Leslie Science and Nature Center Discovery Garden
The Garden
The Leslie Science and Nature Center Discovery Garden is at the LSNC and just off the edge of Black Pond Woods. It is a great place to explore throughout the growing season.
The gardens open in late April or early May, depending on weather. They close for the winter on the third Saturday of October. All Discovery Garden gardeners receive an 18 or 24 square foot raised bed. Gardeners have on-site access to a community tool shed, water and a shade area for relaxing. Volunteers are available to provide assistance and site coordinators help keep gardens watered throughout the week.
Raised Beds
Perennial Beds
Plot Information
Soil
Section B - sandy loam; pH 6.8
Bed Size
Animals/Pests
Parking
Water
Tools
Communication
Location
Leslie Science and Nature Center
1831 Traver Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Monday - Sunday
Dawn to Dusk
Gardeners gather every Wednesday from approximately
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Maintenance
Garden Maintenance
The major perimeters of the garden are mowed by the County Parks Department only if we keep the area free from organic refuse and other debris and stones. Please pile rocks in designated areas only and away from aisles and plot edges...rocks break mower blades! Place organic waste in your own plot (they make great mulches) or take them home for composting by the city. Please do not make unofficial compost or weed piles outside of your garden.
Work parties, to maintain the interior pathways and perimeters immediately surrounding the gardens, to repair hoses and tools, and to keep the site in good condition, are held once a month. Check the calendar posted on the bulletin board for work party dates. All gardeners are expected to attend as part of your responsibility to the community. Work parties generally last 2 hours, followed by a group meeting to discuss problems and enjoy refreshments. It is a great way to meet your fellow gardeners and share gardening information. Please do your part and participate!
Abandoned Plots
Individual Plot Maintenance
All gardeners are responsible for keeping weeds down in their plots and along the adjacent pathways. Various mulches may be used in your garden to inhibit weed growth, conserve water, and promote a hospitable microclimate for plants and worms. If using plastic mulch, please cover it with an organic mulch. Marsh hay is usually available in the spring, delivered to the garden by a local grower for a reasonable fee. A mass delivery is made during the Spring Garden Kickoff Day, marking the first day of the season at County Farm. Thereafter, individual deliveries can be requested, for a slightly higher per bale fee. For more information about marsh hay deliveries contact your site coordinator or the office.
The park is part of Washtenaw County parks & Recreation and adheres strictly to MIOSHA standards of safety. All spray bottles, water jugs, unmarked bags of soil supplements, etc. MUST be labeled.
Fall cleanup
Your plot must be cleared no later than the end of the day on the third Saturday in October.
If you have an annual plot, organic material should be chopped up and spread evenly across the area, to be plowed under later. Diseased and all tomato plants, along with any trash, should be removed and placed in the dumpster provided by the county. Take home all non-organic material, i.e., fences, stakes, plastic, paper, etc. Failure to clean up your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Member Handbook may result in expulsion from the garden.
Perennial plots must also be put to rest for the winter. County Farm Park has rigid expectations about the state of our perennial gardens over the winter (see Member Handbook Addendum CFP). In the fall, non-organic trash, along with diseased plants, should be disposed of in the dumpster, which will be provided specifically for fall clean-up; dead organic material should be removed or chopped up to compost in your plot. Perennial plants or annual plants that have not been killed by frost may remain. Failure to clean your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Member Handbook may result in expulsion from the garden. If you know you will not be returning, take away your personal belongings and clear out your entire plot. It is helpful to notify the director also, as perennial plots are always in great demand.
