See These Gorgeous Buds + Blooms
From lush botanical gardens that cover 110 acres in color to delicate Japanese ones revered as some of the most authentic in North America — these gardens in the Great Lakes Bay are unforgettable. Explore them all!
GO GREAT GARDENS TOUR
Dow Gardens
Midland
Dow Gardens
Begin your botanical tour within Dow Gardens' 110-acre oasis. See 22,000 bulbs emerging each spring — plus 35,000 annuals in spring & summer — and pack a picnic to enjoy on the grassy lawns. Stroll the Color, Rose, and Estate Gardens, among others, and pause to snap pictures of architectural bridges and tranquil water features.
Midland
Just a half-mile from Dow Gardens, Dahlia Hill hosts an eight-level terrace, blanketed in 3,000 dahlias of 300 varieties! Visit for free — dawn to dusk, July to October — and say you've seen all 19 dahlia petal types, sprinkled in with impressive sculpture.
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Bay City
Situated in Bay City's waterfront Veterans Memorial Park, this 12-acre arboretum boasts well-maintained plantings — and a stretch of scenic Riverwalk that spans the full length of the park!
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Saginaw
Visit the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden at Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum to experience botanical beds graced by gorgeous bronze sculpture. Enjoy the fresh air (and the views) before exploring even more inside the Museum!
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Saginaw
Saginaw Art Museum
As if the art inside this Georgian-Revival mansion weren't enough, its Italianate gardens offer even more eye-candy! Walk the beautifully hedged garden rows (and spot blooms like Japanese anemone) before exploring the Museum's permanent collection and rotating art exhibitions.
Saginaw
Stroll in serenity at the Japanese Cultural Center. Tucked along the peaceful banks of Lake Linton, these Japanese gardens are considered some of the most authentic in North America! Wander past the bamboo gates to weeping cherry blossoms and tranquil water features — and reserve time for a Traditional Tea Ceremony.
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Saginaw
Centered around a sparkling pool and fountain anchored by Marshall M. Fredericks' sculpture, this manicured rose garden includes over 200 rose bushes, alongside flowering shrubs, trees, and plants. Watch for annual events like Art & Garden Festival or Jazz in the Garden!
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Frankenmuth
Dedicated in honor of Frankenmuth's German sister city, Gunzenhausen, Memorial Park Rose Garden offers a secluded setting where you can stop to smell the roses — or picnic on its expertly groomed lawns!
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Downtown Frankenmuth
Find More Florals
Along the City Streets
Stroll through Downtown Frankenmuth to take in the beauty of 200+ hanging flower baskets — or cruise through Midland Blooms, a 2.5-mile floral corridor that flanks both sides of Eastman Avenue in bright pops of color! You could also enjoy elaborate gardens at Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance, complete with a shaded pergola and reflecting pool.
MAP YOUR GO GREAT GARDENS TOUR
Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road
University Center,
MI
48710
120 Ezra Rust Drive
Saginaw,
MI
48601
Go Great Museums Tour
From a historical museum in an enchanting castle to a naval ship museum aboard a National Historic Landmark — chances to dive into the region's rich history are here.
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