Friends of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens participate in a celebration of the final phase in the Gardenscape program. The annual Matthaei by Moonlight fundraiser July 26 doubled as a dedication ceremony for a new garden that runs along the front of the main building. Above: President Mary Sue Coleman, her husband, Kenneth (center), and retired Ford Motor Company Chief of Staff John Rintamaki (second from left) and his wife, Marilyn, dedicated the 200-foot garden. The upgrade was part of a Gardenscape program that started in 1999 and was funded by a grant from Ford.

The first four gardening projects were created by landscape professionals John Hollowell, Mike Abbott, Mark Korzon and John Stevens. The final Gardenscape was designed by graduate students from the School of Natural Resources and Environment landscape architecture program, under the direction of David Michener, Botanical Garden’s curator.

Below: The newest garden is called the Double Helix, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the naming of the DNA structure. The Gardenscape design resembles the Double Helix, featuring an intertwining walkway and boxwood hedge.

In addition to the ceremony, the fifth annual Matthaei by Moonlight fundraiser included an auction of more than 150 items, all with a garden or nature theme. The event netted about $35,000. (Photos by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services)