OUTDOOR LIVING
A view from above shows the vast expanse to explore at Frederik Meijer.
There are impressive art sculptures at Frederik Meijer Gardens.
A Tale of
Three Gardens
In our quest to get outside during the global pandemic, we turned to local and regional gardens to explore nature, enjoy exercise, and revel in beauty. We started our garden tale right in Middlebury at Krider World’s Fair Garden. This 2.4-acre garden and park has it all! The park has a few sculptures, including the windmill and toadstools, a couple of small ponds, a well-tended quilt garden, and a picturesque stream. Native plants blend in beautifully with typical garden plants. On our visit, we found the tadpoles the Middlebury Parks Department shared about on social media – thousands in a small pool of water. What fun to see up close. We enjoy the intimacy and easy access of this garden. The price is right at free! Soon after, we made a trip to Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart. Wearing masks through the cottage garden, we had plenty of room on the 36 acres to socially distance from other parties. We enjoyed the 20 different gardens, taking a detour off the main path for the native woodland garden. We loved the new Japanese garden with many bridges, rocks, and architecture wonders to explore – it was my boys’ favorite part. We have always enjoyed the bird walks, children’s garden, adventure path, and story walk through the gardens. We found fish nests in the shallows of the ponds. This year’s origami crane quilt garden is a must see. We have a family membership here, although it is free on Tuesdays for county residents in the spring and summer. Our next stop was Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich. This 158-acre facility with a tropical conservatory, carnivorous plants, arid garden, looming statement-making sculptures, and huge Japanese gardens was impressive. This is truly a destination adventure with many options for exploring. The boys enjoyed the children’s sensory 6 inMiddlebury Magazine | August 2020
Middlebury is home to a beautiful spot with Krider Garden.
Wellfield is always picturesque. garden, large treehouse, and finding froglets in the Japanese garden. Our Wellfield membership saved us the cost of two adult tickets. Each garden visit was a unique part of our summer tale. We were able to socially distance outside, experience beautiful spaces, immerse ourselves in nature, and spend time as a family. Whether you enjoy your backyard garden, a world’s fair garden, a prominent county garden, or a premier regional garden, we encourage you to make a garden part of your pandemic tale. Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana.com and podcasts as Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with her four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.
