Wendy Overbeck Dunham
Director of Horticulture Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Grand Rapids MI
Wendy oversees care and presentation of Meijer Gardens’ living collections—connecting guests to art, design, and the natural environment.
Media
Linkedin Profile
Biography
Wendy brings a wealth of horticulture experience from her 22 years at Meijer Gardens, preceded by positions at John Ball Zoo and the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps. She holds a bachelor of science degree in Zoology with a concentration in Zoo and Aquarium Science and a Specialization in Environmental Studies from Michigan State University.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Awaiting input from Wendy
- KS
Education
Michigan State University
B.S.
Zoology
2000
Affiliations
- Awaiting input from Wendy
Media Appearances
Thousands take flight for 30th Butterflies Are Blooming
WOOD-TV tv
2025-02-27
“Busy in the conservatory, because we’re full of butterflies, and busy because everybody’s coming to see them,” said Wendy Overbeck, the director of horticulture at Meijer Gardens.
Big and small: A look at the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit
WOOD-TV tv
2025-02-26
“That butterfly is unique because its wings are, in fact, clear as the name suggests,” said Wendy Overbeck Dunham, director of horticulture at Frederick Meijer Gardens.
Immerse yourself in fluttering wonder: Meijer Gardens celebrates 30 years of tropical butterflies
WZZM-TV13 tv
2025-02-04
Coming soon, an exhibit at Meijer Gardens that will leave you flutterstruck!
Mum's The Word: Michigan's largest Chrysanthemum display at Frederik Meijer Gardens
FOX 17 Grand Rapids tv
2025-10-02
“Each season carries its own wonder, but autumn feels like a cherished farewell before winter’s solitude and why we especially love celebrating this fleeting time of year at Meijer Gardens,” said Wendy Overbeck Dunham, Director of Horticulture at Meijer Gardens, in a press release. “The colors may soften from summer’s vivid display, yet their beauty runs just as deep as you will see by our floral displays – inviting us to linger a little longer outdoors, wrapped in the promise of the holidays ahead.”
Meijer Gardens: Short window to see rare corpse flower in bloom
WZZM-13 (ABC Grand Rapids) tv
2024-06-11
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Love the smell of rotting flesh in the morning? You'll want to make your way to Frederik Meijer Gardens this weekend as a rare corpse flower blooms—releasing the scent of decaying animals or rotting flesh.
Style
Articles
4 Natural Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Winter Garden Beds
Martha Stewart2025
“To keep things pretty and protected, try planting dense ground covers as a living barrier,” says Wendy Overbeck Dunham, the director of horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Adding boxwood shrubs may seem like overkill for a smaller bed, but their dense foliage will keep out even the most inquisitive of squirrels.
How Long Poinsettias Really Last—and How You Can Maximize Their Lifespan
Martha StewartThey don't have to be one-season wonders, and can last long after the holiday season—although they won't look vibrant all throughout the year. “The real flowers are the tiny yellow structures in the center," says Wendy Overbeck Dunham, the director of horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. "Because those bracts need very specific light conditions to color up, they won’t stay bright year-round."
7 Fall Gardening Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Perennials—and What to Do Instead
Martha StewartPruning too early can cause problems. “Cutting foliage before it naturally dies back prevents plants from storing enough energy in their roots, leaving them weaker when spring arrives," says Wendy Overbeck Dunham, director of horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
How to Grow Native Holly for Beautiful Winter Color—Even After the Holidays
Martha Stewart2026
They're wonderful pollinator plants, too. Native hollies have small spring flowers for butterflies and bees, according to Wendy Overbeck Dunham, director of horticulture at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
