Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a leading cultural institution integrating horticulture, art, and education on a 158-acre campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Featuring a major international sculpture collection, innovative indoor and outdoor gardens, and a landmark tropical conservatory, Meijer Gardens serves millions of visitors with exhibitions, public programming, and research initiatives. Recognized globally and honored by USA TODAY as the nation’s Best Sculpture Park (2023–2025), the organization advances its mission to promote enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, and the natural environment.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

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APGA - American Public Gardens Association

ACS - American Conifer Society

Is it, or isn't it? Poison ivy look-a-likes

Botanical Briefs: The Mango Tree—Mangifera indica L

Botanical Briefs: Garlic—Allium sativum

Botanical Briefs: The Scourge of India—Parthenium hysterophorus L

Botanical Briefs: Buttercup— Ranunculus Species L

The combining of sculpture and gardens dates back centuries if not millennia, and there are few public gardens I know of that do not incorporate sculpture into their aesthetics and identity at some point. This week we are in conversation with an exemplary public garden, whose identity grows out of this pairing: the art of horticulture and the art of sculpture. The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan is “proudly ranked as one of the top 45 most visited museums in the world” and their award winning gardens “showcase over 200 captivating sculptures,” inviting visitor to experience what they see as the “perfect blend of art and nature.”

We’re joined this week by Steve LaWarre, the Vice President of Horticulture at Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to share more.

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The Art of Gardens + Sculpture: Frederik Meijer Sculpture Gardens Grand Rapids, MI

be nice., Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, National Broadway Theatre, and i understand.

The Shelley Irwin Show for 11-24-25

Steve LaWarre is the Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where his visionary leadership and passion for botanical excellence have been instrumental in shaping Meijer Gardens' stunning landscapes and ensuring operational excellence.

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.

Horticulture

Landscaping

Landscape Design

Landscape Architecture

Landscape Management

Gardening

Garden Design

Plant Care

Plant Propagation

Botany

Sustainable Gardening Practices

Ecological Restoration

English

The largest tropical butterfly exhibition in the country returns to Grand Rapids for its 31st year

7,000 butterflies from 4 continents will soon fill Frederik Meijer Gardens

Beyond Wild Expectations: Michigan’s Very Own Slice of Japan – Where Ancient Garden Design Provides a Deep Connection to Nature

ENLIGHTEN returns for a second year at Grand Rapids’ Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

ENLIGHTEN returns: Frederik Meijer Gardens lights up West Michigan for the holidays

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park offer many events this holiday season

Mums at Meijer Gardens' returns this October

Frederik Meijer Gardens marks 30 years as major Michigan cultural destination

Largest butterfly exhibit lands in Grand Rapids

Mums at Meijer Gardens now underway in Grand Rapids

Fall colors to turn early due to dry September

Episode #502 - Great Explorations

The Art Of Gardens + Sculpture: Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Steve Lawarre, Grand Rapids, MI

Rare, heinous-smelling corpse flower blooms at Michigan conservatory

Stinky 'Corpse Flower' In Full Bloom at Michigan Garden

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Celebrating 30 Years of Meijer Gardens with Steve LaWarre and Ian Warnock

Designing a Green Roof for Broad Ecosystem Services

Join host Shelley Irwin as she brings you captivating segments and interviews with a diverse range of guests, covering local and regional topics spanning community, lifestyle, health, and more. Subscribe for an on-demand dose of thought-provoking content, offering an intimate look at the stories shaping Grand Rapids and West Michigan.

The Shelley Irwin Show

Gardens are more than collections of plants. Gardens and Gardeners are intersectional spaces and agents for positive change in our world. Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden is a weekly public radio program & podcast exploring what we mean when we garden. Through thoughtful conversations with growers, gardeners, naturalists, scientists, artists and thinkers, Cultivating Place illustrates the many ways in which gardens are integral to our natural and cultural literacy. These conversations celebrate how these interconnections support the places we cultivate, how they nourish our bodies, and feed our spirits. They change the world, for the better. Take a listen.

Cultivating Place

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Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming Exhibit (March 1-April 30)

Senior Vice President

We all look for signs of spring that herald the changing of seasons – buds bursting on trees, plants pushing out of the ground, and migratory birds returning. But there is another sure sign of spring, and it takes place annually at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan – Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming (March 1-April 30).

The largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States, Butterflies Are Blooming welcomes visitors into the 80-degree, five-story, 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory that is a paradise for thousands of butterflies  flying freely all around. More than 7,000 chrysalides representing over 60 species travel to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park throughout the exhibit's duration from tropical countries including Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

 Steve LaWarre is the Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where his visionary leadership and passion for botanical excellence have been instrumental in shaping Meijer Gardens' stunning landscapes and ensuring operational excellence. View his profile  “Butterflies at Meijer Gardens is a quintessential springtime tradition for families across West Michigan and beyond, and we look forward to ushering in the start of our fourth decade of offering this magical tradition,” said Steve LaWarre, senior vice president at Meijer Gardens.  Click on the link to learn more:   7,000 butterflies from 4 continents will soon fill Frederik Meijer Gardens, MLive, Feb. 17, 2026





The exhibition also offers guests up-close experiences at butterfly feeding stations, where  tropical fruit slices and nectar-rich plants attract the butterflies, and at the Observation Station, where 1,200 chrysalides arrive at Meijer Gardens each week and transform into butterflies and moths. Additionally, the exhibition features vibrant floral displays, including arches of foliage and blooms in varied hues; unique nectar plant varieties; and colorful arrangements of air plants, bromeliads, and orchids.

Guests also can visit the butterfly release stations to watch newly emerged butterflies make their debut and take their first flight as the stars of the show. 

“Guests can partake in everything from an immersive visit to the tropical conservatory with thousands of butterflies overhead, to a butterfly-themed program such as our new Bourbon & Butterflies events this year," said LaWarre.    If you are looking to cover  spring-related garden stories, including about Butterflies are Blooming, connect with Steve below. 

West Michigan Home to Largest Temporary Butterfly Exhibit

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As public gardens increasingly become spaces for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and mindful reflection, Steven LaWarre, Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, recently offered his expert insight to Homes and Gardens Magazine into how world-class garden design can shape human experience, invite contemplation, and connect visitors with nature in deeply meaningful ways.

With decades of experience in professional horticulture and garden planning, LaWarre has played a central role in creating and nurturing Meijer Gardens' Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, guiding its interpretive programming, and curating visitor interaction with seasonal changes and design elements.

 Steve LaWarre is the Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where his visionary leadership and passion for botanical excellence have been instrumental in shaping the Gardens' stunning landscapes and ensuring operational excellence.   He leads efforts to sustain the Gardens' exceptional standards in landscape design, sustainable gardening practices, and the care of diverse plant collections. View his profile here The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, an eight-acre landscape inspired by centuries-old Japanese horticultural principle, has rapidly evolved into one of the Midwest’s most beloved cultural destinations. Beyond aesthetic beauty, the garden embodies philosophical traditions that encourage visitors to slow down, observe impermanence, and appreciate harmony between the human spirit and the natural world. As audiences seek spaces that offer quiet reflection, seasonal observation, and cultural resonance, LaWarre’s expertise bridges horticulture, design intention, and visitor experience.

Read the Homes and Garden Magazine article 'Beyond Wild Expectations: Michigan’s Very Own Slice of Japan – Where Ancient Garden Design Provides a Deep Connection to Nature' below:  Expert Insight  Steven LaWarre on the Japanese Garden Experience On Winter’s Quiet Presence “It’s just beautiful covered in snow. You hear the waterfalls differently, you see ice sweep over the pond. Everything feels a bit more muffled in the winter, but it somehow puts you at ease,” LaWarre explains, highlighting how seasonal change reveals structure, silence, and contemplative calm.  On Spring’s Renewal “The first flush of leaves on the trees is a joyful sight after winter. The small chartreuse green buds contrast to the dark stems,” LaWarre observes, describing the ephemeral nature of bloom and the reminder of restoration that seasonal transformation offers visitors.  On Core Garden Elements “The conifers create a backbone of the garden, recognizable in all four seasons… they have been pruned and shaped over time to really create the caricature of a tree,” LaWarre notes, outlining the horticultural artistry behind traditional practices like niwaki pruning.  On Cultural Immersion and Mindful Reflection LaWarre describes the garden’s traditional teahouse experience as more than cultural spectacle: “It’s a way to really quiet the senses and participate in mindful reflection, aided by the serenity of garden views… It’s an opportunity to connect with the people you’re with, but also to connect with yourself.”  On Design Intent and Human Experience “It’s taught me to look at things differently. As humans, we can be focused on achieving neat lines and symmetry, but taking a moment to observe your surroundings will reveal this isn’t usually how things are in the natural world,” LaWarre reflects, capturing how garden design can subtly reshape perception.  In a cultural moment where audiences increasingly seek restorative outdoor experiences, cultural depth, and mindful engagement with public spaces, LaWarre offers perspective and insight into:
How garden design influences perception, supports wellness, and fosters cross-cultural appreciation How public gardens are not solely as spaces of beauty, but also living environments that shape emotional and philosophical engagement with the natural world  Steve can bring this perspective for media interviews and speaking engagements.


