PESHTIGO – Harmony Arboretum and Demonstration Gardens has blossomed into a one-of-a-kind publicly accessible garden system under the care of the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association, Inc. (NLMGAI).
The 496-acre plot of land has been carefully curated over the decades by volunteers from NLMGAI to expand from their beginnings of growing tomatoes to include raised planters, year-round structures and speciality gardens.
The vegetable garden was established as part of NLMGAI’s main mission, horticultural education. With this garden they are able to establish the basics of growing a successful vegetable garden, directly tying into the “Demonstration Garden” aspect of the facility’s name.
This garden is a favorite of NLMGAI President Bill Swan. Swan shared that his background leans towards horticulture and agronomy, having grown up on a farm that produced wheat, oats and potatoes in northern Mich.
“My mom had a big vegetable garden, so I’m more of a vegetable gardener. My wife likes growing flowers, though,” Swan said.
NLMGAI members harvest and sell the vegetables they grow in the garden, as well as other plants.
The herb garden has been a fixture of Harmony since 1994. The NLMGAI explained that “many different culinary herbs and plants for producing dyes are included in this garden, both perennial and annual plants. Around the edge are some wonderfully fragrant plants.”
Raised plant beds have also been added around the perimeter to allow people who cannot reach low-growing plants to also enjoy the fragrances.
Examples of herbs grown include chives, comfrey, thyme and yellow fernleaf yarrow.
Connecting with the gardens and land around Harmony Arboretum and Demonstration Gardens is a draw for many. With that in mind, much energy has been directed towards the Children’s Learning Garden.
The Children’s Learning Garden started becoming what it is known as today in 2013. The garden was established around the chipmunk tunnel, which children can crawl through and learn about what animals live underground. The 36-foot mural depicts even more native plants and animals for kids to learn about.
Another area of interest includes the pioneer house and garden that holds “dress-up clothes and tools to get children thinking about what life was like in the 1850s,” the NLMGAI stated.
The Children’s Demonstration Garden also includes “a pirate ship sandbox with a sea serpent looming nearby to spark the imagination, a maze to wander through, a sensory garden to enhance all senses, an interactive sundial designed for your shadow to tell you what time it is and much more,” according to the organization.
Other gardens on the property include the orchard, which has grown apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. The garden squares are 20’ x 20’ plots that are used for speciality demonstrations and experiments. Some of these individual gardens are changed on an annual basis and have been used as a butterfly garden, plant nursery or to grow small fruits.
The NLMGAI is able to provide impactful education and allow visitors to make lasting memories not only through the gardens they have cared for since the early 1990s, but also through aspects that have existed for hundreds of years before them.
Harmony Arboretum is located at seven miles west of Marinette on Hwy 64 and then half a mile south on Cty Rd E. More information about the NLMGAI and their upcoming events, including an open house at Harmony Arboretum, can be found on the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association Volunteers Facebook page. Continued next week.
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