Finlandia Gardens was founded in 2004 by David Sharpe, a Master Gardener and member of the Finnish Center. He formed a Garden Club that cared for and improved the landscaping surrounding the FCA buildings.
Over the next decade, the Garden Club gradually expanded the gardens to cover much of the remaining property. They developed a rain garden, an improved swale for collecting rainwater runoff, built a bridge over the swale, a pergola, and numerous gardens throughout the rest of the property.
A large part of this garden expansion was made possible when a local plant nursery offered 850 trees, shrubs, and perennials, and numerous concrete edgers for a very low cost. The volunteers used the flora and edgers to create new gardens and enhance existing spaces, and sold the extras to cover the initial expense.
Finlandia Gardens has continued to grow, adding numerous garden features and environmental initiatives, including a vegetable garden, a greenhouse, a woodshop, a wetland, rainwater collection, composting, recycling, and the avoidance of using pesticides.
Finlandia Gardens became certified by Michigan State University as a location for Master Gardeners to fulfill their yearly service hours. This partnership has brought a group of new volunteers with diverse experiences to share, and who assist in the design and development of additional features in these public community gardens.
Beginning with only a few garden areas and a small Garden Club in 2004, Finlandia Gardens now consists of over sixty garden areas and enhancements including succulent gardens, a water feature, sculptures, a seating area, a gazebo, a Little Free Library, and a Wedding Garden.
Finlandia Gardens receives monetary funding and in kind donations from the FCA, local businesses, and community members. The gardeners also fundraise, especially by building and selling bird feeders and other wooden products.
The Finnish Center has received numerous awards for garden club efforts in beautification and the environment since 2006, from the Beautification Commission of Farmington Hills, the Rouge River Environmental Council, and other state environmental entities.
As is true in many things, the concept and reality of Finlandia Gardens evolved over time. Garden development could not have been accomplished without the dedicated efforts of many gardeners throughout the years, many of whom are no longer with us. The efforts of all of our gardeners have made Finlandia Gardens possible.
Finlandia Gardens 