The Waterford Oaks Greenhouse is located on Scott Lake Road between Watkins Lake Road and Dixie Highway, in Waterford.

The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Greenhouse at Waterford Oaks County Park offers many opportunities for growth – growing your knowledge of gardening; growing your social circle; and growing beautiful flowers, plants and food!

The parks system acquired the property in July 2009 from Stephen Ernst Jr., who formerly operated the Ernst Greenhouses. Since then, the parks system has initiated a horticulture program and, in the future, plans to use the greenhouse facilities for community and educational programming.

Plant Production
In the greenhouse, Oakland County Parks and Recreation currently grows annual flowers for park entrances, golf course clubhouses, and conference center facilities. A group of dedicated volunteers oversee and facilitate all transplanting and plant production.

Future greenhouse projects include growing native plants for restoration projects throughout the parks system. Working with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Natural Resources department and volunteers, seeds will be collected in the parks. The seeds will then be planted at the greenhouse and the resulting plants will be reintroduced into the park.

Community Garden Initiative
Register now for a chance to lease a 150-square-foot outdoor garden plot in the Waterford Oaks Greenhouse during the summer. The Community Garden Plots are available for five months from May 15 – Oct. 15, 2013. Cost is $120/plot.  

Our goal is to enable as many people to garden as possible each year. Community Garden Plot Forms may be mailed or dropped off at the Recreation Section Building Attn: Beth Highley, at 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48328. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

There are also 20 outdoor garden spaces which include 5 months of gardening during the spring/summer season: 150-square-foot tilled garden plot; use of dumpster; use of outdoor restroom facilities; use of shovels, rakes and hand shovels, use of water and educational programs.


Education
Volunteers established an Education Committee to plan curriculum, brainstorm topics and organize classes to be implemented at the greenhouse. Educational classes and programs are offered for all ages. Programs have included topics such as composting, vegetable gardening, landscaping, native plants, insects and plant diseases, and gardening with children. If you are interested in programming or have an educational opportunity available, please contact Beth Highley at highleyb@oakgov.com. 


Partnerships
The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Greenhouse has created an opportunity for the parks system to develop partnerships with diverse groups and organizations. Partner organizations include The Stewardship Network, MSU Extension – Oakland County and The Southern Oakland Water Authority Committee. The parks system is continuously nurturing partnership agreements with other conservation and professional “green” industry organizations as the endeavors at the greenhouse expand.

Oakland County Parks and Recreation also operates a community garden at Springfield Oaks County Park that grows produce for the Food Bank of Oakland County. Under the direction of Oakland County Parks and Recreation staff, Master Gardeners and the 52nd District Court Weekend & Weekday Alternative Misdemeanants (WWAM) Program, volunteers plant and care for a variety of vegetables and seedlings.

Volunteer
Volunteers play an integral role in the planning, development and success of the greenhouse. Volunteers assist with all planting, education and community efforts. No experience is necessary to help with greenhouse initiatives. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Rachel Boyd at 248-975-9717 or boydr@oakgov.com.

Ernst Barn
Located near the Greenhouse is the "old Ernst Barn," which may be one of the oldest standing structures in Waterford Township. Staff continues to evaluate the operation of the Greenhouse and the feasibility of preserving the Ernst Barn as recreational or educational venues. Click to hear a podcast of information about the Ernst Barn.

Questions?
For more information about the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Greenhouse at Waterford Oaks County Park,
contact:  greenhouse@oakgov.com