect:
No experience necessary – all supplies are provided.
Dress for the weather, including closed-toe shoes/boots and work gloves.
Pants and long sleeves are highly recommended for protection.
 
For past participants, please note the earlier start time.
 
Meet at the main entrance and park as directed, come lend a hand, enjoy the fresh air, and help keep Hidden Lake Gardens’ surroundings looking their best!

MAY

Hidden Lake Gardens Annual Plant Sale

Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 10 AM - 2 PM

Scene from the Annual Plant Sale in 2025.
Join us for a one-day-only event at Hidden Lake Gardens, featuring a wide selection of plants, including native plants, sun/shade annuals (plus hanging baskets), sun/shade perennials (daylilies, ferns, hosta & more) woody plants, dwarf conifers, succulents, vegetable plants, and herbs inside our Service Building.
 
Special Member Preview: 9:00–10:00 a.m. (cardholding members only—no guests, please)
Open to the Public: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or until sold out
 
Highlights:
  • Limited supply of pine needle bales for mulching
  • Specially curated selections from Hidden Lake Gardens
     
Payment accepted via cash, check, or credit card. Plan to shop early for the best selection—popular varieties may sell out quickly!

JUNE

ACA Exhibit: Light and Form, VanBenschoten Retrospective

June 1 - July 19, 2026 | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

Adrian Center for the Arts logo.

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.

Dates & Hours:
Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Gallery of the Visitors Center
Closed on Mondays

JULY

Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up

Monday, July 20, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Hidden Lake Garden's Adopt-a-Highway sign.
Join the Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens in helping to keep our community clean and beautiful! Volunteers are needed to assist with picking-up litter along the M-50 corridor that fronts Hidden Lake Gardens. This is a great way to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and make a positive impact on the environment.
 
Who Can Participate?
Anyone 12 years of age or older
Children 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult
 
What to Expect:
No experience necessary – all supplies are provided.
Dress for the weather, including closed-toe shoes/boots and work gloves.
Pants and long sleeves are highly recommended for protection.
 
For past participants, please note the switch to a weeknight evening.
 
Meet at the main entrance and park as directed, come lend a hand, enjoy the fresh air, and help keep Hidden Lake Gardens’ surroundings looking their best!

ACA Exhibit: CompARTments

July 21 - September 27, 2026 | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

Adrian Center for the Arts logo.

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.

Dates & Hours:
Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Gallery of the Visitors Center
Closed on Mondays

SEPTEMBER

RUN FOR THE HILLS! 5K and 1 Mile Run / Walk

Saturday, September 12, 2026 | Start Time = 8 AM 

Photo of runners participating in the 2025 race.

The most scenic and hilliest course in southeast Michigan! Come enjoy a beautiful fall morning at Hidden Lake Gardens for the 16th Annual RUN FOR THE HILLS! 1 Mile & 5K Run or Walk along paved roads. Proceeds from the race will benefit Hidden Lake Gardens and Oh These Irish Hills! organization.

Learn more at our Run for the Hills! page.

Check back for race registration to open or contact us at hlg@msu.edu with questions.

 

Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up

Thursday, September 27, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Hidden Lake Garden's Adopt-a-Highway sign.
Join the Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens in helping to keep our community clean and beautiful! Volunteers are needed to assist with picking-up litter along the M-50 corridor that fronts Hidden Lake Gardens. This is a great way to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and make a positive impact on the environment.
 
Who Can Participate?
Anyone 12 years of age or older
Children 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult
 
What to Expect:
No experience necessary – all supplies are provided.
Dress for the weather, including closed-toe shoes/boots and work gloves.
Pants and long sleeves are highly recommended for protection.
 
For past participants, please note the switch to a weeknight evening.
 
Meet at the main entrance and park as directed, come lend a hand, enjoy the fresh air, and help keep Hidden Lake Gardens’ surroundings looking their best!

OCTOBER

Fall Fruit & Foliage Bonsai Exhibition

October 17 & 18, 2026 

A close-up photo of the vibrant red foliage of a bonsai tree.

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.

Bonsai artists are invited to apply to have their work considered for display in the exhibition. The NABF aims to present the finest fall fruiting and/or fall‑color bonsai in North America, and applicants may submit up to two bonsai for juried review. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for bonsai practitioners to share their artistry, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and be part of a signature new event at Hidden Lake Gardens.

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-themed bonsai

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

6214 Monroe Road (M-50)

Tipton, MI 49287

517-431-2060

hlg@msu.edu

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Daffodil logo for Hidden Lake Gardens.