The active summer gardening season was busy with preparations for the Perennial Plant Association's visit to our personal garden sanctuary in Grosse Pointe in September.

The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the use and benefits of perennial plants. Founded in 1984, it serves as a resource for horticulturists, landscape professionals, and garden enthusiasts.

This year's PPA Detroit Fall Symposium focused on celebrating urban gardens and included educational sessions, garden tours, and networking opportunities that promoted the value of green spaces in urban areas. The event concluded with a garden soiree at our private gardens.

Green industry leaders, gardeners, plant enthusiasts, landscape architects, and many others converged on our nearly 2-acre site to experience the diverse ecosystems and wild spaces created to support local wildlife and pollinator populations in the area.

It was a pleasure to host a group that appreciates the energy and planning it took to create such a garden. Our property is an Eden in the city. A sense of pride and near jubilation bubbled through my veins as I watched nearly 140 people explore the gardens in wonder.

For nearly nine years, I kept the gardens closed while developing the property. The PPA event was a “coming out” or “debutant event” for Stratton House and Gardens. The reception went wonderfully, and everyone enjoyed their time.

The day’s programming was filled with events centered around Detroit and urban garden locations, including Oudolf Garden Detroit on Belle Isle. It was a pleasure to share our city’s garden gems with this group of plant enthusiasts!

Photos by: Ryan Southern