Quilt Gardens Tour

My friend John who also happened to graduate from the same Master Gardener training class I did once said I had a sickness.  A gardening sickness that is.  I think my husband agrees but he loves me anyway.  God bless the spouse of a gardener because they quickly learn that rain or shine they know where to find us.  I love being outdoors.  That’s one of the many things I really appreciate about the Quilt Garden Tour.  I can enjoy the outdoors, many beautiful gardens, chat with my friends and shop in places I don’t usually visit.  It’s a win win for me!

I have been to most of the gardens three times now since they’ve been planted.  I take pictures each time I visit so I can see the growth comparison at the end of each trip.  It is amazing how quickly most of the gardens have flourished to fill in the empty space so visible the first two visits.  Now the patterns can be clearly recognized as quilt blocks. After speaking with a few of the business owners it is clear that theirs is a labor of love and dedication not just to the business they hope to bring in but to the art of the gardens.

I must also confess that the Agri-garden at Meadow Brook Farm that I had so much doubt about is really quite impressive.  Yes, the soybeans are not cooperating due to the cool wet spring however the other crops are up and great fun.  While I was there yesterday a new miniature donkey colt named Gus was in the pasture (with mom in tow) next to the garden.  It was his first day out of the barn since he was born two weeks ago.  It was cool and windy that day but Gus didn’t care.  He had found his legs and kicked up his heels to celebrate.  This farm is truly unique and a gem in Elkhart County’s crown.  While you are there consider taking the tour of the farm house which is soon to be featured in Midwest Living magazine.  The farm has a grand history and a story to match.

Vickie Estep, Master Gardener

This year the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ introduces its first official “agri-quilt” garden.  The site of this pilot garden, Meadow Brook Farm, is a Civil War era farmstead located just outside the city limits of Goshen. Owner Kori Cripe recently opened her home and farm for public tours.

Planted in a “Grandmother’s Fan” pattern with soybeans, sunflowers, alfalfa, buckwheat, corn and red geraniums, this quilt garden introduces an exciting new element to this year’s tour that perfectly complements the rural heritage of Amish Country.  It also marries well with its location, since the farmstead was once the site of Farm Betterment Club Fairs, huge community-wide celebrations that drew the Indiana governor, congressmen and judges to speak at the event.

It seems only natural to feature an “agri-quilt” garden on the tour: it also presents certain challenges that are not experienced in quilt gardens that use ornamental annuals and flowers.  This mixed crop quilt garden contains plants that will grow in varying heights. There may be an issue with pattern consistency and view ability, and with shade created by the larger crops such as corn next to smaller plants in the garden. Crops also attract different insects than annuals and must be guarded against worms, grubs and bores. So do you use pesticide? If so what kind?  And it must be factored in that crops’ needs are different than those of annuals– watering, feeding – especially during growing season.
Each of the plants in the “agri-quilt” garden will be in different stages of development during the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ viewing season.   Even though the garden relies heavily on texture to convey the pattern, color plays a big role.  As crops mature their color can change dramatically.  So it will be interesting to observe the “look” of the garden throughout the season.

All the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ partners are eagerly looking forward to the introduction of an agricultural quilt garden to the mix, most of all Kori.  She wants the garden to be a “home-grown” experience that’s fun and educational.  And it will be an education – for all of us involved.  We’re all up for the fun and challenges, and we’re just waiting to see “what crops up”!

We’d welcome your comments and suggestions for this “pilot agri-quilt” garden.  Leave your comment below.

- Sonya Nash, Class of ’08 and Quilt Gardens Tour℠ Project Manager