railway garden
The Railway Garden creates a winter wonderland during the University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. Trains weave their way around holiday-themed horticulture and dozens of West Michigan and Sister City miniature landmarks—made of natural materials—within the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse. — from the website
On Tuesday I was invited to go with younger son, daughter in-law, and grandbaby to see some of the holiday display at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. I took several pictures of the international holiday trees and displays that will be posted in the next couple of weeks. For today’s post it will be pictures of the extensive village that runs through multiple rooms/greenhouses. The place is open late on Tuesdays and we got there at close to 5pm. It looks dark in them because it was dark as we walked through them. All lighting was from holiday lights and the miniature buildings. It was the first time being at the gardens after dark and the lights set that perfect winter evening atmosphere for the display.
Santa was down in the lower level of the building and we saw the looooooong line of kids and families waiting to sit on his lap and have their picture taken after asking Santa for gifts to come down the chimney. My son and daughter in-law have chosen not to promote the myth of Santa to my granddaughter and that is a big relief to me. We will still gather on Christmas for celebration and exchange gifts, but they won’t be from a fat white man in a red suit that has judged whether you are worthy of anything but a lump of coal. Sorry if that offends any Santa believers.
On to the railway garden. The usual holiday plants and landscaping in the greenhouses is there but nestled within them are several dollhouse-sized miniatures of well-known buildings from Grand Rapids, aka Furniture City. The buildings are constructed of natural materials and done with great meticulousness. Also running through four rooms is an elevated train that weaves around in a circuit. It took a little bit of searching to find out who created the garden and the buildings. I thought it would have been a local club commissioned to do it but learned that Paul Busse & Crew of Applied Imagination from Kentucky did it. Not only that, but I found a list of locations around the United States that have installations by this company. Please check the link out and if you are near one of them, PLEASE check it out. You’ll be amazed and delighted at their creativity and artistry.
From the Applied Imagination website, I was led to an hour-long PBS special on this company to learn more about how they apply their imaginations to their botanical creations. If you want to get into a magical frame mind, check it out here.
Tao Talk 
I’ve been to their display at the Botanical Garden. Pretty amazing. It’s a big event here every year. (K)
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AWESOME! If you get a chance, watch the PBS doc at the end link.
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Thanks !
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I just found this in my email tonight.
https://hyperallergic.com/859187/see-a-tiny-nyc-built-from-bark-and-leaves-new-york-botanical-garden-holiday-train-show/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=W120223&utm_content=W120223+CID_866a8c7c1522aa8e80836378e082029f&utm_source=hn&utm_term=See+a+Tiny+New+York+City+Built+From+Bark+and+Leaves
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OMG Kerfe that is *so*cool* and I love they keep expanding the collection. One thing the really draws me is that they work from photos of thing that may not even exist anymore so the creations work in a way to bring them back to the residents. That elephant one is precious <3 I'm geeked to see if we could bring something like that to our community.
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I know! I hadn’t realized that they kept adding to it every year. Not sure I’ll get there this year, but the next time I go I’ll be sure to pay close attention to that aspect.
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Very cool…I like the detail on the buildings. If possible we will go…it’s in Cheekwood in Nashville. I’m glad you all got to go. We last went to Cheekwood around 10 years ago…it’s a huge 55 acre place with gardens and mansion.
We also have went to the Hermitage…Andrew Jackson’s old home.
The place to go in Nashville at Christmas also is The Opryland Hotel…the lights they have there are awesome.
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Oh that is awesome that you might check out the one at Cheekwood, and Cheekwood itself sounds very special to visit. I love places like that! They are public treasures to be cherished. Would love to visit the Nashville area at some point, and it sounds like Christmas would be a good time to do it.
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Yes it would be… I still want to stay at the Opryland Hotel… it’s like a city inside of it
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Well if I ever visit Nashville, you’ve convinced me that’s the place to stay :)
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Sorry…I’ve been in and out on this rainey day!
You would like it!
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Max, is it adjacent to Opryland then, where you can walk to the venue from the hotel?
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You can walk to the new grand ole opry (not the Ryman) and you can go to a huge Mall call Opry Mills.
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Are there are decent hotels within walking distance of the Ryman?
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Yes it’s in downtown.
I was wondering myself….how close that is…
https://www.booking.com/landmark/us/ryman-auditorium.en.html?aid=2018368;label=ryman-auditorium-MXQPDnRjDHn2nPQvXlEe9AS435206778665:pl:ta:p1:p2:ac:ap:neg:fi:tikwd-3057066793:lp9013093:li:dec:dm;ws=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA67CrBhC1ARIsACKAa8QqRZfr3n0dE8PSTJI4zP4Rd7su4a1_sYWX5reDq1h1JGNLD40onV8aAu5EEALw_wcB
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Nice, thanks for that link!
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No problem! Jen and I would meet you and show you around if you decide to come down…if you would want that.
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Max, that would be fantastic! Appreciate the offer :) As I said before also, if you and Jen visit Michigan near hear, I’d be happy to show you some of the highlights. If you have a camper you could camp right here.
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We sure will! Now but Jen wants a pop up camper really bad
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Your pictures look great. I also watched a bit of the PBS documentary, and Applied Imagination surely does impressive installations!
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Glad you got a chance to check out some of the doc. I like the family aspect to the company and how they use the botanicals. When we were checking them out on Tuesday, the grandbaby pointed at one spot and said, “acorns!” She’s a sharp little cookie.
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These are beautiful pictures. I’m glad that you’re training your little granddaughter to grow without such falsehoods
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Sadje, thank you very much. My son and his wife are doing a good job with her.
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I love how these young parents are so much aware and doing things way better then the previous generation
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Gorgeous pictures, and thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, and my pleasure.
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You’re welcome.
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What a fabulous place. I really liked the trains as I’m still a big kid at heart.
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Glad you enjoyed the post, Glyn. Keeping the child alive within us is the trick.
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I don’t know how I never put together that you lived there. I am from Kalamazoo, my cousin lives in Grand Rapids, and my great-great-grandfather was one of the furniture makers in Grand Rapids :). Wowsa.
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Luanne happy to hear the family connection to GR. I don’t actually live in GR, about 50 miles from it, but my younger son lives there. Meijer Gardens is a perfect place to meet up with them.
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Ah, oh, well, that’s nice! I’m sure if you’re 50 miles from GR, I’ve probably been wherever you live!
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Muskegon
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Oh, of course, the land of the alien space ship landing! That area has been part of my brother’s territory as a building official although I’m not sure if it still is.
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Yes! The aliens were a little south of here, closer to Holland, but plenty close enough lol. Cool on your brother.
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LOL!
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p.s. I loved walking through the old public museum and seeing all of the furniture. The new museum is good but not as good imo.
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I never got to visit it! I bet it was something.
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I think the city still uses the building as their warehouse.
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Creativity in festive mood!
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:)
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