Wildflowers celebrates 25 years with tent sale and birthday bash

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
Occasional summer resident and a lovely young woman, Sarah Armbrecht commented several years ago how thrilled she was to dig her hands into the womb of Mother Earth, and get paid for it, as part of her summer job at Wildflowers. What a wholesome way to make a living, she thought.
Or for those just passing through Glen Arbor on a whim, what a delightful way to spend an afternoon. For 25 years now, mesmerized beings have wandered in a virtual trance through Wildflowers owner Donna Burgan’s lush and serene gardens behind the eclectic gift store.

Amidst tiny waterfalls, stone birdbaths and beautiful flora, Wildflowers celebrates its silver anniversary this July with an inventory blowout sale on Wednesday, July 20, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a garden party on July 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring live music and refreshments galore.
“The gardens are a destination for many,” Burgan maintains. “People tell us they stop by Wildflowers after work to be in the gardens for a while because it is so peaceful and lovely. We try to be partners with nature as much as possible. We have more property than necessary so that we can leave a large portion of it wooded.
“We co-exist with wildlife nearly as much. To the delight of children, it is not unusual to see a chipmunk scurry through the shop. They seem very inquisitive as they stop and peek around a basket or pot here and there, then find their way back outside. Occasionally you will see one of us carrying a fuschia plant high in the air, as we try to lure a humming bird to it so we can escort it back outdoors.
“Years ago, I had a doe that I enjoyed talking to as I did floral arrangements outside the back of the shop. She would often come to visit with me as I worked there.”