The Friendly Garden Club
 of Traverse City, MI

Plant Michigan, Plant Native

2020 Landscape Design Award Winners:  
Pirates Cove & Third Coast Bakery--Congratulations!

This year's large business landscape design award went to Pirates Cove, Adventure Park,   1710 US-31, Traverse City, MI 49686 .     Congratulations on your beautiful gardens!

Third Coast Bakery    523 Munson Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686  was awarded the small business landscape design award for its beautiful landscaping and gardens.  Congratulations!

2019 - 501(c)3 Grant Recipients to be implemented in 2020
(because of the cancellation of our Garden Walk fundraiser due to Covid-19, no money was available to award grants this year)


SAVING BIRDS THRU HABITAT – The grant will be used to enhance “Brian’s Garden” by planting an additional 12 native flowers (separate from the other native plant species) to this designed garden by Brian Zimmerman at Kay Charters.




TBA-ISD CAREER-TECH CENTER – This grant will fund two students from the TBA-ISD school of Agricultural/Horticulture to attend (2 days) at the FFA Convention at Michigan State University. This Education/Conference experience makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.




FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY – The grant will provide funding for completion of the landscaping around the Interlochen Public Library's sign. The landscaping is both practical and aesthetic, helping control runoff, sheltering the building, and providing year-round beauty.





MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE -- The grant money will be used for the development of the "Rain Water Collection Project," which will eliminate the need to haul water in gallon containers to the greenhouse.  The project may, also, entail the use of solar power for the well.


GRAND TRAVERSE CONSERVATION DISTRICT -- This grant will be used towards on-going children's gardening projects.    The GTCD provides many educational programs for children, including the Nature-Based Preschool Programming.  These programs provide “first nature experiences” that last a lifetime and help children nurture curiosity, empathy and wonder.  They also sponsor many day camps for students during the summer, guided nature hikes and nature exploration boxes, plus much more.

TBA-ISD -- Grant given towards the "Farm to School" program.  This program helps teachers teach their curriculum across all subjects using food, cooking, and gardening.  Students get to participate in cooking demonstrations, nutrition lessons, cafeteria taste testings, garden plots and field trips to farms where students can participate in hands-on learning.


ESSAY CONTEST AWARD --As part of our commitment to encourage Youth Environmental Education, The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City reached out to area high schools to invite student participation in the National, and Michigan Garden Clubs' essay contest: Challenges in Preserving Our Natural Habitats. The Friendly Garden Club awarded the top two student entrants with three hundred and two hundred dollars, respectively, to be used toward their educational expenses. The winners were, Anne Marie Myler of St. Francis High School, and Gracie Summerfield of Buckley High School. The Youth Gardening Committee hopes more students will enter the 2020-2021 essay challenge: Adapting Our Actions to Protect Our Natural Habitats. This award will be used as an incentive for local high school students to participate in an essay contest about our environment and the importance of caring for it.   All TCAPS high school students, St. Francis Catholic and Traverse City Christian high schools were invited to participate.   If you would like to read this year's winning essays, click on the link provided.       1st Place     2nd Place

2020 Thirty-Eighth GARDEN WALK--July 16 from 12-7 p.m. --CANCELLED
The 2021 Garden Walk will be held in the Long Lake/Interlochen area.  See you next year!

Thanks to all who attended our annual garden walks in the past.  Due to Covid-19 the 2020 Garden Walk is cancelled.  Below are some of the pictures from our previous Garden Walks and a list of our wonderful sponsors.  Looking forward to seeing you at our 2021 Garden Walk.
Ticket-Selling Sponsors 
Tickets available in advance for $10 at all * sponsors
Tickets available day of the walk for $12 at ** sponsors 
Barker Creek Nursery & Landscaping, Inc.* 
Four Season Nursery*
 Oryana Community Co-op*
 Traverse City Visitor's Center** 
Botanic Gardens @ Historic Barns Park*   
Garden Goods**
 Pine Hill Nursery at Village Gardens**
  Kewadin Location--only advance sales*
 Urban Diversions* 
 Breeze Hill Greenhouse*
Greystone Gardens*
 Skegemog Gardens*
Zimmerman's Landscaping, Inc* 
 Crystal Gardens*
Iris Farm*