8 The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 10, 1999
0
'U' Gardens
host fa mily
celebration
By Nika Schulte
Daily News Editor
Amidst blooming blue and white violets and
yellow wood poppies, families and friends took
advantage of yesterday's sunny skies to celebrate
Mother's Day at the University's Matthaei
Botanical Gardens.
Throughout the day, guides led hundreds of
mothers and their families on tours of the Helen
V Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden.
Every year, the Gardens plan their wildflower
celebration to coincide with Mother's Day.
"The Wildflower Garden gets better and bet-
ter each year," said Karen Meske, coordinator of
the event.
"This year it's at its peak," she said.
Although the flora in the Wildflower Garden,
which features plants from the southern Great
Lakes' region, traditionally peaks during May
and June, Meske said in past years the garden
has peaked earlier or later than expected. Meske
said she was delighted that was not the case this
year.
Meske said she was also pleased with this
year's turnout.
"Theeventusually draws a crowd of 400. itn
expecting a little more today," Meske said,
explaining that'special groups, including the
National Wildlife Federation and the Michigan
Botanical Club, were on hand to discuss garden-
ing and landscaping techniques with the visi-
tors.
Walking hand-in-Iand with her son David and
daughter Genna, visitor Cathy Galura said she
and her children were having a great time wan-
dering around the stone-lined paths of the
Wildflower Garden.
Galura said she especially enjoyed the garden
because it contains flowers and plants familiar
to her and her family.
"We're having fun naming some of the things
we have in our own yard," Galura said.
But she said one of the best features ofthe day
was the soft breeze and the blue skies.
"It is- very beautiful today," Galura said.
"Much better than yesterday."
Visitors also sipped tea on the Gardens' terrace
and listened to a lecture about native terrestrial
orchids delivered by botanist Frederick Case.
Some visitors took the time to explore the
other gardens at the sight. Dagmar Salis and her
mother enjoyed part of the afternoon surround-
ed by the fragrance of the herb beds in the
Alexandra ticks Herb Knot Garden.
Salis said she wanted to spend the day with
her mother and thought the (Gardens offered the
perfect location for the occasion.
"There is no better place to celebrate Mother's
Day than outside in a garden," Salis said.
DAN itAs
Janet Kohler, Timothy Jarrat and Daniel Jarrat take a break on a path at the University's Matthaei
Botanical Gardens yesterday. The Gardens hosted events for Mother's Day and Wildflower Day.
Caucasian Egg Donor Needed For Loving Family
You must be at least 5' 7"
Have a 1300+ SAT Score
Possess no major family medical issues
Free Medical Screening All Expenses Paid
5i
For More Information
Please email Darlene: K. s m
Or fax inquiries to: 1-619-234-8881
Hitt & Pinkerton, Attorneys At Law
(1-800-264-8828)
I
l
0