How many acres is Charley Creek Gardens? How long is the path? When did it open? Everything you've wanted to know about Charley Creek Gardens by the numbers!

6  How many acres

2008  Opened to the public

1/2 mile  Trail length

518  Address for parking, 518 North Miami St.

365  How many days the Gardens is open

400  Gallons of water the waterfall pumps

1998  Installation of the oldest garden, the Shade Garden

2005  Installation of the newest garden, the Wildflower Meadow

900  Number of arborvitaes in the Maze

3  Number of onion domes visible in the Gardens

1  Number of labyrinths in the Gardens

Spend some time this January and February dreaming and planning for spring.

 Here are some great tips from Tracy Desabato-Aust, a horticulturist and best-selling author, to occupy your time until spring arrives.

*Design and plan for the new year.

*Order plants and seeds.

*Attend gardening conferences and shows for ideas.

*Press back into the ground any perennials that may have frost heaved.

*Observe your garden. Note any changes you want to make to add winter interest to your garden.

*Keep your bird feeders full, but keep them out of your beds. Sunflower seed hulls can inhibit plant growth and uneaten seeds can sprout, creating a mess in your beds.

*Take some time on a mild day and go outside and prune somethin. A cure for cabin fever!

Every gardener has their favorite seed and plant catalog. Today our staff shares theirs with you.

Winter is a great time to dream about and plan for your summer garden. Have fun browsing through all the seed and plant catalogs that will be arriving soon. Here are some links to our favorite catalogs.

Seed Savers Exchange–More than a catalog; Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing heirloom seeds.

Henry Fields–A classic offering almost anything.

White Flower Farm–Beautiful decorative plants and other decor items. New items seasonally.

Johnny's Selected Seeds–Consistently regarded as one of the best seed catalogs.

Bluestone Perennials–High quality perennials.

Don't be afraid to try something new this growing season! Have fun dreaming and planning your garden during these cold winter days. Spring will come soon!

Here's some awesome ideas for your pumpkin carving this year!

Be sure to come to our Pumpkin Patch this Halloween! 80 carved pumpkins will be on display, carved by Wabash High School art students.

Pumpkin Patch is open Oct. 27-31 from 5-8pm. Be sure to stop by on Halloween for some goodies!

Come to our Pumpkin Patch on October 27-31 from 5-8 each night. Wabash High School art students will be carving pumpkins and we will display them in the Garden Building. On the 31st we will give out treats to the trick-or-treaters.

Here are some pictures from last year.

Be sure and stop by Charley Creek Gardens this Halloween!

September is a great month for a stroll through Charley Creek Gardens. Late blooming perennials are giving a terrific show. Shrubs with bright berries are coloring the paths. Fall blooming bulbs are at their peak. The red and gold leaf colors remind us that crisp weather is just around the corner.

Here are some highlights in the Gardens this month:

*The Wildflower Meadow is still in full swing.

*Purple autumn crocus blooming near the labyrinth and on top of the waterfall.

*The Bog Garden! Spectacular color!

*Cascading purple berries on the Purple Beautyberry.

*Bright red and orange berries on the Deciduous Hollies.

*The year-round beauty of the waterfall.

*Asters, Russian Sage, Salvia and other late blooming perennials.

Come explore Charley Creek Gardens this month and see all that September has to offer!

Based on these pictures taken at a previous home & garden show, it is impossible to go to garden shows and not be inspired.

Spring arrives this month! Along with daffodils, crocus and Virginia bluebells, early spring welcomes an abundance of bird activity. Birds that migrated south for the winter are arriving back to join the year-round residents. They are beginning to build nests for their young who will arrive in a matter of weeks.

Inside their nests hide some of the most beautiful creations in nature. Bird eggs abound in color! They display soft to vibrant hues of brown, yellow, blue, white and green. In addition to their beauty, the formation and structure of an egg provides everything necessary for a developing chick.

Even though nature keeps these spectacular creations hidden, there are many other ways to bird eggs. Books, artwork and true-to-life replicas provide ways to enjoy the splendor of bird eggs without disturbing them in the wild.

You can also come to Charley Creek Gardens on March 16 at 9am for a presentation on bird eggs. We will discover how they're formed, their structure and what gives them their color. We'll also look at lots of pictures and illustrations that capture their beauty.

Following the Bird Egg presentation, you are welcome to stay for our Let's Move!  Winter Garden Walk starting at 10am.

Charley Creek Gardens is proud to be a Let's Move! Garden. Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Charley Creek Gardens is one of the first gardens in Indiana to be designated a Let's Move! Garden and the only one in Northeast Indiana!

So what does it all mean? It means that the Gardens offers interactive experiences and programs that promote physical activity and healthy eating. We have over 6 acres of formal and naturalized gardens. There is open lawn space for free play and a ½ mile trail for walking. One feature in the Gardens is a maze made out of arborvitae shrubs. It provides a fun and interesting way to be active! We also have an Education Center with a fully functioning kitchen where we host programs and provide healthy refreshments.

Some of the events and programs we offer include:

            *YuleTime Stroll–      A winter walk through the Gardens lit with thousands of
                                                 lights.

            *Winter Walks–          Guided walks focused on discovering trees and shrubs that    
                                                         can ad interest to your landscape during the winter.

            *Seed Exchange–       Exchange seeds with other gardeners while
                                                       discovering new varieties of vegetables and flowers to grow.

            *Scavenger Hunts–    Available every day, scavenger hunts are a great way to explore the Gardens.

            *School Programs–     Area pre-schoolers and kindergarteners come every year to                                                  enjoy the gardens.

            *Special Events, Talks and Programs throughout the year!

Look for a Let's Move Kick-Off event later in the spring!

Charley Creek Gardens Let’s Move! Winter Garden Walk

Join the staff at the Charley Creek Gardens for a refreshing Let’s Move Winter Garden Walk this Friday, February 3^rd at 10am and Sunday, February 5^th at 1pm. Winter is a great time of year to enjoy plant characteristics that are hidden by summer’s foliage. The walk starts at the Education and Resource Center  at 551 N. Miami Street, Wabash, IN, will last about one hour and will be followed by light refreshments.  Visitors may park at 518 N. Wabash Street, near the hedge maze.

The next scheduled Let’s Move! Winter Garden Walks are Friday, February 17th and Sunday, February 19^th. Please call the Education and Resource Center at 260-563-1020 for further information.