gardens & nature area
Relax in our gardens, explore the Nature Area, and bike along the White River Greenway. Minnetrista’s 40-acre campus is a welcome respite in the middle of Muncie, and is free for all to enjoy!
Minnetrista has a variety of garden experiences throughout our three campus zones. Learn more about each garden:
Hours & Admission
Winter Hours: September 22-March 31
Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday; Noon-6 p.m.
Summer Hours: April 1-September 21
Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday; Noon-6 p.m.
Nature Area Zone
Nature Area
Location: North of The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista, across St. Joseph St.
The Nature Area features three representations of Indiana native habitats, a tallgrass prairie, a wetlands feature, and a woodland area. Enjoy a great space to walk and explore!
*The Nature Area has rugged terrain and hills. Visit the Minnetrista Center Building to schedule a cart ride through this area.
Cultivate curiosity about the local ecosystem by playing HabiTile with your family! HabiTile is a web-based game created by Studio Hungus for a Ball State Immersive Learning Project led by Professor Paul Gestwicki.
Click the button below to see a 360 degree view of the Nature Area Virtual Tour!
Center Zone
Orchard Garden
Location: Behind The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista
Visit the Orchard Garden during the summer months and enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables! Learn about different ways to build and maintain a garden space. This garden is open for all to enjoy!
Culinary Herb Garden
Location: Next to The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista
Stop by the Culinary Herb Garden during the warmer months and enjoy a wide variety of herbs. Feel free to pick, smell, and enjoy! This garden is open to all, and we encourage you to sample the herbs and cook with them at home.
Wishing Well Garden & Lawn
Location: Next to The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista
This garden space contains a four-season garden that provides year-round interest. This garden was designed by groups of volunteers with the goal of educating by displaying a variety of perennial plants that provide season-long interest, color, texture, and differing heights.
East Lawn Rain Garden
Location: East lawn next to the Center Building
The Rain Garden uses its 6,200 square feet to capture stormwater. It is designed to hold water for up to two days, allowing it to slowly filter back into the soil. Native perennials thriving in this natural area are tolerant of fluctuating water conditions.
Rose Garden & Gazebo
Location: Next to the Center Building
Enjoy a variety of beautiful roses and an antique wrought iron gazebo. This garden is planted like a color wheel, starting with orange and ending with intense red shades. The Rose Garden is the perfect place to stop and enjoy!
Bird & Butterfly Garden
Location: Next to the Center Building
This garden is designed to attract birds and butterflies by displaying attracting plants loved by both. You will see a nice mix of annuals, bulbs, perennials, shrubs, evergreens, and small trees. Enjoy a walk and see what kind of birds and butterflies you can find!
Boulevard Zone
Oakhurst Gardens
Location: Behind the Oakhurst home
Oakhurst Gardens are the perfect place to walk and explore. Experience peaceful shade from the oak trees, enjoy gazing at the garden beds filled with beautiful perennials, shrubs, and annuals, keep your eye out for intricate mosaics, and have fun in Betty’s Cabin.
Please note: the Oakhurst Gardens will be closed on Monday-Sunday, July 24–30, for Faeries, Sprites & Lights.
Colonnade Garden
Location: North of the L.L. Ball home
The columns were damaged in a storm in 2022, and future plans for the garden’s restoration are still forthcoming. The wisteria is still standing, so visitors can sit and relax in a peaceful escape with intricate mosaics and capitals set in lush, shade-loving perennial plantings.
Backyard Garden
Location: Behind the L.L. Ball home
Wander through the Backyard Garden and discover colorful flowers, the goldfish and koi pond, and numerous places to play, enjoy a picnic, or relax!
