Beauty is Therapy

Cultivating Healing in Northern Michigan's Historic Landscape by Matthew Ross

Since their inception, gardens have been places of wonder, awe, and beauty. The ability to cultivate living beings and weave tapestries of color and texture fuels the gardener's soul. Discover the landscape of an emerging botanic garden in picturesque northern Michigan and explore its profound healing attributes.

A Philosophy Rooted in History

The 27-acre Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park embodies a philosophy that "Beauty is Therapy"—a principle first championed by 19th-century psychiatrist and horticulture enthusiast Dr. James Decker Munson. After lying dormant for nearly six decades, the historic farm of the Northern Michigan Asylum has been transformed into a living sanctuary through the development of 14 distinctive feature gardens.

Bringing Healing Home

Experience how thoughtful plant composition, intentional sightlines, and purposeful garden design have positively influenced visitors' lives—and learn how these restorative concepts can be replicated in your own home garden.

About the Speaker

Matthew Ross serves as Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City, Michigan, where he oversees the 26-acre garden founded by visionaries Kurt and Karen Schmidt alongside a dedicated team of volunteers on the historic site of the Northern Michigan Asylum Farm.

Before returning home to Michigan, Matthew held positions as Director of Continuing Education at Longwood Gardens, college instructor at Owens Community College, and Chief Horticulturist at Toledo Botanic Garden. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Horticultural Science from Michigan State University, with concentrations in Landscape Design Construction Management and Urban Forestry, respectively.

A respected leader in public garden management, Matthew spends his free time kayaking, hiking, and exploring the diverse landscapes of Northern Michigan.

About Our Annuals Event

In addition to Matthew's tips on how to bring beauty and healing into your backyard, we're looking forward to kicking off our Annuals Preorder Program. We’ve planned an evening full of exciting ideas, helpful tips, and plenty of garden buzz to get you dreaming about spring. Here’s what’s on the agenda:

• Be the first to hear about must-have plants for this year’s garden.
• Discover creative ideas to bring beauty and color to your outdoor space.
• Find out how you can preorder your favorite plants with us and get ahead of the gardening season.
• Popcorn and drinks are on us! For those wanting extra goodies, additional concessions will be available for purchase at the event.

Event Details

Wednesday, January 28th

6-8 PM

State Theatre
913 Washington Ave
Bay City, MI 48708

Free Event – Just Let Us Know You’re Coming!

This event is totally free – no tickets, no fees! We just ask that you register ahead of time so we can save you a seat (and enough refreshments!).

How to Register

Fill out the registration form below or give us a quick call at 989-893-0000 to let us know you’ll be there.

Come for the fun, leave with inspiration, and maybe even a few new plants on your wishlist! We can’t wait to see you there!