Gardening Angels keep White Pine Village blooming

July 1, 2025

By Kai Taylor, MCP Contributor

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP – As Historic White Pine Village nears its 49th anniversary, on July 4, much of the beauty of the 12-acre museum is due to a group of dedicated volunteers who meet each week.

Every Tuesday morning, while most people are just easing into their day, a group of green-thumbed volunteers known as the Gardening Angels are quietly caring for the village grounds, one plant and flower at a time.

Historic White Pine Village, 1687 S. Lakeshore Dr., is one of three museums owned by the Mason County Historical Society, which also operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington, and the Rose Hawley Archives, 130 E. Ludington Ave. in downtown Ludington. Also at that location is the Mason County Emporium & Sweet Shop.

Some Angels have a specific spot in the Village at which they tend to. The Village has a number of locations such as the general store, church, and even schoolhouse that have plants to be watered and tended to each day.

“It’s very relaxing, and you meet a lot of great people,” said Sarah Patten, an Angel of two years.

The Gardening Angels group is part of a subdivision of the Mason County Garden Club.

“The Gardening Angels have only been around for 10 years,” said Carol Copeland, a garden club member of 22 years. “A group of us used to come here and do a little gardening, and that turned into a whole volunteer group.”

“It’s just really fun being outdoors in the summer,” said Copeland.

This year there is even more emphasis to beautify the Village as the Historical Society prepares to celebrate the Village’s 50th anniversary. It opened on July 4, 1976.

The name of the Historic White Pine Village comes from Michigan’s storied history with the white pine tree. White pine lumber was extremely prevalent in Michigan, and covered a lot of the state at one point in time.

“We’re working on some big stuff,” said Michelle DeKuiper, MCHS operations manager.

For more information, visit the MCHS’s website, www.masoncountymihistory.org.

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