White River Gardens

White River Gardens' beginnings date to the early-1990s as Indianapolis Zoo officials sought to bring more public attention to the interdependence of plant and animal habitats. The inaugural Bloomfest, hosted in the spring of 1992, was among the zoo's first efforts to heighten awareness. Hired as the zoo's new president and chief executive officer in January 1993, Jeffrey Bonner envisioned several additions to the zoo, including a botanical garden. In October 1996, the Indianapolis Zoo received accreditation as a botanical garden from the American Association of Museums. Plans for White River Gardens were announced in December 1996 with a $5 million gift from the Lilly Endowment. In April 1997, Stephen and Tomisue Hilbert pledged $3 million to support construction. Since September 2021, White River Gardens has been closed to allow for the construction of a new entry plaza to the zoo and gardens, scheduled for completion in spring 2023. ==Features==

Hilbert Conservatory Hilbert Conservatory was designed by Indianapolis architectural firm Woollen, Molzan and Partners. Hilbert Conservatory hosts "Butterfly Kaleidoscope," an annual exhibit that features over 13,000 butterflies from over 40 different species found throughout the world. Outdoor gardens One of the missions of the garden is to provide inspiration and ideas to gardeners on how to design their own gardens through design and traditional methods. Indianapolis-based Rundell Ernstberger Associates served as the landscape architect for the project, designing the outdoor gardens. • Allen W. Clowes Water Garden – water garden • Dan and Lori Efroymson Wedding Garden – garden room • Indianapolis Garden Club Heritage Garden • Indianapolis Zoological Guild Hedge Garden • Knot Garden – knot garden • Ornamental Allée • Polly Horton Hix Design Garden • Shade Garden – shade garden • Sun Garden Public art Several pieces of art were commissioned as part of White River Gardens. Andrew Reid's Midwestern Panorama, a cylindrical mural located inside the Bud Schaefer Rotunda, depicts native Indiana flora and fauna cycling through the four seasons. Glass artist Dave McLary's Capital Campaign Donors Recognition Window consists of four -by- panels etched with springtime scenes emblematic of Indiana. Dale Enochs contributed several pieces, including seven water tables, 40 sculptural stones, and 100 individual limestone bricks. Enochs' Earth Stone, a -tall limestone sculpture, serves as a focal point in the outdoor gardens. Sculptor Jan Martin produced 49 bronze anthropomorphic animals "to bring humor and whimsy to the Gardens". Martin also fabricated four -tall trellises and five -tall vining leaf sculptures of stainless steel. Amy Brier's interactive Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are four individual limestone spheres situated in urns of sand atop pedestals. Each sphere's carvings depict native flora corresponding to its season. ==See also==