Garden lovers take a road trip to downstate Indiana

For gardeners with an early spring weekend on their hands, a road trip to Fort Wayne and then Muncie is in order. Start out at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne, where more than four acres worth of plants and are up for inspection. The conservatory is separated into three areas including tropical, desert and seasonal display gardens.

The best time for plant collectors to visit Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is from May 8 to 10 when they sponsor their annual plant sale.

About 400 different kinds of plants will be available for purchase, including herbs, vegetable and perennial plants, tropical plants, color bowls and hanging baskets. Plants all are grown in the Fort Wayne Parks Department's Lawton Park Greenhouse and sold as a fundraiser to support programming at the Conservatory.

Although the supply is consistently replenished throughout the weekend, arrive early for the best selection. Free parking is available. Plant sale times are from 4 to 7 p.m. May 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9 and noon to 4 p.m. May 10.

Adults with an artistic passion can register ahead for a workshop the ancient art of Ukrainian egg dyeing from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 11. Participants will make their own pysanky egg and then take home their own tool kit to create their own designs at home. Registration deadline is April 3. Fee is $37 for nonmembers; $31 for members.

The Garden Version of Clue will run through April 12, with the conservatory featuring the general themes the classic Parker Brothers whodunit board game.

Visitors will find four rooms, six weapons, and the usual suspects involved in a variety of plots.

Butterflies: a Bug's Eye View opens April 18 and runs through July 5. The annual live butterfly display will feature a twist this year. In addition to live butterflies inside the tent, visitors of all ages can discover UV flower patterns and the workings of a compound eye.

Heading to Muncie

Minnetrista literally means gathering place near the water. The cultural center and gardens called Minnetrista started with two brothers whose fortunes were made in glass. The Ball family moved its glass manufacturing business from Buffalo, New York, to Muncie in 1887 and became one of America's best known manufacturers of canning jars. Today, Minnetrista features a cultural center and 40 acres of gardens.

Horticulture manager Cassie Banning said the entire campus is highly accessible, with wide, winding pathways connecting most of the theme gardens.

The 6-acre Oakhurst Gardens consists of several theme gardens. Although most are colorful throughout the season, the Sunken Garden, Woodland Garden and Aunt Emma's Path are at their best in spring. Within days, a carpet of color from snowdrops, winter aconite, hellebores, Siberian squill, and more will lure visitors along the pathways.

"It really is magical," said Banning. "We'd like to see more people enjoy it during this time of year."

If you travel with kids or like to putter with machines, Minnetrista's "Make It Move" display runs through May 3. The hands-on exhibit explores the world of simple machines. Visitors can experiment with tops to create a "super spinner," design a course for a ball to go through paddle wheels and over jumps. A child-sized crane and excavator will allow young visitors to hook, lift, and scoop objects and materials. Problem solving activities featuring gears, pulleys, and levers are designed to challenge visitors of all ages.