Hidden Lake Gardens celebrates 70 years of partnership with Michigan State University

On Tuesday, members of the Tecumseh District Library (TDL) will travel to Hidden Lake Gardens for a special celebration. Harry Fee donated the property to Michigan State University (MSU), then Michigan State College, seventy years ago for the enjoyment of the public.“The purpose of Harry Fee selecting to partner with MSU on the donation was that he really wanted to make sure that Hidden Lake Gardens would be open for the benefit of the public,” said Hidden Lake Gardens Managing Director Paul Pfeifer. “We decided not to have a big event but to try to acknowledge it and celebrate it at our smaller events.”Fee, of Adrian, bought the property to make his dream of owning a lake come true. After an unsuccessful attempt at farming, he began planting trees.Although his original goal was to have a working nursery, Fee found himself focusing more on the creation of natural art through horticulture design. Pfeifer believes the gift of the gardens to MSU was a natural result from the bonds he created with staff in the College of Agriculture.“The partnerships he had formed there inspired his donation,” Pfeifer said.During the TDL presentation Tuesday evening, patrons will learn about the beginning of the gardens and Fee’s philosophy, which continues at Hidden Lake Gardens to this day. “We still take to heart Mr. Fee’s quote ‘The prime object of the gardens being for the benefit of the public,’” said Pfeifer.Fee’s philosophy of creating pictures with landscape design has always been a focus, even when the picture changed. Pfeifer pointed out Hosta Hillside was originally a rock garden because of the open and sunny area.As the trees grew around the spot, the design changed after inspiration by the Michigan Hosta society to create a showcase for the shade loving plants. The high canopy and location near the lake create perfect conditions for hosta plants to thrive.Pfeifer believes Fee might be pleasantly surprised by additions made to Hidden Lake Gardens over the years. The Conservatory’s collections of plants are far from what Fee planted to survive Michigan winters.“I have to wonder if he would be excited by it,” Pfeifer said. “The bonsai collection would also be of great interest to him, I think.”Evolution and expansion of Hidden Lake Gardens continues to this day, although in a different way than Fee might have imagined. Partnerships with artists and groups is something Pfeifer hopes to nourish.Hidden Lake Gardens continues to remind people that the gardens aren’t just for people who love plants. The grounds are a perfect place to hike, bike, or walk the dog.“We just want to get folks connected with nature,” he said.Pfeifer also hopes to build Hidden Lake Garden’s relationship with MSU. “I’m hoping to have more student involvement,” he said.The goal is to continue working with horticulture and agriculture students to test different types of plants. There is an ongoing MSU shrub trial research project at Hidden Lake Gardens, and Pfeifer hopes the relationship goes beyond plant based.He would like the gardens to be a place for students interested in art, photography, marketing and journalism. It would be a way for students to have real life experiences in helping an historical garden move into the future.Even with all the possibilities for Hidden Lake Gardens, Pfeifer appreciates the history and how visitors connect with the gardens. “There’s a lot of tradition here,” said Pfeifer. “There are a lot of things that folks want to stay the same. It’s a fine balance but I think we can do it.”The TDL program is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hidden Lake Gardens will also have an informational booth in the Grange Building at the Lenawee County Fair. For more information about Hidden Lake Gardens, call 517.431.2060.