“Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will evade you, but if you notice the other things around you, it will gently come and sit on your shoulder.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Every spring, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park comes alive with signs of new life – signs of hope and renewal.
Butterflies are blooming. Cherry blossoms and tulips are too. In fact, the cherry blossoms are predicted to peak this week.
Meijer Gardens had been on my to-visit list for years. It’s only a 30-minute drive to Grand Rapids. So, with my new focus on artist dates last spring, I finally said, “I want to go see the butterfly exhibit.”
Once there, I realized I had been missing out. Why did I wait so long to enjoy this humidity, these lush plants, this dose of joy?
Sure it was a drab April day with clouds and drizzle. But chasing butterflies will soothe your winter-weary soul.
-
A butterfly rests on a tropical plant.
Tropical conservatory
Living in Michigan has many upsides. Six months of cloudy skies is not one of them. Come April, everyone is ready for the 40-degree, overcast weather to go away.
Meijer Gardens offers a little slice of paradise if you are not lucky enough to head somewhere warm for spring break. The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory transports visitors to a tropical oasis.
The five story conservatory – the largest in Michigan – houses more than 500 species of plants from five continents. You can sit and enjoy the living, breathing space that includes waterfalls, streams, and bridges. A variety of tropical birds, sculpture, orchids, cacao trees, and butterflies in the spring makes for a truly immersive experience.
Butterflies are blooming
The conservatory transforms into a living science experiment every March and April. Butterflies are Blooming is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the country.
Colorful butterflies fly around and delight your senses. But they don’t start out that way. They arrive as chrysalides and cocoons from Africa, Asia, and South and Central America.
Over the course of the display, they emerge from their cocoons and transform into butterflies. Once their wings harden, they fly freely within the conservatory. These winged beauties include blue morpho, Atlas moth, golden helicon, and tree nymph.
It really is a sight to behold, especially if you try to follow them around and take photos. Some people are lucky and have them land on their shoulder or arm.
The conservatory feels tropical at 80+ degrees and 70 percent humidity for the butterfly exhibit. Staff members stand guard at the exit to make sure the delicate, fluttering insects don’t escape.
We went on the last weekend of Butterflies are Blooming, so it was packed. I would recommend going on a weekday if you want to have space to relax and truly enjoy the butterflies. The exhibit is included with regular admission and runs through April 30.
-
View of the Japanese Garden from the highest overlook on the property.
Meijer Gardens attractions
Opened in 1995, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has accomplished its goal of being a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture and sculpture.
The sculpture park has quite a list of accolades and features:
- No. #1 Sculpture Park in America
- No. #2 Botanical Garden in America
- Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory
- Kenneth E. Nelson Carnivorous Plant House – the only publicly displayed collection in the United States dedicated to carnivorous plants
- The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden
- English Perennial Garden
- Michigan’s Farm Garden – a replica farm featuring gardening and horticulture practices from the 1930s era
- Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
- 750,000 annual visitors
- Seasonal exhibitions in spring, fall, and winter
- Special art exhibits, children’s gallery and activities
- Gift shop, wedding venue, café
- Tram rides through the gardens, wooded walking paths
- Outdoor amphitheater and summer concert series
Garden highlights
In April, the cherry tree blossoms are another added draw and make for great photo ops. Located near the Japanese Garden, these trees typically peak during the second or third week of April. The Japanese celebrate cherry blossoms as a beloved symbol of spring.
The outdoor gardens slowly come to life with seasonal favorites that bloom throughout summer and fall. The 158-acre campus features diverse horticulture displays that wow professional landscapers and novice gardeners. Thoughtful design amplifies seasonal beauty and reminds us why flowers make us happy.
You can enjoy manicured gardens, native plants and pollinators, and flowering perennials. The English Perennial Garden showcases all the elements of classic English design and invites visitors to sit and savor the view.
The Michigan’s Farm Garden captures a simpler time, giving visitors a look into 1930s farm life. The farmhouse is a three-quarter-scale model of Lena Rader Meijer’s childhood home. The vegetable gardens and flower beds showcase heirloom varieties. The seasonal produce is harvested and used in the café.
Summer is definitely busier with more on the schedule. You can admire the scenery by several ponds or sculpture, have lunch outdoors, or sign up for a garden walk or class.
Sculpture park collection
The Sculpture Park features more than 50 major works by masters Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Louise Bourgeois, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Roxy Paine, Ai Weiwei and others.
The works can be found within a variety of settings connected by boardwalks, landscaped paths, and quiet walkways. Take your time to walk among the woods, admire the art from different vantage points, and seek solace or inspiration.
