Black Cat Pottery
Native Habitat Experiences
We open our garden to the public, free of charge, twice a year – the second Saturday after Memorial Day and the third Saturday in August – for self-guided garden tours and other programs. We also offer private, guided tours of our own gardens as well as of native plant habitats at Balduck Park and Belle Isle upon request.
We offer a clematis pruning workshop, on demand, the first Saturday in May.
We hold our annual Holiday Open House the first Saturday in December.
Wildflower Walk - Belle Isle
Sunday, May 5, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for a walking tour of a hidden corner of Detroit's best-loved park as we explore one of Belle Isle's hiking trails in pursuit of native flora - right in the city's center.​
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From the rare and unusual to the relatively commonplace (but still lovely), Belle Isle has been under transformation since the exotic European Fallow Deer were restricted from wide access on the island in 2003, allowing the native flora to thrive. In the intervening years, the island has fallen under the aegis of state agencies and non-profits have taken on restoration projects, resulting in nesting bald eagles and the sighting of native beaver.
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Go to our "Other Workshops and Events" page for additional information and to register. A third of all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Wildflower Association of Michigan to support its programs.
Wildflower Walk - Balduck Park
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for a walking tour of a tiny remnant wilderness and oak savanna in the least likely location - Detroit's Balduck Park.​
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Better known for its sledding hill and athletic fields, Balduck Park also possesses a surprising variety of native plant species in the section of the park on the other side of Chandler Park Drive. With a similar context to that found at Belle Isle - lake plain prairie, characterized by vernal pooling (early season inundation and flooding), the plant profile is similar but still distinct, including plants indicating that part of the property was never put under development.
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Go to our "Other Workshops and Events" page for additional information and to register. A third of all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Wildflower Association of Michigan to support its programs.
15th Annual Spring Garden Tour
June 8, 2024, 10:00am - 2:00pm
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Designed as a teaching and learning space, Cheryl's garden includes over 200 species of native plants. Become acquainted with some lesser-known American Clematis species and the beauties of our native flora and the fauna they support.
The tour - which is free and open to the public – also features locally-made garden art. We will be featuring prints and notecards by Notable Greetings, wired glass vases from Puddingstone and Black Cat Pottery’s garden-inspired art. Join us at 10:30am for the dedication of a new Little Free Children's Gardening Library.
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Location: Black Cat Pottery, 3903 Grayton St, Detroit, MI 48224
14th Annual Summer Garden Tour
Aug 17, 2024, 10:00am - 2:00pm
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Join us for our Annual Summer Open House, now in its 13th year! See over 200 species of native plants—from seasonal forbs, grasses and ferns to native trees, shrubs and vines—in this unique Detroit garden. It's been a challenging gardening season with extreme heat, drought, unseasonably cool temperatures and violent storms. The native plants, however, are going strong. If you're interested in learning more about the beauty and benefit of including native plants on your property, join us!
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The tour—which is free and open to the public—also features our own garden-inspired art, including items from Black Cat Pottery's ongoing Clearance event. (See our CLEARANCE SALE! section on the menu bar at the top of the page.) We also have two 6-foot obelisks and two sets of poetry stones (referencing lilacs and peonies) available (great to customize a border or walk), as the garden's transition to more native plants continues.
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Location: Black Cat Pottery, 3903 Grayton St, Detroit, MI 48224
Private Garden Tour - Contact Cheryl to Schedule
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Book a private guided tour for your group!
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Learn about the plants that populate a native garden on a small urban lot. Cheryl's garden was featured in the July 2009 issue of Michigan Gardener, a publication for which she has also written about Clematis and native plants.
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The private tour lasts one to two hours.
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Location: Black Cat Pottery, 3903 Grayton St, Detroit, MI 48224
Clematis Pruning Workshop - Contact Cheryl to Schedule
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Long perceived as “difficult” or “temperamental”, Clematis are actually proven performers that can give years of gardening delight. Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn about the care and culture of these garden gems and specific pruning techniques and concerns for various species and hybrids. Bring your favorite (by-pass) pruners and a chair.
$15 pre-paid/nonrefundable registration includes one hour of instruction, an hour of supervised hands-on experience, refreshments and a comprehensive hand-out. Pre-enrollment required. Two hours of education for Master Gardeners.
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Location: Black Cat Pottery, 3903 Grayton St, Detroit, MI 48224