GOSHEN QUILT GARDEN

Quilt Gardens

Each summer, Goshen becomes part of a remarkable tradition that blends quilting, gardening, and public art into a living landscape. Known as the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail, this annual exhibition transforms public spaces throughout Elkhart County into vibrant, quilt-inspired displays made entirely of flowers and hand-painted murals.

The Quilt Gardens program began in 2007 as an experiment, starting with just two test gardens—one of which, at Das Dutchman Essenhaus, continues to participate today. From those modest beginnings, the project grew into a countywide collaboration that now includes 16 large-scale floral quilt gardens and 14 oversized quilt murals, making it the only experience of its kind in the world.

Each Quilt Garden is designed to replicate a traditional quilt block pattern using thousands of carefully selected plants. Over the course of the growing season, these gardens evolve from newly planted designs into dense, colorful displays that feature more than one million blooms across all sites. The gardens are complemented by hand-painted, quilt-themed murals that extend the visual experience beyond the flower beds and into surrounding communities.

Goshen plays a significant role in the Quilt Gardens program as one of six Elkhart County communities to host multiple sites. Quilt Gardens and murals appear at locations of historical and cultural importance, including the Old Bag Factory, Abshire Park, the Elkhart County Courthouse and Goshen Police Booth, and the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. By placing these living artworks in historically meaningful spaces, the Quilt Gardens connect contemporary creativity with Goshen’s past.

The creation and maintenance of the Quilt Gardens depend on an extraordinary level of community involvement. Each season, more than 200 volunteers contribute an estimated 2,000 hours of labor, planting, watering, weeding, and caring for the gardens throughout the summer. The plants themselves are grown specifically for the Quilt Gardens by Corstange Greenhouse of Portage, Michigan, a family-owned nursery with decades of experience.

Beyond their visual impact, the Quilt Gardens reflect longstanding traditions rooted in the region. Quilting has long been a form of artistic expression and storytelling, often created through shared labor and passed down through generations. Gardening, likewise, has deep ties to the area’s agricultural heritage. The Quilt Gardens bring these traditions together in a public setting, creating a shared experience that celebrates craftsmanship, cooperation, and community pride.

Recognized at the state and national level, the Quilt Gardens have received awards from tourism and professional organizations, but their greatest significance lies closer to home. For residents, the gardens have become seasonal landmarks and points of local pride. For visitors, they offer an introduction to the character and creativity of Goshen and Elkhart County.

The Goshen Historical Society recognizes the Quilt Gardens as part of the city’s ongoing cultural story—an example of how traditional practices continue to inspire new forms of expression. Like the quilts that inspired them, the gardens are made up of many individual pieces, carefully assembled to create something lasting, meaningful, and rooted in place.