LEILA ARBORETUM SOCIETY'S CHILDREN'S GARDEN

Part of the Battle Creek Parks system, Leila Arboretum Society offers visitor the chance to get in touch with nature and learn about horticulutre first-hand. Read below about our new Children's Garden, now open!

Location and Contact

We have education programs for groups from Pre-School to 6th grade, all following Michigan curriculum guidelines - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND INFO

Group Admission, 10 or more: Children $2.50, Adults $3.50, Seniors $3;
Group Admission, 2-9: Children $3, Adults $5, Seniors $4.
Programs: (2-30 individuals) $25; add $25 for each additional group of 30 individuals

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Leila Arboretum Society Children's Garden
The Major Theme Areas and the Mini Gardens Within:

1. Cupola Science Plaza
Explore historically important plants and their contributions to science in the following areas:

Science Maze
This "green" maze provides an exciting route to learn about Battle Creek history and the particular role two plants, wheat and corn, played in helping Battle Creek earn the name, "Cereal City." Visitors will learn how “a-MAZE-ing” and ”a-MAIZE-ing” plants are!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Celebrate the importance of peanuts and strawberries in Battle Creek's history if you don’t mind looking above and below the ground! Don’t miss the opportunity to walk right through this “Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich” at the end of the Science Maze.

Cupola Compass Circle
This restored Cupola at the heart of the Compass Circle was originally part of the historic Battle Creek Fieldstone Building that opened its doors way back in 1900 and was unfortunately demolished in 1985. Fortunately, the cupola and some of its fieldstones were salvaged from this historic building. In the Children’s Garden, they serve as symbols for Battle Creek's history and health food industry. The four theme beds surrounding the Cupola help visitors discover not only the scientific as well as historical connections we have with plants but also important ways we use plants:

· Color and Fiber Garden. Without plants, we would not have blue jeans! Find out about plants that make us cry and give us color as well as plants that provide us with materials that we use to make cloth.

· Green Discovery Garden. Plants have been the subjects of much scientific research. In some way or another, each one of these plants has allowed us to gain a better understanding of the science that affects every aspect of our lives!

· Mitten Veggie Garden. Find out about the history behind plants such as celery and sugar beets and why they are an important part of Michigan's agricultural history.

· Pioneer Medicine Garden. Plants have a long history of being used for their healing properties. What plants helped soothe the tummies of early Michigan pioneers and other common ailments?

2. Healthy Me
The Healthy Me area reaches out to children through their stomachs to make nutritious and tasty connections to the plants in their daily lives. Don’t forget to visit the Doctor’s office on your way to My Backyard. The centerpiece of this area is a giant Salad Bowl Garden, with the following four mini gardens radiating outward:

Pizza Garden. Time and time again, kids rank pizza as their favorite food. This garden features plants needed to make a pizza! From the wheat that is needed to make the crust, to the tomatoes and basil that go into the pizza sauce, all the way to the marigold "cheese," it's no wonder there's already one slice of pizza missing!

Spa Garden. It's impossible to miss this bathtub “bubbling over” with plants. Experience the plants that we commonly use to make popular bathroom products such as wonderfully smelling, relaxing, and luxurious soaps and shampoos. Using the senses of touch, smell, and sound are highly recommended in this garden! Absolutely don't miss the chance to see a living vegetable sponge!

Top Ten Veggies Garden. You don't have to wonder anymore about the funny vegetables that end up on your plate! They are there because they are good for you! These vegetables have been rated most nutritious by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Healing Herbs Garden. Find out about plants used by early settlers to make medicine and experience the sights and sounds of the unique Bubbling Urn fountain.

3. Cereal Bowl
Battle Creek is known as the "Breakfast Capital of the World" and the Children's Garden would not be complete without a garden highlighting its cereal fame. The Cereal Garden consists of a "larger-than-life" cereal bowl planted with cereal grains, a millstone that at one time was used to grind grains, a Breakfast table complete with place settings, a Fruit Toppers Garden that showcases the trees and shrubs from which we obtain the fruit we put on top of our cereal, and uniquely planted milk pails.

4. Rain and Shine Garden
Sundial. A visit to the Children’s Garden would not be complete without a little playtime in the sun! That’s why a visitor is required in order for this “old-fashioned” timepiece to work. By stepping into the footprints next to the appropriate month and raising their right hand, the shadow they cast reveals what time it is! Biorhythmic plants that open and close at different times surround the area, including four-o'-clocks, moon flowers, and evening primroses.

