Gateway Garden at Matthaei Revs Up Its Annual Show

Plenty of flowering moments at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The Gateway Garden, which features many new world annuals, is starting to take off and will be in vivid bloom from now until the first frost. Lots of weddings take place in the Gateway Garden, no surprise.

A few photos of flowers blooming in the Gateway Garden and other display gardens at Matthaei.

Nicotiana and zinnias in the Gateway Garden at Matthaei.

Delicate cleome in front, purple coneflower in the distance in the Gateway Garden at Matthaei.

Plenty of places to sit and rest in the Gateway Garden at Matthaei.

Plenty of places to sit and rest in the Gateway Garden at Matthaei.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in vivid orange and black-eyed Susan complement each other well in the Great Lakes Gardens at Matthaei.

Native bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia) in the Great Lakes Gardens at Matthaei.

Alvar, or limestone plain, is a habitat unique to just a few places in the world, including the Great Lakes region.

Native yarrow (Achillea millefolium) blooming in the Great Lakes Gardens at Matthaei.

The Marie Azary Rock Garden at Matthaei features plants suited to a rocky or dry landscape.

The Marie Azary Rock Garden at Matthaei features plants suited to a rocky or dry landscape.

Lavender is a constant summer bloomer in the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden at Matthaei.

One of donor Mel Goldstein's satsuki azalea bonsai is still blooming in the Bonsai & Penjing Garden at Matthaei. Check it out!

A great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) sipps from a purple coneflower in the perennial garden at Matthaei.

In the perennial garden at Matthaei.

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) blooms in the tucked-away urban pocket garden at Matthaei.