Matthew Ross

Matthew Ross

Matthew Ross is the Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City Michigan.  He oversees the 26-acre Botanical Garden which was founded by visionaries Kurt and Karen Schmidt and a team of volunteers on the site of the Northern Michigan Asylum Farm. 

Prior to coming home to Michigan, Matthew was the Director of Continuing Education at Longwood Gardens, a college instructor at Owens Community College, and chief Horticulturist at Toledo Botanic Garden. 

He is a proud graduate of Michigan State University where he received a bachelors and master’s degree in Horticultural Science with an emphasis on Landscape Design Construction Management and Urban Forestry, respectively.  He is a well-respected public garden professional that spends his spare time kayaking, hiking, and exploring the vast landscape of Northern Michigan.

Executive Director, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park

Landscape Design Charrette

Start Date/Time:

End Date/Time:

Hone your design skills and focus your energy on time management through a series of guided design scenarios with Matthew Ross from The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. Balancing the client’s needs within the constraints of the existing site conditions is a time-consuming process. Learn tricks and techniques in this interactive design charrette as we design collaboratively in small groups. In order to enhance the process and encourage networking, you’ll be encouraged to work with colleagues from other companies during the session.

Highlights from the Trade Show Floor

Start Date/Time:

End Date/Time:

Join Matthew Ross as he shares some of the top offerings from across the Trade Show Floor.  New Plants, New Products, and a wide array of favorites will be on display as we highlight the top offerings for 2026 together.  

Exploring the Gardens of Japan

Start Date/Time:

End Date/Time:

What constitutes a traditional Japanese Garden? Learn about the core principles and similarities between many of these gardens have created one of the most recognizable garden design styles in the globe.