JULY 6, 5- 8 PM

DOORS OPEN AT 4 PM

Resurrection Blues Band will perform at Fernwood as part of The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts’ Midwest Made—Acorn Anywhere summer concert series, which spotlights regional talent in a diverse array of genres. Ticket information is available on The Acorn’s website at acornlive.org.

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

BOX TURTLE PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP

July 13, 1-2:30 PM

Did you know that Fernwood is home to the eastern box turtle, a threatened species in the state of Michigan? These charming, land-dwelling reptiles are often elusive, but trained Fernwood staff members have taken special care to monitor the population on our grounds. You can help us celebrate and bring awareness to these incredible creatures by joining this special printmaking workshop. You’ll work with a photo of one of Fernwood’s resident box turtles to create your own linoleum block carving, highlighting their unique shell patterns (no two shells are alike!). You’ll make prints to take home and add to our collective poster. Copies of the poster will be available later in the season to help raise funds for continued box turtle conservation efforts at Fernwood!

Audience: Teens-adults

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: $35 ($28 members) - Please register by July 8

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen.

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

First Sunday of every month, at 2 pm.

Share your passion for photography with a support community. Open to all ages and levels of experience. Meetings last about 90 minutes, starting with a sharing and discussion of recent images shot by club members, followed by a monthly topical program.

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

Program details:

All across North America, prairie habitat is under continuous threat due to anthropogenic development. These rare and fragmented ecosystems, rich in biodiversity, provide vital homes to numerous native species of birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. 

Join us as we explore the beauty and diversity of Fernwood’s own tallgrass prairie. You’ll learn all about the prairie’s establishment, the incredible adaptations of our native prairie plants, how to identify and manage invasive plant species, and the history of prairies in North America.

Please dress accordingly – long sleeves, long pants, closed-toed shoes, long socks, hats, gloves, and sunscreen. Please bring a water bottle and snacks if needed.

Suggested Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Meet at The Visitors Center front desk

Cost: $15 ($12 members)

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign-in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen.

AUGUST 9, 7–8 PM

DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM

$5 ADVANCE, $10 DOOR

Children 5 and under: FREE

Youth 6 - 12: $2.50 ADVANCE, $5 DOOR

rebel noire and the accomplices are mixologists of music, blending alternative R&B/soul, jazz, and rock with a hint of hip-hop for a distinct sound. The five-piece, Michiana-based band has opened for reggae legends The Wailers Official and blues artist Phillip-Michael Scales. The band has released three projects, including the latest EP, LOVEVOLVE.

Program details:

Nature’s colors, textures, and patterns have long been a source of inspiration for surface designers. It's no wonder that we see so many botanical elements around us, in our textiles, wallpapers, tiles, product packaging, and more. 

In this workshop, we’ll draw design inspiration from Fernwood’s gardens to create our own botanical motifs. Participants will experiment with various styles, scale, and arrangement to personalize their work, and learn how to transform their single design into a seamless repeatable pattern.

Suggested Audience: Teens-adults

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: $35 ($28 members)

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign-in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen.

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

Program details:

Embroidery can be more than just a creative outlet — it can also be a meditative way to connect with local ecology and preserve the beauty of native plants through thread!

In this hands-on workshop, you'll create a botanical embroidery sampler featuring five native wildflowers that bloom in late summer: purple coneflower, blue smooth aster, showy goldenrod, yarrow, and wild bergamot. As you learn beginner-friendly stitches, you'll also explore each plant’s ecological role, traditional uses, and seasonal significance. You'll receive all the materials needed to complete (or finish at home), your own embroidered 6-inch hoop and take home both a beautiful piece of art and the skills to keep stitching.

Suggested Audience: Teens-adults

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: $60 ($48 members)

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign-in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen.

First Sunday of every month, at 2 pm.

Share your passion for photography with a support community. Open to all ages and levels of experience. Meetings last about 90 minutes, starting with a sharing and discussion of recent images shot by club members, followed by a monthly topical program.

Join Dr. Henry Van T. Cotter for an introduction to mushrooms, their identification, and ecology!

After a brief overview, attendees will venture into the gardens and nature preserve to search for mushrooms and collect samples for further examination. The session will end with a display of the specimens gathered, including a discussion of their taxonomy, ecology, and utility as food or mycomedicinals. Many mushrooms fruit in the late summer/early fall. So, weather willing, there should be an abundance of different species to discover!

Participants are encouraged to bring:

• Wild mushroom samples collected from their home property

• A basket to hold samples collected at Fernwood

• Weather appropriate shoes and clothing

• Water, sunscreen, and insect repellent

About Dr. Henry Van T. Cotter:

Van’s friends and family know well that a hike with him means delving off the path to search for fungi. His love for mushrooms is infectious (case in point: this year he helped his 3- and 5-year-old next door neighbors inoculate maple logs with lion’s mane mushroom spawn). Van’s passionate interest in fungi began when he was assistant manager on a fruit tree farm in Michigan watching beautiful cherries succumb to fungal brown rot. Between stints on the fruit farm, he took Introductory Mycology at the University of New Hampshire and his future path studying and working with fungi was set.  For his graduate degrees he studied beech bark disease in New England and then boletes (friends of the forest) in Nepal under a Fulbright Grant receiving a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. After a career in crop protection research, he has been active as a mycological volunteer including helping catalog the wealth of valuable fungal type collections in the NCU Herbarium, investigating equine fungal infections, and documenting the fungal biodiversity of Michigan’s Nature Sanctuaries. Through the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program, he assisted mushroom farmers from around the world. He is looking forward to showing you more about the world of mushrooms.

