Quilt Garden

Ruthmere's 2020 Quilt Garden is Ruth's Chrysanthemum.

This year's design theme for Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail was flower patterns - Ruthmere chose the chrysanthemum, a flower that was beloved by Victorians in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The color pink was chosen to honor Ruth, the only child of Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley & Ruthmere's namesake. Little Ruth died as an infant in 1881, and Ruthmere's construction began in 1908 - 27 years after Ruth's death. Since the Beardsleys named this home after their daugther, it's plain to see how much of a lasting impact Ruth had on their lives, even despite her life being cut short. Ruth's portrait, painted by Indiana artist Lucille Cooke, can be seen hanging in Elizabeth's pink morning room in a black oval frame of mourning.

This year's design was voted on and selected by Ruthmere's own garden volunteers!

More information on Ruthmere Museum Campus can be found at www.Ruthmere.org