Favorite Places: Coxhall Gardens

We've been to nearby Coxhall Gardens many times now, and have yet to tire of it. Its 125 acres was donated to the city in 1999 by a wealthy Indiana entrepreneur and his wife, to provide an "oasis in a sea of homes". Like much of west Carmel, the land was only recently developed into what you see today, so the trees and landscaping are still young and many features have not yet been constructed.

Currently there is a Children's Garden (where we spend most of our time), two ninety foot bell towers, numerous trees and landscaping, and the Centerpiece, which consists of a stone Gazebo, tiered seating, and fountains. The Centerpiece can be rented out for events and also hosts concerts occasionally, I believe.

At any rate, the park is huge and great for walking or riding bikes (though not on hot, sunny days, due to the current lack of shade!) We can't wait to see what it looks like as the trees mature.

Note: a few of these pictures were taken in July, when most of Indiana was experiencing a severe drought--hence the brown grass. Most of the photos were taken just a few days ago, and you can see that the landscape is now much greener.

Entrance to the Children's Garden

One of the bell towers in the distance. The bells play songs every so often.

The path into the Children's Garden is made to look like a common Indiana snake, whose name escapes me.

Slide

Entrance to Dragonfly Island (in the Children's Garden)

Tiki huts provide some shade

A "river" of sand runs through the garden for digging and sand-castle building.

There are so many different kinds of plants--I need to bring a field guide one of these days.

There are four or five of these tunnels. The kids can run under them or over them.

Entrance to the Butterfly Walk in the Children's Garden

I feel like I should know what these are . . . but I don't.

One of the buildings in the miniature town, which consists of 6-7 building facades interspersed with gardens.

Part of the herb garden: flat-leaf parsley.

Some eager-beaver picked the un-ripe tomatoes.

Flowers in front of the coffee shop

Patio with flowers behind the coffee shop. There is also a little table and benches.

Jail!

This ATM is behind the bank.

The stepping stones leading to the ATM are plastered with pennies.

Peppermint stones leading to the candy store

Puppy print stones leading to the pet store

Green space next to the Children's Garden

This water feature has a tap at the top of a stone-studded ramp.
The water flows down through the stones to create a little pond at the bottom.

Playing in the sand river

Our masterpiece!

Hibiscus outside the pharmacy. Seeing these gave me a pang of homesickness--I miss my parents!
They had amazing hibiscus plants at their last home that put this one to shame.

Landscaping near the Children's Garden

A view of the lake in the background.

The bridge at Campbell Crossing, which leads to the Centerpiece.

View from the bridge

Part of the path from the bridge to the Centerpiece. Cox Mansion can barely be seen on the right.

Photo taken from the path underneath the bridge

The Centerpiece. The fountains aren't turned on in this photo, but there are several that run down the steps
(seen on the left) and also fountains around the gazebo.

Statue of Jesse and Beulah Cox, who donated the 125 acres to Carmel.