A Ripple of an Idea

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, the Elkhart Rotary Club presented a gift and a vision to the residents of Northern Indiana -- the preliminary plans and seed money for a world class botanic garden.

The 36-acre Wellfield Botanic Gardens site consists of scenic ponds on and around the site of the city's historic wellfield. The project will eventually have 19 unique specialty gardens, including a water garden, sensory garden, sculpture garden, Japanese garden with tea house, outdoor event gardens and spaces suitable for weddings, concerts and family gatherings. Plans also call for a visitors' center with restaurant, gift shop, kitchen, meeting space, and complete maintenance facilities.

The Gardens are expected to become a major tourist attraction within a few years, enhancing the already thriving tourist industry of our region.But the Wellfield Botanic Gardens will benefit the local community as well. The Gardens will provide educational opportunities, focusing on wetland uses, the history of Indiana hardwood svannas and fresh water conservation. The gardens will become and outdoor classroom where children will learn to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature. And the gardens will become a major addition to the quality of life in Elkhart and surrounding region.

The Wellfield Botanic Gardens is a long-term commitment to the City of Elkhart. The highest standards of horticulture design and construction will be utilized in creating a masterpiece that will inspire generations to come. Wellfield Botanic Gardens will not be simply another collection of plants, but a living work of art.