Maggie Willard

Meadowbrook is an exceptional piece of OU’s history — as most universities don’t have anything comparable.

Summer can be a rewarding opportunity to try new activities and learn new skills, and with Michigan’s sunny summer weather, gardening is a great skill for any Michigander to pick up. For those still living around Oakland University’s campus who are looking to bring out their inner green thumb, an incredible volunteer opportunity is just down the road.

The Meadow Brook Garden Club has helped tend the gardens of the Meadow Brook Hall Estate for over 30 years, planning the different flower placements for each year, as well as planting and weeding throughout the many different gardens around the estate.

Connie Yeo, a hands-on member of the club since 2006, explains her most rewarding part of the Meadow Brook Garden Club.

“Seeing my plans come to life,” Yeo said. “It looks good in my mind and looks good on paper, but it doesn’t always look that way when you put it in. When we start putting it in, move things around, and get it organized and go, ‘Yep, this looks good.’ That’s my favorite part.”

While people volunteer for a variety of reasons, such as how they enjoy community service, need volunteer hours or are just looking to socialize with parts of their community, Yeo explains why she enjoys volunteering.

“I like to play in the dirt,” Yeo said. “I wanted something to do after my job ended. I was bored and other garden clubs may maintain a small garden somewhere but they were pretty much a social club.”

Yeo recounts her first experience with the Meadow Brook Garden Club.

“When I came here for the first time, I was talking to another volunteer and she said, ‘Oh no, we actually garden here,’” Yeo said. “She was here watering on a Sunday because the water system was off, so she was using just a hose to water. She said they’re here on Tuesdays and I said I’ll give it a try, which isn’t me to just show up someplace all by myself. But I did and I am still here.”

For future volunteers, Yeo explains what she believes would be rewarding to new members.

“I think it’s a social and a camaraderie we have,” Yeo said. “We’re a really friendly, welcoming group. If you come in by yourself, we’ll assign you to somebody as a mentor for three weeks, so you get to know somebody and the people in that garden. Then, if you want to stay in that garden, that’s fine, or you can go someplace else and get to know everybody else in that garden. I think that we’re a welcoming group and we’re friendly and people have fun here.”

For those not interested in working in the gardens, but would still like to help the club, Yeo explains the other roles club members can take on.

“If you want to volunteer but you can’t physically do the gardening, we have other jobs,” Yeo said. “Setting up hospitality, planning the luncheon for the members, we have spreadsheets that need to be worked on, we have membership coordinators and the newsletter. So there’s all kinds of jobs, and you don’t have to be a gardener to do all these different jobs.”

For more information on the Meadow Brook Garden Club and how to join, please visit their website at meadowbrookhall.org/gardenclub.