Asylum to Asylum: The Story of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park with Matthew Ross

Presented as a part of the Annual Lisina & Frank W. Hoch Memorial Lecture

Asylum to Asylum: The Story of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park

Matthew Ross, Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park will share insight into the role of horticulture in our wellbeing through the story of the Northern Michigan Asylum. Over the past ten years, the historic farm has transformed from abandoned buildings and fields of invasive plants into an emerging botanical garden with over 12 feature gardens. The garden is reviving the philosophy that “Beauty is therapy” first practiced at the Asylum in the 1880s and has developed therapeutic programs for cancer patients, installed an Anishinabek Medicine Wheel and Foraging Meadow, and a 10,000 brick Labyrinth.  He will also discuss how the garden has evolved from a design perspective and highlight particular plants of interest within its living collection.

Matthew Ross, Executive Director The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
Matthew Ross is the Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City Michigan. He oversees the 26-acre Botanical Garden which was founded by visionaries Kurt and Karen Schmidt and a team of volunteers on the site of the Northern Michigan Asylum Farm which was operational 1885 – 1957. Prior to coming home to Michigan, Matthew was the Director of Continuing Education at Longwood Gardens, a college instructor at Owens Community College, and chief Horticulturist at Toledo Botanic Garden. He is a proud graduate of Michigan State University where he received a B.S and M.S. in Horticultural Science with an emphasis on Landscape Design Construction Management and Urban Forestry respectively. He is a well-respected public garden professional that spends his spare time kayaking, hiking, and exploring botanical gardens around the world.

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