Quilt Gardens and Quilt Murals are on display May through September for your viewing pleasure. In total, 17 gigantic gardens around Elkhart County feature more than a million vibrant blooms and 21 hand-painted super-sized quilt murals add to the visitor experience. 

The Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail joins quilting, gardening, and art into a one-of-a-kind seasonal event. This colorful patchwork of quilt inspired gardens and quilt-themed murals is linked by the roads that form the Heritage Trail.

Every quilt garden and quilt mural has its own intricate pattern, many are original designs and each has its own unique story. Each of our unique communities that host quilt gardens & murals has its own special character and fun finds you’ll want to explore.

In May, Wellfield’s Quilt Garden bed was transformed from bare to brilliant as staff and volunteers led by Amy Myers, Horticulture and Facilities Manager, descend upon the delivery of over 1,000 plants to create “Fresh Connections”, this year’s featured design. This year’s design is themed for the 2022 Year of Connections (#YearOfConnections) at Wellfield.

Here are the plant species/cultivars and their counts used to create our 40’x40′ (total size, including border) Quilt Garden:

• Easy Wave® Lavender Sky Blue Spreading Petunia = qty 123 (180 sq.ft.)
• Zinnia Profusion ‘Red’ = qty 96 (78 sq.ft.)
• Zinnia Profusion ‘Orange’ = qty 96 (78 sq.ft.)
• Zinnia Profusion ‘Lemon’ = qty 96 (78 sq.ft.)
• Zinnia Profusion ‘Cherry Bicolor’ = qty 96 (78 sq.ft.)
• Eureka White Begonia = qty 900 (425 sq.ft.)

Seward Johnson Exhibit Returns to Elkhart County – – “Monet, Our Visiting Artist” Visits Wellfield Botanic Gardens! As a part of the 15th Anniversary of the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail, famed American sculptor Seward Johnson’s works are back! Lifelike, whimsical and just plain fun – Seward Johnson’s stunningly realistic life-size bronze sculptures can be found at each of our Quilt Gardens sites and a few additional venues in 2022. Wellfield’s artist in residence, Monet is depicted painting our Fresh Connections quilt garden on his canvas. Come get your selfie with Monet or be the ‘subject’ at the corner of the quilt garden as Monet paints you into his work!

We’ll update additional photos of ‘Fresh Connections’ as the quilt garden is installed and fills in over the summer season. Of course, follow us on Facebook for instant photos as they happen!

If you’d like to visit more Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail, CLICK HERE or DOWNLOAD the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail MAP here (coming soon)