Charley Creek Gardens

We drove south to Wabash for a brunch buffet today at Eugenia's restaurant in the Honeywell Center. It is a pleasant setting looking out at a patio with water fountains. The buffet choices are not extensive but most of the items are tasty. I had a custom-made omelet, fried potato cubes, tossed salad, strawberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe to begin. Then I took a small portion of the pot roast with a roll and two cheese cubes. My husband took the already-prepared scrambled eggs and bacon as well as the fruit. He tried the flank steak (OK) and the pork chop (not very good). I squeezed in bread pudding and chocolate cheesecake at the end.

Since our pleasant weather continues, we drove to nearby Charley Creek Gardens also in Wabash. This garden area is operated by the Honeywell Foundation. The large parking lot is just a few lots south of the Honeywell House. The address is 551 Miami Street, but we didn't see parking there so went around to Wabash Street where the large lot was marked as for the gardens. However, after walking the garden, we realized we could have pulled into the driveway past the greenhouse and educational center on Miami and back around to a couple of parking spots. This is definitely the place to park if you have folks with limited mobility. The walk from the Wabash parking lot is down a steep hill alongside a deep gorge where part of the creek runs, or alternatively down the terraced steps of the shade garden. Neither of these would work at all if using a walker, cane, wheelchair. This mini parking area would allow getting out and traversing the flat paths of most of the gardens.

The large parking lot is a few lots down from the Honeywell House which you can see from the parking area.

I wish I had brought bug spray. Waving the self-guided tour brochure at the mosquitos around my face did the trick though.

 There is some artwork in the garden. This is Key Way by Michael Smith.
At the bottom of the slope is a waterfall.

 The gardens are open dawn to dusk every day. I suspect the early spring would be pretty. The shade gardens have hyacinths, daffodils, bluebells, redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendron at that time according to the brochure.

 Near the waterfall is a bridge which leads across the creek and to a wildflower meadow.

Shortly after crossing the bridge we scared a heron in the water which flew off out of sight following the curves of the creek.

 There was a little elevated wooden "bridge" that poked out into the flowers for shooting photos.

 Near the educational building was a gravel path that went by the Charlie Creek cottage which is now a private residence but one was welcome to look at the flowers.

 It was on the gravel path that we saw some pods hanging in a tree. What kind of tree is this?

I did wander in the maze some. If  successfully and fully navigated (there are at least two access/egress gates), one arrives at a sculpture by Michael Berg.

Most of the garden areas were shady which made it pleasant in our warm but not humid weather. The flat area of the park is surrounded by homes looking directly on to the flowers, trees, etc. Must be a nice place to live.

Our little outing got us out of our rut. ((Filling the well.)

All of the ads are filled with back-to-school sales. Wow! This summer has sped by.