The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation has opened a new 22,000-square-foot welcome center at Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan. The new space serves as a gateway to the 110-acre botanical garden, honoring a 125-year legacy of hospitality rooted in the stories of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, who built their home and raised their family on this property.
“For more than a century, Dow Gardens has been a place of welcome, reflection and discovery,” says Elizabeth Lumbert, executive director of Dow Gardens. “Our new Welcome Center allows us to greet guests in a way that is comfortable intuitive and grounded in the values Herbert and Grace Dow established over 125 years ago. From enhanced accessibility to improved amenities, every detail was designed with our guests’ experience in mind.”
Located at the end of the welcome center’s main corridor, a new curated gift shop inside the welcome center offers botanical-themed gifts, works by local artisans, gardening books and seasonally available plants grown on-site by the Dow Gardens horticulture team.
“Dow Gardens has long offered a gift shop, but the new retail space gave us an opportunity to reimagine the shopping experience with much greater intention,” says Carolynn Paten, director of programming and guest services at Dow Gardens. “Rather than simply offering souvenirs, our vision was to create a destination that reflects the same sense of beauty, discovery and quality that guests experience throughout the gardens. The expanded space allows us to thoughtfully curate collections that appeal to gardeners, nature enthusiasts, art lovers and visitors looking for meaningful gifts inspired by their time at Dow Gardens.”
In addition to the new gift shop, the welcome center features a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the gardens to give guests a place to wait before or after exploring the grounds. Paten says the expanded storefront has also been welcoming to visitors, encouraging people to browse longer.
With more space, Paten adds that she and her team have been able to display more merchandise and promote seasonal collections. She explains that souvenirs in the store reflect the interests of visitors and the mission of Dow Gardens. Guests can find gardening accessories as well as books, home decor, candles, jewelry, apparel, children’s toys, stationery, birding items, seasonal decor, gourmet foods, and Michigan-made products and artwork.
“Many of our products are exclusive to Dow Gardens or sourced from vendors not commonly found in other local shops, giving guests the opportunity to discover something truly unique during each visit,” says Paten. “Some of our most distinctive offerings are products created exclusively for Dow Gardens. Among the favorites are our signature Dow Gardens tea collection, including blends such as ‘Sun Bridge Sunset,’ along with custom-crafted Dow Gardens candles like ‘Herbert Dow’s Orchard.’ These products allow guests to bring home the signs, scents and peaceful memories of their visit.”
Paten says the renovated welcome center and gift shop has been well-received by visitors this summer.
“We’ve noticed that many guests browse the shop before beginning their garden experience, then return after exploring the property to make their purchases,” she says. “It seems that spending time in the gardens deepens their appreciation for the products we’ve selected, making the shopping experience feel like a meaningful extension of their visit.”
