Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens

A Living Laboratory - Where Plants and People Grow Together

This is the mission of the Horticultural Gardens at Michigan State University. The Gardens are an educational facility that supports and integrates teaching, research, and service relative to the needs of the Department of Horticulture, the university and the public.

Staff Profile: Dan Bulkowski - MSU Horticulture Demonstration Gardens Manager

Profile Video created by Brian Vernellis - University Relations student writer

Visitors from across the globe visit MSU's horticulture demonstration gardens, and it's up to manager Dan Bulkowski to make sure everything is in full bloom.

In an oasis on the campus south side, Bulkowski supervises the gardens and the teaching greenhouses for students. His responsibilities include supervising a three-member staff, who oversee the perennial gardens, the annual trial gardens and the 4-H Children's Garden. Plus, he works with a group of 12 students in the teaching greenhouses.

"It's fun working with students," Bulkowski said. "It keeps you young and keeps you going. "I like meeting and greeting the people that come through. We have visitors from all over the country and Canada come by, and many other foreign countries as well."

Bulkowski and his staff recently welcomed guests to their Garden Day, a day of workshops and nationally-known speakers centered on gardening and agriculture.

The gardens also are becoming a popular setting for weddings. "We have three, four weddings a weekend, starting in early May and going up until football season," Bulkowski said.

"We work outdoors through October and if not, later, and then we switch gears and go inside once the frost and snow comes along."

 

Contact: University Relations Office: (517) 355-2281

Author: Brian Vernellis, University Relations student writer - office: (517) 355-2281

Published: Aug. 20, 2009

Photo of the annual trial gardens  Annual Trial Gardens
Purple flowers from the Arboretum  Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum
Orange Butterfly  Michigan 4-H Children's Garden/Butterfly House
A student participating in a garden event  Garden Events

MSU Horticulture staff with Governor Jennifer Granholm

 The MSU Horticulture Staff with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm