Year-round educational programs for all ages are offered in our Visitor Center which also houses a library, exhibits, auditorium, meeting rooms and a gift shop. The service building, replacing the old barns was constructed in 1973. The Visitor Center building was built in 1965 and the conservatory was added in 1968. The original 200 acres have grown to 755 acres! This includes a 120 acre arboretum that was begun in 1962 and consists of plant groups such as crabapples, lilacs, maples, evergreens, and shrubs.Īnother benefactor of the Gardens, the Herrick family of Tecumseh, donated funds for many of the buildings. With his generous endowment under the direction of MSU's Horticulture Department, the Division of Campus Parks and Planning and presently Land Management, the Gardens has continued to develop with land acquisitions, construction of buildings, and the establishment of educational programs. He was actively involved in decision making at the Gardens until his death in 1955. Fee donated Hidden Lake Gardens to Michigan State University (then Michigan State College) in 1945 and his wish that the Gardens be for the benefit and education of the public has continued through the years. "When the idea that I was making a series of beautiful scenic pictures available to the Public and just when I decided to dedicate the Gardens to public service I do not remember.all subsequent work has been and should be continued with the prime object of its being for the Benefit of the Public." Mr. Much later, small parking areas were added at these vistas to allow the public to pause and enjoy the views. Fee called Juniper Hill, which is what we call it today. ".I determined to build a road which would make the several beautiful views to be had from various places on the property accessible." This road was built around the lake and later extended to the top of what Mr. The lake was cleaned out and the small pond and rock garden were constructed. 50 and landscaped it with a shrub and perennial border. Fee described Hidden Lake Gardens as a "dream as you go development". Not wanting to compete with local nurseries during the depression he planted the stock on his own land in an effort to create a "series of pictures," a philosophy that we continue to strive for today. He soon realized that the land was not suitable to conventional farming or raising livestock and so he began to grow nursery stock. He repaired and refurbished the old farmhouse, built a greenhouse, and began farming. He had always dreamed of owning a lake, and, upon his retirement in 1926, he purchased Hidden Lake along with 200 acres of land surrounding it. Hidden Lake Gardens was donated to Michigan State University (then Michigan State College) in 1945 by Harry A.
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