Wellfield Botanic Gardens - Elkhart, Indiana

The vision of a public botanical garden on Elkhart's water well field, began to grow more than 10 years ago.

Today, the Wellfield Botanic Garden is well on its way to a fruitful expression, including 24 different gardens, and plans for more educational facilities.

All while the well field continues to produce water for the city's needs.

My first visit was to attend the Taste of the Gardens event, featuring food, art and music, as well as the gardens. August may not be the best time for blooming flowers, and our summer has been terribly dry. But these gardens are doing well, and a great place to visit often.

A gorgeous garden gem in our community!

All photos by kimbesa

Acres of Green Space in Elkhart, Indiana

Wellfield Botanic Garden is just a few blocks from downtown Elkhart. This 36-acre site has been part of the North Main Street Well Field for more than 150 years, and remains the single largest source of fresh water for the city.

And today it’s a garden.

Thirteen wells, deep in the earth, keep the water flowing to serve the city residents. Above ground, the garden is a place for residents and visitors to enjoy the natural world.

The garden started more than 10 years ago with a service project by Elkhart’s Rotary Club. Now the Wellfield Gardens has its own non-profit organization and governing board.

Wellfield Botanic Garden has and will continue to give for years and years.

My first visit was on a Saturday, for the annual Taste of the Garden, featuring food, art, music and garden beauty. It was a beautiful day, and a wonderful event.

The garden also hosts a spring event, Tulips and Tunes, and others through the summer months.

What an enjoyable place to walk around, sit on a bench, and just soak in nature!

Tethys is the Titan goddess of fresh water, which nourishes the Earth and makes our gardens grow.

Her children oversee rivers, streams, fountains and clouds. A very appropriate goddess to be represented among Wellfield Garden's statuary.

Tethys statue by Harold "Tuck" Langland, sculptor, author, and professor emeritus at Indiana University South Bend. Gift of Geoff and Kathie Church, and Chuck and Janice Grodnik.

Just one of a number of beautiful sculptures located on the Wellfield Gardens grounds.

Wellfield Botanic Garden centers on water. This site has been used by the city as its main water source for more than 150 years.

Water is a charming feature in any garden, and if you have it, you can flaunt it for natural beauty as well as practicality.

I really like this kind of metal sculpture that develops a patina over time. It makes it blend into the natural landscape.

There is so much to see at Wellfield that I've sat on this bench, and others, in my path around the gardens.

It is nice to have a spot to rest, be quiet, and look at the gardens, hear the birds, and enjoy a cool breeze. This bench is in shade in the morning.

Bring your botanic garden visit to your dinner table, with classic china dishes that feature beautiful garden flowers.