Whether they walk the grounds for the first time or the 1000th, we aim to surprise and inspire visitors with our seasonal gardens that welcome nature lovers on their arrival to the Visitor Center. This year’s design is inspired by Alexander Calder, the inventor of the hanging mobile. His art can be found in prestigious venues outside the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) and downtown Grand Rapids, to dangling from the ceiling of a local Grosse Pointe Library. Born in 1898 in Law

Enjoy a Collection of Indoor and Outdoor Floral Arrangements Created by Monica Sabella

Published March 2025 Just like that, the cozy, lazy days of winter are behind us. Honestly, it felt like it happened overnight. I’ve never been one for the cold, but I did enjoy the slower pace. Even back in January, I could feel the pressure of warmer weather creeping in—and now, here we are. My team is already packing up our maple syrup gear and bottling the last of this year’s sweet harvest. We only produced 90 bottles this season—down from our usual 100+—so if you want on

Published Feb, 2025 February – the season of love and romance. This year, Ford House celebrated Valentine’s Day with a delicious dinner, crooners, and a colorful cabaret theme. Each guest went home with their very own bouquet made with love by yours truly. It was an exciting challenge for me because, with an order of 40 arrangements, this was the single largest floral order I’ve had to complete. I’m not classically trained, and I tend to allow flowers to guide and inspire me

Published Jan. 2025 Short winter days can sure feel long without a bright sun and a flash of color to boost your mood. But don’t worry—our landscaping team has been hard at work planning something special! Before the first snowflake fell, we were brainstorming ways to give the Inspiration Garden a much-needed makeover. For a few years now, this quiet haven has been tucked away, hidden behind tall, bushy ornamental grasses. It’s been a little forgotten—but not for much longer.

Cabbage “worms” aka the larvae are small green caterpillars with yellow stripes and a large appetite.

Although plants can survive some damaged leaves, flea beetles carry bacteria, viruses and other diseases from one plant to the next.

There are six different sawfly varieties, some attack hibiscus, roses, and trees like the pear, ash, oak, pine and dogwood.

Likely transported in soil to western nurseries this invasive species is notorious for eating everything and anything in its path.

These pests are known plant suckers that feed on juices of plants with their piercing beaks, causing plants to shrivel or mutate.

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist, Journalist As the summer months set in and the weather begins to change, spring blooms and cut flowers make the best bouquets, turning any dinner table to a meal at the Ritz. A complete novice to floral displays, I decided to research the principles to mastering the perfect bouquet so my holidays at home would complete. According to the State Floral , there are five tangible principles all florists should follow to create the perfect displ

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist and Journalist Nature is filled with a vast supply of resources and with the holidays closing in, I’m turning to mother earth for a little help for Christmas presents this year. With a handful of herbs, peppers, vinegar, fruit and water, the world is your oyster. Choose your cuisine, the internet says. With just a few ingredients, you can turn a basket of produce into a beautiful and tasty Italian giardiniera or a can of tomato sauce. Cook do

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist and Journalist Frosty winter winds blow in and send the trees to sleep and, unfortunately, the bugs to shelter. Sometimes that shelter can be the warm and cozy comfort of your home. Here are a few pests to watch out for this winter and how to prevent intrusion. The best way to prepare is to survey the most common entry points. The attic, the garage, the basement, the roof and the chimney should be checked for cracks or ware and tear. Cracks a

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist and Journalist I work as a rosarian and horticulturalist at a beautiful estate in southeast Michigan. One of my main duties is to care for the breathtaking and fragrant rose gardens on the property. They date back to the 1920’s so it’s a big responsibility. Winter is coming, so to ensure that our roses survive to next year there are a few things I have to do. Different varieties of roses require different care. Some are hardier than others. D

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist, Journalist The art of foraging has existed since the stone age, traveling through the centuries from the shelves of so-called witches and the pots of medicine men. Although, transcended by modern medicine, a movement has emerged to return to the old ways. One social media influencer stood out from the rest when New York gave her center stage for creating a safe space for minorities to explore wildcrafting. Dressed in frilly attire and makeu

By Monica Sabella, Horticulturist, Journalist A newb to vegetable gardening, imagine my surprise when I walked out to the garden and found a small black beetle with bright orange stripes trailing down its back creating havoc in my paradise. Yes, it was the four-lined plant bug. With a pinching, sucker it was draining the life from my plants one nutrient at a time. Partnered with the other seasonal dangers and pests, my crops didn’t stand a chance against this monstrosity. So

By Monica Sabella, Master Gardener, Horticulturist, Journalist Sprays of native grasses, colorful perennials and dazzling annuals are a Midwestern classic. But a pop of citrine or fushia from a tropical coleus, dracena or banana plant is the perfect way to add variety and a unique touch to your summer garden. Michigan’s humid summers and recent heavy rainfalls are great for a variety of tropical plants. The majority of concern lies deep beneath the surface, it’s the root of

By Monica Sabella - Master Gardener, Journalist With the season springing into gear, the anticipation of a healthy harvest can drive eager gardeners to do whatever it takes to protect their crops. A quick spray is fast, easy and cheap, but disposing excess chemicals and containers require a little more care and forethought if we want to protect the things we love. A few drops sit at the bottom of a Miracle Grow container. It’s about five years old, gathering dust on the shelf