Designing Reflection: An Expert’s View Inside Michigan’s Japanese Garden

In celebration of our 30th anniversary, Senior Vice President Steve LaWarre and Senior Horticulture Lead Ian Warnock will reminisce about their journey designing and caring for our lush landscapes and groundbreaking projects. Join us for their conversation reflecting upon the rich tapestry of innovation and dedication that has shaped Meijer Gardens into a world-class destination to experience art, culture and nature.

This annual lecture is made possible by the generosity of the Secchia family. 

Applies toward Certified Green Industry Professional Continued Education Unit (CEU)

Secchia Garden Lecture: Celebrating 30 Years of Meijer Gardens with Steve LaWarre and Ian Warnock

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's Director of Horticulture Steve LaWarre introduces us to the weird and wonderful world of ant plants! Ant plants have a symbiotic relationship with an ant colony that lives inside the plant. Steve explains how this relationship works, and shows us a look inside the structure of these plants.

Ant Plants

Join Vice President of Horticulture Steve LaWarre as he talks about the variety of plants you might find when exploring the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. 
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This year’s exhibition highlights the microscopic detail and beauty of butterflies. Join us as we discover the intimate, wondrous world of butterflies. The magic is truly in the details! For more details, please visit: https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/butterflies-are-blooming

Zooming In On Flowers

Join Vice President of Horticulture Steve LaWarre as he talks about the unique variety of chrysalids on display in our Observation Station!
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This year’s exhibition highlights the microscopic detail and beauty of butterflies. Join us as we discover the intimate, wondrous world of butterflies. The magic is truly in the details! For more details, please visit: https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/butterflies-are-blooming

Zooming In On Chrysalides

Daily 8 anchor Phil Pinarski talked with Steve Lawarre of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park about this October's "Mums at Meijer Gardens" event. (Oct. 1, 2025)

'Mums at Meijer Gardens' returns this October

Step into a world aglow. Meijer Gardens transforms into a luminous wonderland of glowing pathways, interactive installations, and seasonal soundscapes. Nights shimmer, art breathes, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

MeijerGardens.org/enlighten/

ENLIGHTEN at Meijer Gardens Presented by PNC Bank

We're thrilled to announce the opening of the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden! Vice President of Horticulture, Steve LaWarre, explains more about this garden in our latest video. Come out and experience this new garden today! For more information, visit our website at: https://www.meijergardens.org/discover/

The Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden

Have you ever wondered why or how trees change color and drop their leaves in the fall? Vice President of Horticulture Steve LaWarre explains what happens to these plants at the cellular level this time of year that accounts for vibrant sights. 

Chrysanthemums & More! runs September 17 - October 31, 2021. Visit our website for more information: https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/chrysanthemums-and-more/

The Art and Science of Fall Color Change

The Richard &amp; Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens &amp; Sculpture Park

Every bonsai should tell a story."

Director of Horticulture Steve LaWarre is showing one of the trees in the Meijer Gardens bonsai collection, and sharing its story with you.

Bonsai Collection at Meijer Gardens - Juniper

Director of Horticulture Steve LaWarre talks about one of the trees in our bonsai collection, a Ponderosa Pine, and explores some characteristics that make a good bonsai tree.

Bonsai Collection at Meijer Gardens - Ponderosa Pine

It’s located in the middle of the 158 acre main campus embracing horticulture and sculpture.

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Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture -Frederik Meijer Gardens &amp; Sculpture Park

We have Banana Trees growing in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory! 

Banana Trees 

Join Steve LaWarre, Senior Vice President of Horticulture, as he shares helpful tips to enhance your butterfly experience. 

⏰ Extended hours—enjoy extended spring break hours March 29 and April 1–5. We are open normal hours Sunday, March 31, from 11 am–5 pm.

Join Vice President of Horticulture, Steve LaWarre, as he talks about some unique blooms within the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.

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