Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Happy #30Thursday! Today we celebrate 30 years since the opening of the Wege Nature Trail. This peaceful, winding path immerses visitors in the natural forests of West Michigan. The paved Wege Nature Trail, named for philanthropist Peter M. Wege, has been a part of Meijer Gardens since its early years. The Wege Nature Trail was designed to foster awareness of the diverse West Michigan ecosystems, offering a tranquil escape that seamlessly combines nature and education. #frederikmeijergardens #trail #grandrapids #thingstodo

Explore what it means to be human in Jaume Plensa's upcoming exhibition, A New Humanism. 🧠 "Sculpture is the best way to ask questions.” —Jaume Plensa Many of his works explore subjects that do not have easy answers or explanations, such as our dreams and private desires. This exhibition explores Jaume Plensa’s career-long engagement with themes common to our shared humanity. 📅 Opening October 24 at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. — Photo 1: Jaume Plensa, Jaume Plensa, “Firenze II,” 1992 © Plensa Studio Barcelona. Photo: Laura Medina Photo 2: Jaume Plensa, “Still 38,” 2021 c Plensa Studio Barcelona. Photo: Gasull Fotografia

The darker side of #SculptureSaturday  Magdalena Abakanowicz’s “Figure on a Trunk” stands tall and haunting—headless, hollow, cast in bronze. From every angle, its empty core whispers of survival, trauma and resilience, things the artist witnessed first-hand during World War II. This ghostly presence invites us to reflect on what remains after loss. — Magdalena Abakanowicz, “Figure on a Trunk,” 1998, Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer © Magdalena Abakanowicz #SpookySeason #Sculpture #Abakanowicz #ArtThatHaunts 📸:  Alex Martinez

Take a mindful pause at Meijer Gardens this World Mental Health Day. 🌿 All day today, Kent County residents enjoy 50% off general admission* and spend time surrounded by art and nature that can bring calm and renewal. 💚 *Offer valid October 10 for Kent County residents purchasing in person only. — Jonathan Borofsky. Male/Female, 2001. Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer. © Copyright, 2017, Jonathan Borofsky #mentalhealthawareness #meijergardens #grandrapids #thingstodo

This week’s #30Thursday takes us back to two unforgettable milestones in our 30-year history! 🐴 On October 7, 1999, we unveiled The American Horse—Nina Akamu’s awe-inducing sculpture inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s vision. The work is inspired in part by a work created by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci for the Duke of Milan, in the late 15th century. Fred Meijer championed the project in the late 1990s, resulting in two casts of the 24-foot monument: one for Meijer Gardens and one for the city of Milan, Italy.  🪨On October 9, 2012, the Boulder Placement Ceremony marked the beginning of our beloved The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. When we set out to create the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, we began not with shovels, but with a stone. Designer and builder Hoichi Kurisu invited us to mark the start of the project with a boulder placement ceremony. In Japanese garden tradition, boulders symbolize permanence, stability, and the enduring spirit of a place.  Kurisu himself visited a local West Michigan quarry, carefully selecting stones with the right qualities. That first boulder became the symbolic starting point of what is now one of the most beloved spaces at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Check out the two videos below for a deeper look into these monumental events: https://lnkd.in/edrSqxVw https://lnkd.in/e76Za2hK Were you here for either of these monumental moments? Share your memories below. We’d love to read them! #30thursday #meijergardens #theamericanhorse #japanesegarden #sculpture

Director of Communications, John VanderHaagen, sat down with Shelley Irwin to share what's new at Meijer Gardens during the Autumn months—including the newly installed Nick Cave piece, Amalgam (Origin). Tune in to the full interview below!

Today on World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire growth every day—much like the gardens around us. 👩🏫 From classrooms to conservatories, teachers nurture curiosity, creativity and wonder, helping students see the world in new ways. At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, we’re grateful for the many educators who bring their classes here to learn among art and nature. Thank you, teachers, for the seeds of knowledge you plant that blossom for a lifetime. EDUCATORS: Please join us for the upcoming Educator Night & Field Trip Expo on November 4. Click the link to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eG4Dv3Ss #worldteachersday #teachers #grandrapids #meijergardens

To round out our #SculptureSaturday month of trees, today’s sculpture Saturday highlight is Amalgam (Origin)! Now fully installed on the north side of our grounds, this is one of artist Nick Cave’s first bronze sculptures. Cast from found tree branches, vintage toile flowers, ceramic birds, and the artist’s own hands, it is a call for a celebration of diversity and unity. Come see it today!   — Nick Cave, “Amalgam (Origin),” 2024, Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer © Nick Cave. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Meet the Cephalocereus polylophus (formally named Neobuxbaumia polylopha) also known as the Golden Saguaro! 🌵 Native to Mexico, this towering beauty can reach up to 49 feet tall—almost as high as a five‑story building! Its tall, columnar shape is lined with golden-yellow spines that fade to gray over time and, in the summer, it shows off stunning magenta-red blooms that open at night. 🌙✨ Come see this desert giant for yourself, inside the Earl & Donnalee Holton Arid Garden! #aridgarden #cactus #meijergardens #grandrapids #horticulture #mexico #hispanicheritagemonth

Today, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park joined other community partners at the Grand Rapids Chamber Leading Partner Celebration, where we added our organization’s name to an esteemed roster of Chamber investors. At Meijer Gardens, we are committed to being a strong business and community partner in West Michigan and we are honored to join this list of Leading Partners!