Myth Buster #9: Quilt Gardens

Why garden quilting and where did it come from?

If you’ve been to Shipshewana or through the Northern Indiana communities of Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen or Middlebury … you might have spied the lovely quilt gardens. They are a sight to behold. Designs are chosen from Amish quilting patterns, and then the bulbs are planted. Here’s what the brochure says:

100,000+ glorious blooms • 18 gigantic gardens • 18 super-sized murals at 12 locations • 36 quilt designs • 7 welcoming communities

This blog gives excellent up-to-date information on the gardens and some fabulous pictures. If you go to this page of the blog, you can see what quilt patterns they chose for 2011. (I see at least 1 that isn’t Amish, but most seem to be.)

When I was visiting Shipshe, it seemed to me that these gardens provided a bridge of sorts between the Amish communities and the towns/parks. Not every Amish family wants tourists traipsing up and down their rows of corn. And not every Amish woman quilts and offers her quilts for sale. But theirs is an artistry that we appreciate and that we go to see. By providing these gardens, the communities in northern Indiana are giving us a window into the Amish world . . . one that is beautiful and touching and SIMPLE.

I hope you have a chance to see them some time. Quilt gardens–Myth busted!

DISCLAIMER: We’re BUSTING MYTHS to celebrate the launch of my series set in Shipshewana, Indiana. Remember though, my experience may be different from yours or from other books you have read.

V~

p.s. See CONTEST #2 posted on Monday. If you have not signed up yet, you have until 6 pm Sunday to comment on the post below. : ) Also, I’m signing books in the Dallas area this weekend. Click on the JOIN ME button at the top for locations and times.