The collection highlights sculptors from the late 19th century to the present and is international in scope. These installations include abstract, modern, and whimsical art strategically placed across interior and exterior locations. The art explores animals, birds, society, nature, and the human condition.
The Japanese Garden encourages quiet reflection among the waterfalls and Zen-style gardens. Enter a world of serenity and harmony. The three essential elements – rocks, water, and plants – honor the Japanese garden tradition and design philosophy. You can experience an authentic and contemplative Japanese tea ceremony in the Teahouse.
Summer concerts
Meijer Gardens hosts the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series, which brings in national touring artists to Grand Rapids. It is a popular concert venue and many performances sell out quickly.
Concerts run June through September on the outdoor terraced lawn, providing the perfect backdrop for live music on a warm summer evening.
The 2024 lineup includes Greensky Bluegrass, O.A.R., Bonnie Raitt, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Temptations + The Four Tops, Jason Mraz and more. Member presale begins April 20, with public ticket sales opening April 27.
If you enjoy free like me, the Tuesday Evening Music Club features local and regional musicians on Tuesday evenings in June, July, and August. Chamber music more your style? The popular Sunday Strings series on select Sundays this July and August is another option.
Artist date reflections
My artist date to Meijer Gardens didn’t quite count as an artist date. I let my fiancé come along. After he fixed my car, we took a test drive to see how it would do on the highway. My 17-year-old Betsy had a new head gasket and a second life. Dave Ramsey would be proud.
We spent about three hours there. We walked through the cherry blossoms and Japanese Garden. We opted for the tram ride to look at the outdoor sculpture since it was cold and drizzling. The conservatory had a constant line and was too busy for my taste, but it was still neat to see the butterflies.
You could easily spend four or five hours there if the weather is nice, especially when the gardens are in full bloom in the summer.
Remember the point of your artist date is to reconnect with yourself and rediscover what you enjoy. Read my artist date blog here.
Meijer Gardens is a great place to do that because it is safe and spread out with plenty to see and do. You easily blend in with the crowd. You can enjoy a leisurely walk or escape to a secluded spot for some quiet reflection.
I actually did return in December by myself for the Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. The outdoor light experience Winter Glow surrounding The American Horse was a festive addition.
Frederik Meijer Gardens is open year-round and offers a variety of seasonal exhibits, special programs, and membership perks. If you love flowers and perennial gardens, summer is probably the most opportune time to visit. But there is always something going on. Plan your trip by visiting meijergardens.org.
Butterfly connections
This is where it feels like I should wax philosophical and connect the butterfly’s metamorphosis and my own spiritual journey. Nothing profound pops to mind, other than the one constant in life is change.
Nothing is really guaranteed. Setbacks are par for the course. The universe is in constant flux. The natural world understands this.
Every spring, the butterflies, flowers, and trees do their thing.
Bud. Blossom. Bloom.
It’s almost like magic. Universal law and energy.
Author Julia Cameron talks a lot about this in The Artist’s Way book – opening yourself up to the abundance of the universe.
Trust and wait. Learn to pray and play. Find flow in your favorite creative activity. Have fun in the meantime.
Similar to the experience of Butterflies are Blooming: Enter. Explore. Soften. Surrender.
Rest when it storms
But if you think about the migratory journey of the monarch butterfly, it really is quite remarkable. They follow an internal “compass” and trust in the path and the plan. This compass guides them in the right direction each spring and fall, even when they aren’t sure where they are going or how they will get there.
Monarchs do not fly in the rain. The raindrops can damage their wings. So they learn to rest and wait it out. There is a profound lesson in this: It’s okay to rest during the storms of life.
Similarly, happiness is like a butterfly – elusive when we frantically chase after it.
In today’s chaotic world, it seems like we are always so busy fluttering about. Chasing after status and money. Staring at our phones. Longing to be anywhere but where we are. Hustling to keep a roof over our head, buy more stuff we don’t need, or keep up with the Joneses and all their shiny new things.
In the process, we miss out on joy and the simple pleasures right in front of us. The same can be said for a tireless and unsuccessful job search or anything that throws you off center and makes you question your worth.
My lesson from the butterflies: Stop chasing. Stop worrying. Start enjoying the present moment. Spread your wings and fly. And find a safe spot to rest – preferably in the sun – when you need to.
Marla R. Miller is an award-winning journalist, travel writer, and content marketing writer who lives in West Michigan. Please “like” or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Let me help grow your business. Check out my writing services or Read My Work.
