I went to a Garden Party, to Reminisce with my Old Friends �.

By john wigand on Aug 8, 2009

Working to develop a successful partnership with a community to promote the culture and heritage of the area.

Late in the 1990's the Ottawa National Forest, in an effort to streamline its operations, examined the need to operate all its administrative sites. It was determined that the number of District Offices needed to be reduced. One of the first offices to be affected was the Bergland Ranger Station, which was temporarily closed. As you might expect, there was concern for and from the community which it served.

In Early 2000 a group of concerned persons from the community, along with the help of some Ottawa National Forest personnel, came together to form a partnership and strategize how the abandoned site might best be utilized . A nonprofit organization, Friends of the Bergland Cultural/Heritage Center, was formed. They became the planning committee for the restoration of what was the Bergland Ranger District Office.

The group now maintains and operates the former Bergland Ranger Station. They keep the office and grounds open in the summer, hosting visitors who are interested in the history of the community and the Forest Service. Each year, they host a major event, a Garden Party, as their primary fundraiser.

Of course, one must have a garden in order to have a Garden Party. This year's event included the dedication of a new native plant garden. With a grant from the US Forest Service last year, donations, and a lot of hard work, the Friends, created a native plant garden. Every wildflower, shrub, fern, grass, etc., is labeled so visitors can see what's growing. As the name implies, all plants are native to the western UP. The garden also has information on other native plants and plants that attract butterflies and birds.

The idea for the garden came from longtime member Reggie McDonald, who gave thousands of hours to the Bergland community over his lifetime. Sadly, he passed away about two years ago. The Garden will be dedicated in his memory. Two benches, a birdbath, and a birdhouse grace the garden. It is a peaceful, idyllic place, a place to just relax and gaze at the natural beauty of the surrounding area and adjacent lake.