When all seems chaotic, we naturally turn inward for peace, safety and solace. Surrounding ourselves with beauty—and history—enhances the retreat from the daily grind. On any given day, many people take great comfort in Warsaw’s Premier Gardens, where two gardens invite repose, reflection and relaxation.
This unique, shady glade unfolds six different ecosystems, sustaining only plants grown during biblical times or mentioned directly in the Bible. Benches overlooking the walkways or tucked into quiet corners attract everyone from believers absorbed with books and prayers, to lawyers reviewing legal briefs, to tour groups excited to learn in this historical environment.
Pardee Gunter lends his expertise from many years as gardener here, to explain the plants, climates and biblical connections to visitors. He also provides the voice for the cell phone tour, which, beginning in the herb and crop area, explains the plants there and in the next five stops—the desert, brook, forest, orchard and meadow areas.
Established by the Levin family through community donations, the Warsaw Biblical Gardens are non-denominational, historic learning tools. A dry brook (wadi) runs through the gardens, catching and routing rainwater for, in those days, irrigation, and now to a decorative overflow pond.
Biblical connections abound. Sweet flag, the “fragrant cane” mentioned in its text, was used for anointment oil. Miniature cypress—“gopher wood”—was reportedly used by Noah for building the ark. Sweetgum has been identified as a source for myrrh, the aromatic essential oil said to be brought to the infant Jesus by wise men. And the bulrushes into which the baby Moses’ basket was placed in the Bible story grow in the pond and stream.
A centerpiece of the garden, a pagoda-style structure, draws from a like structure in New York’s Central Park. “A lady saw it there, and then contacted the designer and asked if one could be built here. He agreed, and brought it here in pieces,” Gunter said. As it began to show wear, it was rebuilt with wood native to the Middle East, some from the park itself.
The Warsaw Biblical Gardens represent one of the largest in the nation, said Gunter, a former member of the International Biblical Garden Association. “Something blooms in every season,” he said. Although he receives a stipend for the gardens’ management, “I would do it without pay, seven days a week.”
Walk across adjacent parking lots to arrive at the Gardens of Central Park, where the other half of the Gunter gardening equation, Pardee’s wife Toshiko, lovingly toils in the sun and the blooms. A sign embraced by lush red peonies welcomed visitors from the park side in early June.
Once inside, a fantasia of color and design delights the eye. Each garden loop contains a helpful sign, with a key denoting the type of flower in each portion of each bed. At the center, a raised deck overlooks a cascading brook. Toshiko points out a brief background on the garden on a historical placard.
The beautiful gardens came to the Warsaw community through the generous commitment of a local couple—Bob and Roma Maish—to benefit their town. “Mr. Maish had a dream of creating a flower garden in the newly developed Central Park in Warsaw,” said Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF) CEO Suzie Light. “In 1995, through the KCCF, he started a fund to develop and perpetually maintain the Gardens at Central Park. The vision of the couple, to have a beautiful, professionally managed flower garden, is overseen by the Community Foundation. Landscape architect Mick Welbourn designed the project.”
According to the garden’s website, each plant was designed into each bed. A perennial garden is achieved when flowers in bloom take over as others end their seasons. Some flowers are open colorfully any time during the growing season, always providing something new to see and enjoy.
KCCF serves Biblical Gardens as well
Over time, the Warsaw Biblical Gardens have also developed a relationship with KCCF. “The Biblical Gardens have developed great partnerships over time with many organizations, including the KCCF, Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Warsaw Parks Department and the Gardens of Central Park,” Light said. “Support through donations and visits to these wonderful assets help make Warsaw a unique and lovely place to call home or visit. Individuals can support the Biblical Gardens through annual contributions, and through estate gifts to the Biblical Gardens Endowment Fund at KCCF.”
Light is retiring June 30 and welcomes new KCCF CEO Stephanie Overbey to the post. Contact Overbey at KCCF at (574) 267-1901 or kcfoundation.org about how to benefit the Warsaw Biblical Gardens, 347 N. Buffalo St., through its endowment.
The Gardens of Central Park, 225 E. Fort Wayne St., are free to enjoy from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. May 1 through Sept. 30, and from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 1 through April 30. The Warsaw Biblical Gardens are open from dawn to dusk for tours May 15-Sept. 15. Individual walk-throughs are welcomed from spring through the first frost. To arrange for a tour or to volunteer, call Pardee at (574) 267-6218 or email to pardeeg@gmail.com