Suggested Audience: Teens-adults

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: $40 ($32 members)

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign-in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen.

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

First Sunday of every month, at 2 pm.

Share your passion for photography with a support community. Open to all ages and levels of experience. Meetings last about 90 minutes, starting with a sharing and discussion of recent images shot by club members, followed by a monthly topical program.

Class Details:

Fall is here and Fernwood’s grounds are abundant with all the glorious changing colors and textures of the season. In this workshop, we’ll utilize the bounty of natural materials found in the gardens to build festive autumn wreaths. All tools and materials will be provided for you to create the perfect front door decor to greet family, friends, and trick-or-treaters. 

Audience: Teens & Adults

Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: $35 ($28 members)

*To receive your member discount, please be sure to sign-in by clicking the button in the upper right-hand corner of the registration screen

Fernwood members and visitors can bring their four-legged friends to Fernwood Dog Days starting in May. On select Saturday mornings, pets are welcome to join a walk through the garden and nature preserve. We ask that all dog lovers planning to walk at Fernwood take a moment to review the guidelines and note our “Dog-Free Areas” before their arrival. Dog Day participants must exit the garden by 11 am. 

Fernwood Members:  Early entry begins for members only at 9 am. Dogs and their owners get free admission with an active membership. 

Visitors: Open 10 - 11 am. Standard general admission pricing and $5 per dog.

CANINE AND OWNER POLICIES

To make this a fun and safe experience for all garden guests, please adhere to the following agreements while visiting Fernwood: 

• Dogs must be supervised and leashed at all times while on site (which includes the parking lot). Guests with unattended or off-leash dogs will be asked to leave the garden immediately.

• All dogs must be socialized and have current vaccinations and registrations.

• For the safety of both your dog and the natural environment, please stick to established paved and dirt paths, routes, and trails. This helps protect all forms of life - both plants and animals. 

• By participating in Dog Days, owners assume full responsibility for their dog’s or dogs’ behavior.

• Please leave the garden as you found it! Clean up after your dog and use designated outdoor trash receptacles throughout the garden. Bags are available at the Visitor Center upon entry.

DOG-FREE AREAS

• Natural springs, ponds, and water features

• Fernwood Café

• Fern Conservatory

• Manicured garden beds 

• Gift Shop

Please remember that dogs will only be admitted to Fernwood on designated days and times. They are not allowed in the garden outside of designated dog walking hours.

2025 DOG DAYS DATES

May 10

May 31

June 14

June 28

July 12

July 26

August 9

August 23

September 6

September 20

October 4

October 18

What plants are you attracted to? What plants are attracted to you?! Herbs have been used through time to heal, treat, flavor, and scent our lives. Each one has a special purpose and message for us. With help from The Herbcrafter’s Tarot deck, members of the Herb Society will devine your herb fortune! Drop-in anytime between 12-3pm.

Suggested Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Fernwood’s Herb Garden

Cost: Free with admission. Donations will be accepted to support the Herb Society and Fernwood’s Herb & Sensory Garden. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to let us know you’re planning to join us by registering.

What plants are you attracted to? What plants are attracted to you?! Herbs have been used through time to heal, treat, flavor, and scent our lives. Each one has a special purpose and message for us. With help from The Herbcrafter’s Tarot deck, members of the Herb Society will devine your herb fortune! Drop-in anytime between 12-3pm.

Suggested Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Fernwood’s Herb Garden

Cost: Free with admission. Donations will be accepted to support the Herb Society and Fernwood’s Herb & Sensory Garden. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to let us know you’re planning to join us by registering.

What plants are you attracted to? What plants are attracted to you?! Herbs have been used through time to heal, treat, flavor, and scent our lives. Each one has a special purpose and message for us. With help from The Herbcrafter’s Tarot deck, members of the Herb Society will devine your herb fortune! Drop-in anytime between 12-3pm.

Suggested Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Fernwood’s Herb Garden

Cost: Free with admission. Donations will be accepted to support the Herb Society and Fernwood’s Herb & Sensory Garden. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to let us know you’re planning to join us by registering.

What plants are you attracted to? What plants are attracted to you?! Herbs have been used through time to heal, treat, flavor, and scent our lives. Each one has a special purpose and message for us. With help from The Herbcrafter’s Tarot deck, members of the Herb Society will devine your herb fortune! Drop-in anytime between 12-3pm.

Suggested Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Fernwood’s Herb Garden

Cost: Free with admission. Donations will be accepted to support the Herb Society and Fernwood’s Herb & Sensory Garden. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to let us know you’re planning to join us by registering.

Celebrate Halloween with the whole family at Fernwood! Join us in the Sims Education Center to learn and create crafts inspired by the season's most notorious native creatures, including bats, spiders, toads, and more! Enjoy free hot cider, popcorn, and sweets, and be sure to explore Fernwood's hauntingly beautiful gardens, nature trails, and pumpkin house. Costumes encouraged!

Audience: All ages welcome

Location: Flora Wing of the Sims Education Center

Cost: Free with admission

Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to let us know you’re planning to join us by registering.

First Sunday of every month, at 2 pm.

Share your passion for photography with a support community. Open to all ages and levels of experience. Meetings last about 90 minutes, starting with a sharing and discussion of recent images shot by club members, followed by a monthly topical program.

First Sunday of every month, at 2 pm.

Share your passion for photography with a support community. Open to all ages and levels of experience. Meetings last about 90 minutes, starting with a sharing and discussion of recent images shot by club members, followed by a monthly topical program.