Quilt Gardens Tour

As any good gardener knows one must make sacrifices in order to have a magnificent garden.  There is of course the initial investment but even more costly than that is the sacrifice of sweat equity that our dear Mother Nature demands in order to achieve our gardening goals.

The Quilt Garden Tour volunteers know all about sweat equity.  They have dealt with ferocious thunderstorms, drowning rain showers, and insect and critter damage throughout the summer.  Then the blistering heat arrived promising to dampen the enthusiasm of even the most ardent helpers.   Especially this year as our summer temperatures soared in the mid-nineties with heat indexes in three digit delirium.  All the while our steadfast crews were not deterred – much to their credit.  In spite of it all they have produced many fine exhibition gardens dotted all over Elkhart County.

In my capacity as a step on guide I have had the opportunity to hear first hand just how impressed our visitors are with these gardens and the many local attractions.  Yes, they are impressed with the gardens, but even more than that I hear over and over how friendly our community is.  They comment on how lucky we are to live here in such a relaxing environment.  They remark on how refreshing it is to see so many communities working together to make their county more attractive to visitors.  They marvel at the sacrifice so many volunteers make to ensure the success of our Quilt Gardens.

I agree with all of these comments and I am proud to consider myself a native of this caring community.   I find it so encouraging that others see the treasures that we take for granted.  It is a reminder to stop and appreciate Elkhart County and give thanks for the small town values we learned at the knee of our elders.  Values like hard work, determination, cooperation and sacrifice to achieve common goals.  Thank you to each any every one of the many people involved with Quilt Garden Tour 2010.  Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to your hometown community and to the county we all call home.

Our first garden being planted is in Nappanee at McCormick Creek Golf Course.   Flowers are being delivered and planting will start on Tuesday, May 18.

McCormick Creek chose the One Room Schoolhouse for their design.  About 100 yards south of the garden site use to sit the Culp one room schoolhouse.  The Culp schoolhouse was built in 1870’s and served the children of Nappanee till 1952.  What a great way to bring the history of Nappanee alive for the Quilt Gardens Tour^sm.

If you attended the Culp one room schoolhouse, tell us what you remember.

We need planters for the Quilt Gardens Tour.  If you love this tour, and have wanted to know what it takes to plant a garden, this is for you.  Volunteers are needed at most all sites.

Here are the Gardens and the days of planting.

Nappanee Garden Committee is planting May 18 at 9-11; 1-3; 5-7
MennoHof is planting May 20
Meadow Brook  Farm is planting May 22
Elkhart Parks Department is planting on May 24
Middlebury Greencroft is planting on May 24-25
Linton’s is planting May 25
Ruthmere is planting May 25
Amish Acres planting on May 25
Krider Gardens is planting on May 26
Wakarusa is planting their town garden on May 26-28
American Countryside Farmers Market is plating May 27-29
Old Bag Factory is planting on May 27 at 1pm

Please leave us a comment on where you would like to volunteer, and then email me at Mindy@amishcountry.org with name and your contact information.  That way I can let you know times and other information that the site operators may need from you.

Check out the Postage Stamp Collection in Nappanee – Just put up today!
They’re just beautiful!

LONE STAR
DIAMOND-IN-THE-SQUARE
SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS
DOUBLE NINE PATCH

Nappanee is dedicated to celebrating Amish life, and what better way than to recreate four classic quilt patterns: Lone Star, Diamond-in-the-Square, Sunshine and Shadows and Double Nine Patch. In 2001, each of these patterns was reproduced in a series of US postage stamps, first issued in Nappanee. All are based popular quilts crafted between 1910 and 1940 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Many Elkhart County Amish have kin in that Pennsylvania enclave, the largest in the United States.

The colorful ceramic crazy quilt, “Mystical Window”, created by Nappanee’s Northwood High School art class is now complete and ready to move to a new home.  Students will dedicate their beautiful and touchable artwork to the Nappanee Public Library on April 30 during homeroom.  Art teacher, Melinda Sharp, is proud of her students’ willingness to share their “labor of love” with the community.  Although her classroom may seem a little colorless when the ceramic quilt is gone, it won’t be drab for long; she’s already brainstorming with students about next year’s project.

This info just in from Quilt Gardens Tour Project Manager, Sonya Nash….

Here is the total count of flowers by type…give or take…
Begonias 480 flats
Marigolds 188 flats
Alyssum 146 flats
Petunia 145 flats
Vinca 110 flats
Ageratum 97 flats
Parsley 81 flats
Dusty Miller 68 flats
Salvia 66 flats
Lobelia 26 flats
Coleus 25 flats
Celosia 23 flats
cosmos 17 flats
Rudbeckia 12 flats
Chilly Chili 5 flats
PLUS 234 Red Geraniums

Also, the Amish Acres garden will have the most plants…over 10,000 in one garden!

I just can’t wait to see the gardens this year!

- Jessica Miller, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor

Theme: “If Quilts Could Talk”
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
4100 Parnell Ave. Fort Wayne, IN
March 21, 2009

Email: gathering@sistersofthecloth.org
Web: Sistersofthecloth.org

Featuring: Kaye England, Guest Speaker
This Show will have several special exhibits including:
- “Men of The Cloth” quilts made by men from this area
- Four Bed Turning stations – Guilds telling the history/story of Quilts their way
- Lisa Olinger – Guest Longarm Quilter
- Viewers Choice Awards – your opportunity to enter & vote for your favorite Quilts from the display of over 250 quilts.

There will be a vendor mall for your shopping convenience and a secured “quilt check area” for your Show & Tell items.

Other highlights of the Gathering include the Show Pins available to commemorate your visit, Ugly Fabric Contest, Block Swap, Charm Squares exchanges, Viewer’s Choice Award, door prizes & treasure bags. You will also have the opportunity to fellowship with quilters from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.

Visit Sistersofthecloth.org for more information

Sonya Miller, official grower/2009 QGT annuals is sipping cinnamon tea & sorting the 80,000 seeds to be planted this year! We’re gearing up for this year’s Quilt Garden Tour! There are tons of fun events and activities planned.

You won’t want to miss the Plein-Air Paint Out, August 8 – 9. At this event artists from all over Indiana and surrounding states will set up their easels and capture the beauty of Amish Country’s Quilt Gardens on canvas and paper at this first-ever outdoor event. Completed works in oil, pastels and watercolor will be on display and available for purchase at Goshen’s Old Bag Factory after the event!