Next Meeting
Please join un on September 28th at the Tompkins Center in Windmill Pointe Park in Grosse Pointe Park at 11 am to hear about the new Oudolf Garden on Belle Isle. If you did not RSVP on a sign-in sheet at our last meeting, please send an email to gpmcattendance@gmail.com or text or call Marty McMillan at 313-550-9661 if email is not available.
Next Meeting is September 28th:
DUNCAN CAMPBELL – OUDOLF GARDEN DETROIT
Inspired by the energy of Detroit after receiving a “love letter from Detroit” from The Garden Club of Michigan (GCM), Piet Oudolf designed this naturalistic public garden on Belle Isle. Both artistic and ecological by design, he chose perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees for their hardiness, durability, and ever-changing textures and colors for enjoyment in all four seasons. Oudolf Garden Detroit differs from other public Oudolf gardens in that it is run by its all-volunteer Grounds Crew.
This four-season, free public garden is now open! The 2.5 acre garden sits in front of the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon on Belle Isle, a Michigan state park situated in the picturesque Detroit River.
Oudolf’s work at both High Line in New York City and Lurie Garden in Chicago are major tourist attractions that have been both economic and artistic success. You can go to www.oudolfgardendetroit.org to view interactive maps and plant lists, drone video coverage and even an audio Latin plant names pronunciation guide.
Duncan Campbell, a leader in both the GMC and the Ground Crew, will enlighten us about the area’s newest treasure. Originally from Grosse Pointe, he received undergraduate degrees in art and art history from the University of Colorado. He also studied at American University of Rome, and earned an MBA from Michigan State. Campbell now in his 50’s is currently completing his master’s in art history at Wayne.
Campbell founded and is Vice President of Sales at Mapping Solutions, a business geographic software and consulting company serving the healthcare, grocery, insurance and telecommunications industries.
In addition to his leadership and volunteering with Oudolf Garden and the Garden Club of Michigan, Duncan volunteers as a docent at the DIA and previously served as Treasurer of the Associates of the American Wing at the DIA. He also previously served as President of the Scarab Club, President of the Grosse Pointe Farms Foundation, Board Member of the Elmwood Cemetery Foundation, and a Scoutmaster.
Duncan and his wife Maura live in Grosse Pointe Farms and have three adult children. When asked what his favorite interests are beyond his life-long love with art, he replied, “riding Italian motor scooters, laughing about politics, drinking wine, skiing fast, and camping on lakes.”
Future Speakers
October 12
John Campbell, AJ Peters Funeral Home
October 26
Dr. Antoine Garibaldi, President of University of Detroit Mercy
November 9
Mike Score, Hartz Farms
November 23
Annie Dennis, Pewabic Pottery
