A Garden to Treasure

Only yards from I-70 and nestled in a quiet residential area, the garden covers 2.5 acres. It has a gracious, old-fashioned feel, just perfect for the large Victorian house. You can see the love put into this garden by the various beds sponsored by individuals, families and groups. As I was wandering along the stone pathways, even though I could hear the highway traffic, the sights, sounds and scents from the garden frequently made those sounds disappear.

The garden was first established in 1963 by the Topeka Parks & Recreation Department when the Topeka Council of Garden Clubs wanted to have a meeting place with botanical gardens. The initial design was done as a class project by a landscape design class at KSU. However, according to Ray Schroeder, Old Prairie Town's horticulturist since 1971, very little remains of the original design. Today's garden is filled with many labeled trees, shrubs, and flowers with a winding, stamped sidewalk path throughout. As you stroll you will discover gazebos, arbors, places to sit, white iron bridges and a bubbling stream.

Not only is the Ward Meade Botanical Garden beautiful, it's talented too! It is designated one of only 23 American Hosta Society Display Gardens and for the spring Tulip Time, 40,000 tulips are planted and labeled.  New this year are a Monarch Waystation and pioneer herb garden. Schroeder and his crew also have great plans for 2016, only one of which is becoming a National Daylily Display Garden, which would be the only public garden in the country. By the way, Topeka's Tulip Time has been named in Destination magazine's Top 100 Events in North America for 2016.

Perhaps the most poignant part of the garden is the area known as Anna's Place. Anna Riphan was an award-winning author and illustrator by the age of 13.  She died tragically in a car accident at age 17, just when her career was blooming.  A quiet, shaded place near the center of the garden, there are benches, picnic tables, and pools with koi, a lovely place for meditation, reading and reflection. You can view Anna's books in our Topeka Room.