Elkhart's Tumbling Waters

Along the northern edge of Indiana, Elkhart sits astride the meanders of the St. Joseph River, with a number of green spaces dedicated to the waterfront. Just a little south of downtown, Wellfield Botanic Garden is not on the river, but edges one of its tributaries, Christiana Creek.

Harnessing the power of water in motion makes for fluid centerpieces to a series of themed spaces within the garden.

In a clockwise motion from the Visitor Center, the flow of the gardens circles a central pond while paralleling Christiana Creek.

Clustered around a entrance bridge to the loop, three thematic gardens provide perspectives on water: the stillness of the pond, the dribble of a fountain, the burble of cascades through rock.

A fork off the path along the pond leads through the Event Plaza to the Children's Garden, a nature play zone along Christiana Creek.

It encourages young ones to tunnel through a hillside, build sand castles, explore a treehouse, and squirt water cannons. A bouncy lily pad bridge connects back to the central loop.

A Sensory Garden and Waterfall Garden adjoin the creek, with a glass gazebo providing a view of the waters riffling over rocks.

On the shores of the pond, a formal English Cottage Garden and Pergola Garden set the tone for the sweep into the northeast corner of the gardens.

The path divides into a narrows between the creek and upper portion of the pond, and the more challenging terrain of the Island Garden.

It's a delightful landscape of rocks and terraces topped paying homage to Japanese Gardens, with waters trickling, tumbling, and dancing among the plantings.

Exiting through the Peace Garden and Lotus Creek Garden, two options await: a continued stroll along the pond, or an immersion in the Woodland Garden.

For a taste of natural northern Indiana, enter it through the Council Circle. Artful interpretive signs explain these habitats and their loss through the region.

As the Woodland Garden path ends at the Pavilion close to the Visitor Center, double back towards the Island Garden to explore the Spring Garden.

A narrow path through it enables a loop back along the pond. Returning to the Visitor Center and its gift shop, admire the Quilt Garden along the parking lot.

It's one of a unique collection of quilt block square gardens across the county. If there are no maps in the box, ask inside for a map to track them all down.

For more information on Wellfield Botanic Garden, including current operating hours, admission fees, and special events, visit their website.