Schoepfle Garden

Schoepfle Garden is a 70-acre (280,000 m²) botanical garden and natural woodland bordered by the Vermilion River (Ohio). The garden features collections of rhododendrons, roses, lilies, hostas, various shade plants, along with many varieties of shrubs, topiary and trees. There is a visitor center, and guided tours are available throughout the year. The garden is part of the Lorain County Metro Parks, and is located on Market Street in Birmingham, Erie County, Ohio.

History

Schoepfle Garden was the ancestral home of the Schoepfle family, before being sold in 1924 and used as rental property. In 1936 Otto Schoepfle repurchased the house and land originally owned by his grandparents. Over the years, with a great deal of attention, work and help from local young people, Otto was able to turn it into the beautiful garden that can be seen today. Born in 1910, Otto Schoepfle did not start out to create a botanical garden. He in fact referred to it sometimes as “the garden that grew.” Over the years, he traveled Europe to study and learn about different botanical varieties, coming home after each trip with new ideas for plantings. This continual pursuit of learning became a dominant force in his philosophy of life.

In 1969 Otto donated the garden to Lorain County Metro Parks and continued to live in the house and look after it until his death in 1992. The garden now stands as a monument to his values of continual learning and appreciation of both cultivated and natural beauty.

Formal Garden

The formal garden contains a wide central path lined with hedges and topiaries. Grassy side paths wander through colorful and exotic flowers. The garden’s colors change every few weeks in the warmer months as new species come into bloom. Spring-time bulbs are abundant with many varieties of tulips and daffodils. Summer-time flowers include an extensive selection of roses. Many similar species are planted together, allowing the visitor to observe the subtle differences. Most plantings are well identified with signs and pictures. Remarkable specimen trees are featured including holly, ginkgo, European beech, Japanese Umbrella Pine, Dawn Redwood, and others.

Shade Garden

The shade garden runs alongside the formal garden, and features a cool canopy of pines. The shade garden is accented with two ponds and many places to sit and relax. Various species of shrubs and shade plants line the floor including ferns, hostas and astilbes; but perhaps most notable is the large collection of rhododendrons.

Children's Garden

The newest addition to Schoepfle Garden is the musically themed Children’s Garden that was added in 2007. Inspired by Mr. Otto Schoepfle’s love of gardening, music and youth, the Children’s Garden was a community project as local landscapers constructed each unique garden, local artists restored carousel horses, and local businesses and citizens donated to the project. Each piece of the garden blends nature and music to create an enchanting experience for children.

Natural Woodland

In addition to the formal and shade gardens, there are nearly fifty acres of natural woodlands that lie between the gardens and the Vermilion River. This natural area offers a seasonal display of indigenous trees and wildflowers—a great place for wildflower hikes, birding and tracking. Established hiking trails include a 1-mile (1.6 km) and a .5-mile (8.0 km) loop, and a .6-mile (9.7 km) river trail. Scenic vistas overlooking the river valley are available from the trails and from the foundations of an old railroad bridge.

Sources

Portions of the text and descriptions for this page were adapted from the Schoepfle Garden web site.