International friendship gardens, dedicated to international friendship and peace, are situated about 60 miles east of Chicago, near the out-skirts of Michigan City, Indiana. The estate in Trail Creek Valley is about equally divided between the gardens, the amphitheatre and bird sanctuary.
These gardens are the result of dreams for world peace and friendship nurtured by two young Indiana farm boys from Wakarusa, Virgil and Joseph Stauffer. At each of the two Century of Progress fairs held in Chicago, the Stauffers had garden exhibits which attracted many foreign visitors. Before the last fair closed, they had decided to create a large garden and wrote to over 300 prominent men and women all over the world for moral and financial support.
A Huge Project
The search for a site ended at Michigan City. The brothers secured a lease for 99 years on the tract, and then went to work. Some areas had to be cleared, others were drained and an artificial lake was made. Old trees had to be rooted out and replaced.
There are about 20 small plots arranged in a circle. Each is carefully landscaped to represent a formal garden in Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Greece, France, Australia, Canada, Poland, Persia, Italy, China and America. A small admission charge is made, since this is a non-profit organization with no endowment.
The symphony garden has a rectangular mirror pool. Tall evergreens form the “walls”, giving a secluded atmosphere. At one end there is a grassy stage, which is large enough to accommodate a complete orchestra. Weddings and small concerts are often held here.
Lilac lane is particularly appealing in spring. Flowering peach trees have been placed at intervals between the lilacs, while tulips and other spring flowers line each side of the lane. When all are in bloom at the same time, the effect is one of unsurpassed beauty.
The outdoor Theatre of Nations, accommodates several thousand spectators on the side of a wooded hill. The stage, on an island in Lake Lucerne, is 40 feet from the audience. Evergreens, willows, cedars and sheared arborvitae of various heights and sizes form the wings and back drop, ‘Waking it one of the most delightful outdoor theatres in the world. Flowering plants have been gathered from all over the world – roses from Persia, daisies from Asia, primroses from England and thousands of tulips from the Netherlands.
The English garden was set out with the aid of a royal gardener sent to Michigan City especially for that purpose. The Greek garden has four groups of juniper trees arranged to represent the Greek legend of the king and his four sons who ruled the world. There is a Scotch cradle fence in front of the’ Scottish garden, and in the Polish there is a bust of Padercwski, a charter member of the Gardens.
The Persian garden is a large rose garden of formal design. More than 40 thousand roses can be counted for the Rose Festival. Nearby is the Italian garden, with its lily pool and phlox.
The Chinese garden features weeping willows, which also circle the cast side of the Lake. Other gardens have special attractions, and there arc lovely glades and vistas everywhere. Clipped hedges or tall shrubs separate one garden from another. Most of the garden area is about 30 feet lower than the surrounding terrain. In some spots there are numerous springs. Trees clothe the slopes making it ideal for gardens and birds.
The continuous attraction at the Gardens is the Parade of Flower Shows, which starts about the middle of May with the tulips, narcissus and daffodils. Attracted particularly are garden club members, and each year “pilgrimages” arc arranged by clubs from Indiana and nearby states.
The International Friendship Gardens are by no means finished. Each year secs improvements, while more and more people come to visit them and attend the concerts. The Stauffer brothers want that the Gardens be a memorial for the living – a place for inspiration and meditation, as one visits a cathedral to reflect in peace.
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