CO-ASIS&T Summer of Tours: Inniswood Metro Gardens In-Person Tour

Description

Description The Inniswood Metro Gardens is a source of inspiration for all ages. Streams and woodlands filled with wildflowers and wildlife provide a majestic backdrop to the beautifully landscaped areas over 123-acres. Inniswood boasts more than 2,000 species of plants, specialty collections and 10 named gardens. One of these is the Sisters’ Garden, named in honor of Grace and Mary Innis who donated their property to the Metro Parks to be preserved as gardens for all to enjoy. The Innis House (formerly the house where the sisters lived) is the setting for the public gardens manager, administrative staff as well as a non-lending horticultural library. This program begins with a guided tour of three of these named gardens, the Herb Garden, the Rock Garden, the Sisters Garden and Story Maze, followed by a visit to the library. There participants will hear from Betsy Salt, Library, Nancy Kaler, Garden Secretary, and Megan Fleischer, Horticulturist, about how the collection supports the various organizations and staff who maintain the gardens. Participants will: 1. Learn about the founding and history of the Inniswood Metro Gardens. 2. Understand the research that goes into developing the themes and plantings for the gardens each year. 3. Understand how the Inniswood Metro Gardens fit into the overall mission of the Metro Parks. Date & Time Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:30 – 11:30 am EDT Registration is required; it is free for ASIS&T members, $5 for non-members to cover the ASIS&T processing. No fees are charged by the Inniswood Metro Gardens. Location Inniswood Metro Gardens https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/inniswood-metro-gardens/ 940 S Hempstead Road Westerville, OH 43081 Parking and Access Please meet in the picnic area adjacent to the parking lots. Light refreshments will be provided there but refreshments are not permitted in the gardens. Most paths in Inniswood are wide, paved and flat. This makes it easy for people who may have mobility issues or use assistance when walking to get around. There are a few gravel paths including in the Sisters’ Garden. If needed, two manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come-first served basis at the garden at no charge. Tour leaders Nancy Kaler is the Inniswood Office Secretary. She started at Inniswood as a volunteer after completing her career at The Ohio State University as the Business Manager in the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Betsy Salt heads the Library Volunteer team at Inniswood Metro Gardens. She manages the collection and with these volunteers launched a new Little Lending Library in 2022. Previously, Betsy was Head of Technical Services at Otterbein University. Megan Fleischer is the Horticulturist at Inniswood Metro Gardens. She supervises the gardens, develops the annual themes and oversees the selection and locations of plantings that support these themes. Megan has a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Horticulture from The Ohio State University. She came to Inniswood from the Dawes Arboretum.