Road Trip Garden-Leila Arboretum
Battle Creek, Michigan
Leila Arboretum began like many arboretums and public gardens. Leila Post Montgomery (widow of cereal magnate C.W. Post) envisioned a cultural center amid the beautiful rolling hills just outside Battle Creek, Michigan. Formerly the Battle Creek County Club, Leila donated the 72 acres to the city in 1922, and landscape architect T. Clifton Shepard created a master plan. Unfortunately, the Depression halted any progress, and the arboretum plans were left on the table for more than fifty years. Leila died in 1940, never seeing her arboretum dream fulfilled.
Flash-forward to autumn 1981, when a can-do group of people set out to reclaim the overgrown property, thus forming the Leila Arboretum Society (LAS). Now, with hundreds of members and volunteers, (and 3.5 paid staff) the non-profit LAS has expanded beyond the arboretum boundaries, from the Kaleidoscope Garden, designed for children next door (open May-October), to city gateway plantings and neighborhood landscape projects. A Horticulture Training Center on the grounds offers classes and Master Gardener Certification.
The arboretum has a one-mile looped path that makes for a great run or stroll among the gentle rolling terrain. Besides the impressive tree collection, the path meanders past a native garden, a Peace Labyrinth, a vegetable garden, an overlook, and multiple sculptures. A disc golf course winds through part of the grounds, blurring the lines between fun public park and serious arboretum. One of the most popular features is the Fantasy Forest, where ash trees that succumbed to the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer were carved into fantasy figures from magical castles to flying pigs. What more could you ask for?
What I love about this garden:
-It’s FREE.
-Open dawn to dusk.
-Unique art like the Fantasy Forest.
-Over 2,500 trees and plants in the collection.
-Year-round events such as music concerts, a farmer’s market, and cardboard sledding competitions.
Know before you go:
-Not only is the arboretum free, so is the parking.
-No food or beverages are available for purchase in the arboretum, but picnic tables are provided.
-Port-a-potty restrooms available in the arboretum.
-Kaleidoscope Garden Hours of Operation: 9-5 Weekdays, May – October
-Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Quick Facts:
Size: 72 acres
Opened: Originated in 1922, opened in the early 1980’s.
Distance from St. Louis: Approximately 437 Miles/ 6.5 hours
Other nearby Plant-Geek attractions:
-Dow Gardens in Midland, MI; _Homepage – Dow Gardens
-Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI. Welcome To Meijer Gardens. Meijer Gardens | Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
-Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2026, All rights reserved.
