Steve LaWarre
Senior Vice President Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Grand Rapids MI
Steve LaWarre's leadership and passion for botanical excellence help shape Meijer Gardens' stunning landscapes and operational success.
Media
Linkedin Profile
Biography
With decades of expertise, Steve oversees the strategic direction of the horticulture, facilities, and maintenance teams. He leads efforts to sustain exceptional standards in landscape design, sustainable gardening practices, and the care of diverse plant collections. Under his leadership, the facilities and maintenance teams ensure that all infrastructure and systems operate seamlessly, supporting Meijer Gardens as a welcoming and inspiring space for all guests.
Steve’s holistic approach integrates the strengths of horticulture, facilities, and maintenance, ensuring Meijer Gardens remains a harmonious blend of art, culture, and nature. His dedication to fostering excellence is evident in the meticulous care of Meijer Gardens’ landscapes, infrastructure, and visitor experience, embodying the mission to inspire through the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Awaiting input from Steve
KS
Education
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Field Study
Tropical Botany, Ethnobotany
1991
Eastern Illinois University
B.S.
Botany/Plant Biology
1993
Affiliations
- Awaiting input from Steve
Media Appearances
Beyond Wild Expectations: Michigan’s Very Own Slice of Japan – Where Ancient Garden Design Provides a Deep Connection to Nature
Homes & Gardens online
2025-12-15
Senior Vice President Steve LaWarre, who worked closely with Hoichi, says even when buried beneath a layer of snow, the garden encourages its visitors to look inward and seek a new point of view – to access a sense of renewal through ancient principles of Japanese garden design.
ENLIGHTEN returns for a second year at Grand Rapids’ Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
WGVU-FM radio
2025-11-25
Senior Vice President Steve LaWarre says ENLIGHTEN has become a new Meijer Gardens tradition, this year’s experience different from the last.
ENLIGHTEN returns: Frederik Meijer Gardens lights up West Michigan for the holidays
Spectrum News online
2025-11-24
"I am really, really excited about enlightened here at Meijer Garden," said Steve LaWarre, senior vice president at the park. "It's an opportunity for you to see the gardens and the artwork in a brand-new light. It's about a mile trip through the whole grounds, and then you end in the building to see the over 40 traditions that are part of the University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas and Holiday Traditions."
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park offer many events this holiday season
The Shelley Irwin Show, WGVU radio
2025-11-24
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park offers many events for the holiday season. We talk to Steve LaWare about Christmas and Holiday Traditions, an expanded Amphitheater Spectacle, unique culinary experiences, and a tease of Enlighten.
Mums at Meijer Gardens' returns this October
WOOD-TV8 (NBC-Grand Rapids) tv
2025-10-01
Daily 8 anchor Phil Pinarski talked with Steve Lawarre of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park about this October's "Mums at Meijer Gardens" event.
Frederik Meijer Gardens marks 30 years as major Michigan cultural destination
MLive online
2025-04-20
Steve LaWarre, the gardens’ senior vice president, joined Meijer Gardens in 1997 as a grower.
He said the Grand Rapids attraction has grown into a destination spot not only in the state but also in the entire country because of its combination of art, culture and nature.
Largest butterfly exhibit lands in Grand Rapids
WDIV (NBC-Detroit) tv
2025-03-28
One of the largest butterfly exhibits has landed in West Michigan.
Mums at Meijer Gardens now underway in Grand Rapids
94.9 WSJM radio
2024-10-10
If you’re looking for a fun fall activity, you may want to check out Mums at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.
The event used to be called Chrysanthemums and More and there are thousands of mums indoors and out. Meijer Gardens Senior Vice President Steve LaWarre says they expect tens of thousands of visitors for the display.
“Just hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins and gourds, and we’ve got these upright towers, cornucopias, if you will, of gourds and pumpkins,” LeWarre said. “The grounds are absolutely beautiful.”
Fall colors to turn early due to dry September
FOX 17 tv
2024-09-18
Steve LaWarre, senior vice president at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, tells me that this September is not exactly normal. “I think the best fall color comes when we've had what we would consider a normal year,” LaWarre said. “When we have a September like this, where, by our records here at Meijer Gardens, we’re about two inches below normal September; there's less water that's available to move through.”
The Art Of Gardens + Sculpture: Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Steve Lawarre, Grand Rapids, MI
Cultivating Place Foundation Podcast online
2024-03-14
We’re joined this week by Steve LaWarre, the Vice President of Horticulture at Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to share more.
Episode #502 - Great Explorations
J Schwanke's Life in Bloom | PBS tv
2023-04-08
J visits The Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is another Flower Exploration. J Interviews Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture to learn more about how the Japanese Garden was created and learn more about the design and concept behind these authentic Japaneses Gardens here in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
Rare, heinous-smelling corpse flower blooms at Michigan conservatory
CBC News online
2018-07-13
The rare corpse flower, as it's commonly known, has a stench that some describe as rotting meat. But the horticulturists at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich. don't seem to mind.
Their 18-year-old corpse flower, named Putricia, has finally bloomed.
"The moment you walk in the doors of the conservatory, the whole room had a pretty bad odour," said Steve LaWarre, director of horticulture at Frederik Meijer.
Stinky 'Corpse Flower' In Full Bloom at Michigan Garden
CBS News online
2018-07-13
The whole conservatory currently smells and the flower's signature stench lives up to the hype, said Steve LaWarre, Meijer Gardens' horticulture director. Visitors have described the odor as similar to rotten Vidalia onions and mice in an old gym bag.
Event Appearances
Celebrating 30 Years of Meijer Gardens with Steve LaWarre and Ian Warnock
Secchia Garden Lecture Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
2025-03-11
Designing a Green Roof for Broad Ecosystem Services
Grand Rapids Grey to Green Conference Grand Rapids, MI
2023-08-10
Style
Articles
Is it, or isn't it? Poison ivy look-a-likes
American Journal of Contact Dermatitis2000
Poison ivy causes more allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) than any other cause. Although physicians rightfully focus on the treatment of the dermatitis, prevention will be aided by recognition of the foreboding plant. Likewise, many other plants can masquerade as poison ivy and cause one to needlessly curtail his or her activities because of fear of a bad reaction. The most common poison ivy pretenders in the United States are discussed, and distinguishing plant characteristics are highlighted.
