WHITE RIVER GARDENS
WHITE RIVER GARDENS INDIANAPOLIS ZOO
WHITE RIVER GARDENS INDIANAPOLIS ZOO
1200 West Washington Street
1200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN
The Herb Society of Central Indiana partners with the White River Gardens of the Indianapolis Zoo to create a beautiful and fragrant herb garden. We are the only garden club to design, plant, and maintain a garden within the Design Gardens. Since 2000, our volunteers have primarily maintained the garden, while horticulture staff assists with watering, mulching, and produces our signage.
The Herb Society of Central Indiana partners with the White River Gardens of the Indianapolis Zoo to create a beautiful and fragrant herb garden. We are the only garden club to design, plant, and maintain a garden within the Design Gardens. Since 2000, our volunteers have primarily maintained the garden, while horticulture staff assists with watering, mulching, and produces our signage.
We started in the Sunken Garden. When it became too shady, we moved one garden north, to what had been the Secret Garden. Large shrubs were removed, and we gained a sunny spot and a brick wall for vines. We added a raised planter along one edge that is wheel chair accessible. It features herbs that encourage touching and smelling. We have four Design Pots in front of the brick wall. Each is changed annually and designed by local designers and nurseries, featuring the Herb of the Year when possible. They provide attractive ideas for those with less garden space.
We started in the Sunken Garden. When it became too shady, we moved one garden north, to what had been the Secret Garden. Large shrubs were removed, and we gained a sunny spot and a brick wall for vines. We added a raised planter along one edge that is wheel chair accessible. It features herbs that encourage touching and smelling. We have four Design Pots in front of the brick wall. Each is changed annually and designed by local designers and nurseries, featuring the Herb of the Year when possible. They provide attractive ideas for those with less garden space.
We enjoy sharing our herb knowledge with Zoo visitors and often share the scents of lemon balm or one of our mints or thymes. We especially like to show children “how” to smell an herb. We provide a list (botanical and common names) of our over 100 plants, and use ephemeral signage to point out featured blooms and plants.
We enjoy sharing our herb knowledge with Zoo visitors and often share the scents of lemon balm or one of our mints or thymes. We especially like to show children “how” to smell an herb. We provide a list (botanical and common names) of our over 100 plants, and use ephemeral signage to point out featured blooms and plants.
Spring 2024
Spring 2024
Winter 2024
Winter 2024
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
Winter 2022
Winter 2022
Summer 2021
Summer 2021
Volunteer Opportunities at the Herb Garden
Volunteer Opportunities at the Herb Garden
Volunteer gardener recruiting, and coordinating of volunteer schedules & materials with WRG staff
We can be “independent” or go through Zoo Orientation and be part of official Zoo volunteer staff.
Volunteers in the Garden participate in the following:
Volunteers in the Garden participate in the following:
- planting
- replanting
- improving soil
- mulching
- precision deadheading
- weeding
- watering & fertilizing
- Working with our Growers and the Design Pots on the Herb of the Year, to be included in the garden or in the pots with appropriate signage
- Growing seeds or propagating plants for the garden
- Working with the staff gardeners at WRG to annually update and republish our club information and herb plant list by common and botanical names
- While gardening, talk to and educate garden visitors about our herbs
- Help market our mission and our garden
- Be a speaker for us and go on the “road” to tell our story and continue our goal of herbal education.
