2023 Holiday Auction - Live Auction Gallery
Once again, the Holiday Auction & Christmas Party "Live Auction" will feature unique and outstanding items, up for bid and auctioned off by professional auctioneer Brian Rowley. We will also have many items available in our silent auction, as well as a raffle for the Holiday Party Basket. ALL proceeds from this event directly benefit Seven Ponds Nature Center.
If you are unable to attend our Holiday Auction but would still like to bid on an item, you may place a remote bid by contacting Board member Charlie Turner via email at charlie@detsales.com.
Northern Michigan Retreat
Relax for your seven-day stay in this privately owned three-bedroom cottage with shared private beach. Cottage is located near Cross Village central to several popular destinations including the famous Tunnel of Trees and within walking distance of the historic Legs Inn. Offer is good for dates in June, August, or September 2024. Provided courtesy of David & Kathy Churchill.
Bee Hive Tour & Honey Tasting
The Seven Ponds Bee Club is offering a personal hive tour and honey tasting experience. This would be done next summer around the June time frame. We'll take a close look at the beehives on the nature center property where participants will participate in a hive inspection. During the inspection, participants will hold frames of bees and handle other beekeeping equipment. They will also have the opportunity to see bee eggs, larvae, drones, workers, and hopefully the queen bee. The inspection will be followed up by a honey tasting where participants will learn how to taste honey and sample local honeys as well as unique flavors from around the world (we'll do this inside the center). Total time: approximately 2 hours. Number of participants: four at one time at the hives so a larger family can be accommodated. We will provide bee jackets and gloves and will have the participants sign waivers.
Arnold's Sugar Bush Farm Tour
Arnold's Sugar Bush has been producing Pure Michigan Maple Syrup since 1955, tapping around 800 trees and using a wood-fired evaporatore. Come spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoors and learning the aspects of maple syrup production. Traditional and modern production methods will be covered. Take a historical walk and learn the history of maple syrup production and its uses today. Learn sap collection methods and tour the sugarhouse and its unique production equipment. Following the tour you will enjoy maple treats and goodies while relaxing around a bonfire (weather permitting). This tour is good for up to 16 people. Mid-March is primary production season and would be the best time for this tour. Provided courtesy of Arnold's Sugar Bush.
Catered BBQ Meal for up to 25
Detroit Pigskin Barbeque of Metamora is offering a catered BBQ meal for up to 25 people. Don't pass up this opportunity to entertain a crowd with wonderful barbeque. Detroit Pigskin Barbeque has been competing in the Pro Barbeque Circuit for over a decade, and caters to weddings, tailgates, graduation parties, and private events. Barbeque date to be agreed upon by both parties.
A Piece of Detroit
Take home a piece of Detroit history! Doors and windows are purchased from deconstructors of Detroit homes and are transformed into one-of-a-kind paintings. These hand-painted architectural pieces tell a story of Detroit's history and provide a conversation piece as well as being a beautiful work of art - brought back to life from an urban, industrialized age to today's contemporary period.
Cross Country Skiing & Lunch for 4 at Hunters Creek Club
Wishing Well
This solid cedar wishing well can be placed anywhere in your yard or over your well head cover. You can fill it with soil and plant flowers or hang a flower basket. Total height is four feet, with a 20" x 20" base. Item provided courtesy of Scott Baker, a Dryden carpenter with a passion for making quality items, using real wood, for a fraction of the price you'd pay in a store.
Decorative Bird House
This decorative bird house is all dressed up for the holidays! This unique item was donated courtesy of Harvest Time Farm Market in Oxford.
Mitchell Wool Farm Tour
Mitchell Wool Co. is a biodiverse farm with approximately 150 sheep, cows, pigs, and horses. We rotational graze our animals on our 60 acres. All our yarn is dyed with botanicals or natural matters, never any chemicals or plastics. We want you to be able to feel what sheep feel like. This auction item will be a private tour of the farm and workshop of Mitchell Wool Co. Tour offered from May through July (sorry for the small window but August starts our busy show season). It's available by appointment only Monday through Saturday on an agreed upon time for up to 8 people. During the tour you will meet all the different animals and see how and what we use to dye with. Our retail shop will be open to you and your guests.
Private Eagle Tour
Every year in January, DTE, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance hold a lottery for a public Eagle Tour at the DTE Monroe Power Plant. This event usually has over a thousand applicants in the raffle with a limited number of spots and it is not uncommon for attendees to see upwards of 150 bald eagles on one day during a cold winter. This is your opportunity to skip the lottery and attend a private eagle tour to see eagles in this unique habitat. Private tour is four up to four people. Provided courtesy of DTE.
