MLive says: “If you live to visit perfectly groomed gardens, we have one for you. Cranbrook House & Gardens is home to some spectacular landscape gardening that looks like natural artwork. But the garden isn't all. The Cranbrook House is metro Detroit's oldest surviving historic mansion. The English Tudor-style estate was designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn and is filled with art and antiques that belonged to Cranbrook founders George and Ellen Booth. House tours are given late June through October and the gardens open to visitors in May each year. For more info, visit the Cranbrook House & Gardens website.”
August 4, 2019
I grew up right by Oakland County, and had been to Cranbrook previously to check out the art museum on the campus. Cranbrook is a sprawling school, art museum, science institute, garden, and educational community; this was my first time exploring the gardens, and I took my parents along. Or I should say, they took me along (thanks for driving, dad).
The house and gardens are a multi-acre estate that sprawls through Birmingham, MI. The house is open for tours, so long as you buy a ticket. We skipped that part and spent our afternoon outside.
The almost perfectly manicured gardens are colorful and were buzzing with pollinators of all kinds. We took some time to take in the fountains and gardens right around the house, first. You’ll notice a few pictures of my parents and me, as well as a remarkably large sycamore tree that brought me so much amazement I almost felt like crying (what’s new though, nature is always making me cry).
We continued our walk down into the Japanese Garden. I’m a big fan of the Japanese Garden at Fred Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, and the one at Cranbrook was similar, but a little more wild. I was a big fan.
We took a stroll around the lake, stopping to admire geese and carp and trees.
After our stroll, I was in desperate need of a bathroom, and the only one was all the way back at the entrance to the parking lot! By the time we found it and used the bathroom, my mom and I (who both had gnarly summer colds) decided it was time to take off. We loaded into the car, drove to Buddy’s Pizza for lunch, and headed back to the house.
I would love to visit Cranbrook again when my head is less stuffy - there were parts of the gardens I didn’t get to see, and I’d love to tour the inside of the house, as well.
Overall, it was a gorgeous afternoon on the campus.
