The university's gardens are in the township: Matthaei

One of Ann Arbor’s best-loved green spaces isn’t in Ann Arbor at all — it’s in Ann Arbor Township. The University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens spreads across hundreds of acres along Fleming Creek on Dixboro Road. There’s a tropical conservatory and one of the Midwest’s notable bonsai and penjing collections. Display gardens, a children’s garden, and miles of nature trails run through prairie, woods, and wetland.

The everyday details make it a neighborhood treasure. The outdoor gardens and trails are free and open daily. The conservatory warms up nicely in January, when you need it most. And the whole place connects to a growing network of paths along the creek. Township residents get a university garden that also works as their local park. That’s a pretty good trade for living just outside the city line.