Projects

Swan Island was created during the reshaping process to form a focal point and give Swan Pond a wider and longer image. The island is all that remains of the old dirt path that separated the two original ponds. The island provides a place of refuge for nesting waterfowl and reptiles. Built in 2007, Swan Island is a gift from Peter and Katherine Thornton.

The Spring Garden contains over 40 varieties of flowering trees and shrubs plus over 30,000 bulbs

The Council Ring reflects the Native American heritage of this area and provides seating as a circular outdoor classroom.

The Woodland Garden is conceived as a display area for native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

The Conversation Garden is a popular resting and gathering place composed of four “living rooms” where people can sit, relax and reflect.

The Lotus Creek Garden showcases the use of spring flowering shrubs and shade loving plants including azaleas and rhododendrons, ferns for dry shade, and native woodland plants.

Given the Peace Garden’s location adjacent to the Japanese Island Garden, the Peace Garden’s features were inspired by a traditional Japanese garden. The Peace Garden is not a tea garden, but rather similar to a stroll garden and a space dedicated to reflection, contemplation, and remembrance.

The bridge was built to model traditional Japanese bridges.

While a mere one acre in size, the Island Garden is loaded with stunning views and intentional landscape design called miegakure, a garden design concept that can be observed in many gardens in Japan and China, usually translated as ‘hide and reveal’. Miegakure design is meant to obscure or ‘hide’ some portion of the garden from the viewer from any single viewpoint. Sada designed the Island Garden in such a way that the entire garden composition is not seen from any one point, as is often the case with Western garden design. A stroll-style garden, the Island Garden is intended to be walked around and experienced rather than viewed from one place. Carefully composed views are created so that visitors move from one scene to the next as they travel along the pathways.

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Our donors felt the Gardens should have a sculpture celebrating the city’s name.

A popular location with comfortable swivel rocking chairs where visitors enjoy sitting to watch the waterfall.

The colors in this garden range in the blue-green (and/or gray) end of the spectrum, evoking a sense of calm and close association with the bodies of water framing two sides of the garden.

The Sensory Garden features plants selected to stimulate all the senses (half the garden is dedicated to taste, the other to feel, smell and touch).

The Adventure Path connects the South Promenade with the Children’s Garden.

The walkway through the English Cottage Garden utilizes mixed materials of limestone, bluestone, brick & grindstones. Cottage gardens used salvaged materials left over from estate building for utility and economy. The walkway demonstrates many paving patterns that can be used creatively in gardens.

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The Children’s Garden’s design objectives include:
-To create an environment in which inquiry-based nature play and programming occur;
-To explore the interdependence of life and water;
-To support child cognitive and motor development through child-centered and age-appropriate activity and material selection;
-To serve as a center for school, youth, and family programming; and
-To provide access to the [future] Wetland Conservation Area west of Christiana Creek.

Current uses of the Event Garden include tented weddings, Taste of the Gardens, and other private rentals.

Over 7,000 sq. ft. of function event space ideal for small to midsize gatherings, cocktail receptions, musical groups, and will be a connecting venue between the Event Garden to the east and future Indiana Native Plant Garden (a revision to the Master Plan approved in 2022) to the west.

The Bridge Garden Patio is a small intimate garden approximately 300 square feet in size tucked on the south west side of the Goebel Bridge along Swan Creek.

The heavy duty (35,000 lb) vehicle/pedestrian bridge was installed in 2007, a necessary feature allowing large service trucks access to the wells onsite, while maintaining a favorable aesthetic.

The Garden and goddess sculpture celebrate water as a natural resource. Educational signs developed to raise awareness about water sources, usage and availability were installed in December 2012.

The garden honors the enduring volunteer spirit responsible for establishing Wellfield Botanic Gardens and supporting its continued existence.