Pardee Gunter, head gardener of Warsaw Biblical Gardens, leads a tour for the Red Hat Ladies of Michiana, which is based out of St. Joseph County. He highlighted the new arbor that was put in place over spring break; it is based off the original arbor, which was built in New York before being shipped and reassembled at the gardens, and it even used some wood from the gardens. (Photo by Sarah Wright)

Warsaw Biblical Gardens has become its own entity, namely a 501c3. According Paul Refior, board president for Warsaw Biblical Gardens, it’s been a move a couple years in the making.

“A couple years ago, the WCDC (Warsaw Community Development Corporation) did a review of its core mission,” said Refior. It was through that review, despite being 100 percent in favor of the Warsaw Biblical Gardens, that the WCDC decided the gardens didn’t best fit its core mission.

The WCDC spoke with the gardens about it splitting off into its own separate nonprofit, which required it to enter into an agreement with the board of works and assume the lease with the town of Warsaw through that board. It also had to assume all liabilities.

“It makes us more nimble,” Refior said of the change. “If something comes up, we can process it immediately, not through a third party.”

The transition officially occurred this month, with the approval of the transfer of physical accounts and liabilities.

Head Gardener and board treasurer Pardee Gunter said the operations of the garden, which is three-quarters of an acre and located off East Canal Street, will remain the same.

“We deal with the (Warsaw) Parks (Department) a lot,” Gunter said, noting that the department helps mow the grass, in addition to tackling any mechanical issues that arise in the garden. “The parks department is extremely helpful.”

Gunter will continue to select plants to go into the gardens and give tours, which are $2 a person, and where he talks about the plants’ history, why they are in gardens and what their relationship to the Bible is.

“The Bible has 230 plants in it,” Gunter said. “We are right at about 100 to 120 plants in the garden.”

To decide which ones go in, Gunter has to do quite a bit of research. He said while some plants are directly named in the Bible — like the olive tree — and some are not, such as the grass or lilies of the field, requiring him to find what plants were present in Israel at the time that match the description.

“There are a few tests before a plant actually goes in,” he said. “If you walk through the garden — if you point to something, most likely I can give you a reason why its there.”

Beyond being mentioned directly or indirectly in the Bible, Gunter will also allow plants that are historical of the time period in Israel. One plant, the redbud, is present due to a legend. That legend stated that Judas, after betraying Jesus, hung himself from a redbud.

As head gardener, Gunter has his work cut out for him, particularly since northern Indiana — Zone 8 — is three growing zones removed from Israel, a Zone 5.

“Israel is comparable to Arizona or the panhandle of Florida,” Gunter said.

For this reason, Gunter keeps some of the plants in containers that he moves into his greenhouse at the first sign of frost. Another challenge with the zone difference has been all the rain the area has been receiving this year.

Gunter does get help in the form of volunteers, with him saying, “We are always looking for volunteers.” He added that this year he only has one volunteer helping him with the garden and that he would welcome more.

Warsaw Biblical Gardens will be marking 25 years in 2016. “We are thinking of celebrations for next year,” Gunter said.

For information, visit www.warsawbiblicalgardens.org.