Fall in Niles, MI - Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve

Nestled in the scenic St. Joseph River Valley, Niles, Michigan is a beautiful place in any season. But it really comes to life in fall, and nowhere are the colors of the season more vividly on display at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve.

A private, non-profit institution that focuses on preserving and displaying the best of Michigan's native flora, Fernwood Botanical Garden is ripe for exploration. Our real estate agents in Niles can help you learn more about all the great outdoor things to do in Niles when you move to our community.

A Wild Wonderland

Tucked along a bend in the St. Joseph River, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve spans 105 acres, and offers visitors a chance to explore an incredible variety of native habitats and landscapes. The area offers many miles of trails, along with indoor attractions like a nature center, cafe, fern conservatory and art gallery.

Of course, the main attraction is the outdoors itself. The Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve includes several distinct gardens that harbor an ever-changing ecosystem of plants and animals. Fernwood also includes a 55-acre Nature Preserve that is home to several hiking trails of varying length and difficulty. There's even an arboretum which, unlike the rest of the preserve, provides a home for plants from all around the world.

Fall at its Finest

The months of autumn bring fresh colors to Fernwood, as dozens of native tree species light up in countless shades or red, yellow and orange. The vast Nature Preserve is a particular highlight during this season, with trails that traverse creeks, ravines, young second-growth forest, and even a rare 5-acre tract pf native tallgrass prairie—a type of habitat that once covered vast areas of the Midwest, but is now in danger of disappearing.

You'll spot a wide variety of native and migratory birds in fall as well, and it's always a good idea to bring your camera. Turtles, snakes, fish, frogs and dragonflies are commonly sighted in the Big Pond area, and small mammals are common throughout the Preserve.

Upcoming Events at Fernwood

Fall brings around some of the year's most exciting happenings at Fernwood. Visit the official Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve website for more details, including open hours and entrance costs. Here is a list of just some of their upcoming events:

• Oct 24: Tai Chi in the Gardens
• Oct 27: 3rd Annual Fernwood Landscape Juried Exhibition
• Oct 28: Migrating Ducks and Other Fall Birds
• Oct 28: Halloween Happening
• Oct 31: Tai Chi in the Gardens
• Nov 1: Niles Handweavers Guild
• Nov 4: Holiday Market
• Nov 4: Curious Coyotes
• Nov 5: How Do Birds Get Their Names?
• Nov 7: Tai Chi in the Gardens
• Nov 8: Nature Saplings
• Nov 11: Fall for Baths
• Nov 12: Seed Propagation of Perennials
• Nov 12: Knee-High Naturalists
• Nov 14: Tai Chi in the Gardens
• Nov 18: Fernwood Book Group

Ready to learn more about life in Niles, MI? Contact Cressy & Everett Real Estate today. Our team has the inside information and years of experience you need to find the best homes for sale in Niles, MI.