Balloon Overlook. Battle Creek is also well known for its Hot Air Balloon Championship and Air Show held each summer. At the Balloon Overlook, children can get a view over the garden when they climb into the basket of the famous Bob’s Cat hot air balloon, donated by Robert Kinsinger, the “founding father of hot-air ballooning” in Battle Creek. Plantings reflect the colors and patterns in the hot air balloon. Why not float above the clouds for a while?

5. My Back Yard
My Backyard is complete with a back porch, a swing, and a girl named Mary! Children will find themselves surrounded by simple yet creative ideas that will allow them to dig into gardening at home! A number of these theme areas will change each season. In 2003, My Back Yard will include the following areas:

Multicultural Gardens. These specialty gardens will bring to life the cultural traditions of the people of Battle Creek! What better way to do this than to create gardens that include plants that are used by various cultures to make food we all love to eat? The Chinese American Garden showcases unique vegetables commonly used in their kitchens; the Latino Garden focuses on fruits and vegetables that bring out the distinctive flavors in their popular style of cooking; the Out-of-Africa Garden celebrates plants that have roots in the African culture; the Three Sisters Garden teaches visitors about the traditional Native American planting technique which involves the use of corn, beans, and squash.

Storybook Gardens. Popular children's stories will be brought to life in storybook gardens. In the Peter Rabbit garden, children will see what mischief Peter Rabbit gets himself into while in McGregor's garden; in the Jack and the Beanstalk Garden, visitors will witness the spectacle of the amazing bean that Jack grew.

Idea Garden. There are no rules to gardening! The sky’s the limit when it comes to growing plants! Displayed in the Idea Garden are number of fun and easy ways to get “growing.” Don’t miss the Barrel Water Garden, Rock Garden, Unusual Containers Garden, and the Red White, and Blue Garden.

My(MI) Garden. The Children’s Garden belongs to all children in Michigan and beyond! My Garden is also the MI (the abbreviation for the state of Michigan) Garden, where children can find their favorite plants and some neat plants that were “born” in Michigan a long time ago.

The Rot Zone. Kids will learn all about what gardeners refer to as "black gold," why plants love it, and how to make it! Visitors will see the various stages that organic material goes through on its way to becoming compost by peering into a number of compost bins. The display includes a worm composting bin, and take-home ideas on how visitors can start their own compost pile.

Plantin’ and Pickin’ Patch. A number of raised-bed garden plots will provide an opportunity for children to participate in all aspects of gardening. Children will design, plant, maintain, and harvest the garden plots throughout the growing season. They will celebrate the end of the growing season by putting their garden plots to bed for the winter!

6. Garden Friends
Butterfly Garden. Shaping the bed like a butterfly is a great way to show kids the plants from which these beautiful winged friends get their food and nectar, and which are essential to all stages of the butterfly's lifecycle. Other winged garden creatures will likely hang out in and around this colorful garden.

Zoo Garden. Find out which plants look just like animals, and which have animal names.

Performing Plants Garden. Some plants are not only beautiful, but they are also talented performers to watch! Just two of the plants in this garden are the sensitive plant and Love-in-a-puff.

7. Classroom Area
This gathering space will be used to orient groups visiting the garden as well as conduct hands-on educational programs about plants and gardening. It is surrounded by the following gardens:

ABC Garden. This garden consists of 26 mini garden beds, each one featuring a plant that has a name that begins with a different letter of the alphabet. This is a great place for kids to reinforce the alphabet and learn the names of some neat plants. What plants represent the letters that spell your name?
Sensory Garden. It’s okay to close your eyes and let your senses of smell, touch, sight, and sound lead you through this garden!

8. Back-Behind-the-Garden Garden (New Name in process)
You’ll just have to come out back to see what these gardens are all about! Who knows? You just might find some of these fun features:

Picnic Area. The stump furniture is the place to have the perfect “little” picnic!
Grassy Mound.

Circle of Plants Garden. The Huron Band of the Potawatomi, who are native to this area of Michigan, are known for the great respect they have for plants. Find out more about the significance of each of the following categories of plants and their uses: Sacred medicine, Flowers, Food Plants, and Medicinal Herbs.

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