By SONYA NASH
Quilt Gardens Project Manager

ELKHART COUNTY — Indiana is 200 years old in 2016, and the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail is joining the party with historic patterns honoring Indiana’s Bicentennial celebration.There will be 19 Striking quilt-themed gardens will display patterns representing various time periods in Indiana’s history. The 21 quilt art murals, a continuing feature of the event, will also be on display.

Great viewing is guaranteed from May 30 through Oct. 1 in the communities of Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Shipshewana and Wakarusa along the nationally recognized Heritage Trail.

Official 2016 sites and patterns are:

Quilt Gardens

• Bristol, Elkhart County Historical Museum — 1914 Duck Paddle
• Elkhart, City of Elkhart, Central Park — 1966 Morning Star
• Elkhart, Concord Mall — 1920 Indian Paintbrush
• Elkhart, Linton’s Enchanted Gardens — 1975 Card Trick
• Elkhart, Premier Arts, Downtown Main Street — Back Home Again in Indiana (inspired by 1920 Dogwood)
• Elkhart, Ruthmere — 1895 Crossed Canoes
• Goshen, Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds — 1933 Friendship Circle
• Goshen, Elkhart County Courthouse — 1906 Goshen
• Goshen, The Old Bag Factory — 1930 Old Windmill
• Middlebury, Das Dutchman Essenhaus — 1937 Indian Star
• Middlebury, Dutch Country Market — 1841 Hearts & Flowers
• Middlebury, Krider Garden — 1932 Cross Roads
• Middlebury, Martin’s ACE Hardware — 1981 Indian Sunburst
• Nappanee, Coppes Commons — 1884 Railroad
• Nappanee, Dutch Village Market — 1897 Box Car
• Nappanee, Nappanee Center — 1932 Whirligig
• Shipshewana, Glory Gardens — 1930 Nine Patch Star
• Shipshewana, Weaver Furniture Sales — 1930 Indiana Puzzle
• Wakarusa, Town of Wakarusa, Downtown — 1895 Star Puzzle

Quilt Murals

• Bristol, Bonneyville Mill County Park — Trapunto and Appliqué
• Elkhart, Elkhart County Visitor Center — Aurora
• Elkhart, Thomas Building, Downtown — Old Fashioned Star
• Elkhart, Concord Mall — Jazz It Up
• Elkhart, Wellfield Botanic Gardens — Pinwheels & Ribbons of Hope
• Elkhart, Westview Florist — Grandmother’s Flower Garden
• Goshen, The Old Bag Factory — Miles II Variation
• Goshen, Goshen Chamber of Commerce — Maple Leaf
• Middlebury, Das Dutchman Essenhaus — Double Wedding Ring
• Middlebury, Martin’s ACE Hardware — American Small Town Pride
• Middlebury, SE Corner Main & Warren Streets, Downtown — Interlocking Hearts of Hope
• Middlebury, Varns and Hoover Hardware, Downtown — Welcome to Middlebury (4)
• Nappanee, John’s Butcher Shop, Downtown — Amish Quilt Commemorative Stamps (4)
• Nappanee, Amish Acres — The Blue Bird Thing
• Wakarusa, Town of Wakarusa, Downtown — Dancing Leaves

The Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail is produced by the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau to foster community pride, contribute to quality of place and generate interest from a wide range of audiences that drives increased visitation and visitor spending in Elkhart County. For more information contact the ECCVB at (574) 262-8161 or visit QuiltGardens.com.