Fellows Riverside Gardens

History: Mill Creek Park was established in 1891 by Volney Rogers. It was the first park district in Ohio. Since converting to a metropolitan park district in 1989, Mill Creek MetroParks’ mission is to preserve open space and provide recreational opportunities for visitors. Fellows Riverside Gardens is the culmination of Elizabeth Fellows’ dream to create a “beauty spot for all to enjoy.” In 1958, Mrs. Fellows, an avid gardener, donated land and money to Mill Creek Park to build and maintain a free public garden. The Fellows Riverside Garden Trust provides for the perpetual care of the garden in memory of Mrs. Fellows’ husband Benjamin’s parents, Benjamin and Mary Fellows. Its first planting was in 1963.

Visitor center: The D.D. and Velma Davis Education and Visitor Center is located in Fellows Riverside Gardens. Its facilities include Maxcine Antonucci Horticulture Library, Shop in the Gardens, Arseny Melnick Observation Tower, Weller Gallery and Melnick Mill Creek Park Museum. Various services and programs are offered.

What’s in bloom: Some 45,000 bulbs are planted at the gardens. Daffodils and hyacinths were in bloom the last two weeks of April, and various types of tulips are now blooming. April and May also see the blooming of magnolia, cherry and crabapple trees. From mid-May to early June, shrub roses bloom; mid-May to late June, rhododendrons and azaleas; late May to early June, iris; late May to late June, peonies; June to September, annual bedding display; mid-June to early November, rose garden; July to August, daylilies; mid-July to early September, heathers; and September to early November, fall roses.

Garden areas: Seasonal displays of bulbs and annuals highlight the formal design of the DeYor Concourse. Perennials, climbing roses, bulbs and annuals fill the beds along the walkway leading to the bower, an enclosed garden room. While the south terrace offers a view of Lake Glacier, the north terrace provides a view of Youngstown. Yew and boxwood hedges enclose an outdoor room created for the display of more than 1,300 modern roses. Between June and October, varieties of roses are in bloom. The herb garden invites visitors to experience various smells and textures, and sweet-scented plants fill raised beds of the fragrance garden. In the rhododendron, narcissus and woody plant collections, these beds showcase a wide array of rhododendrons, azaleas, viburnums and native shrubs providing flowers, foliage and berries throughout the year. The blue garden shows off blue-leaved hostas and ornamental grasses along with blue-flowering annuals, perennials and bulbs. Vibrant annuals highlight seasonal display beds. The long mall is lined in spring tulips and summer annuals interspersed with river birch, magnolia and crabapple trees.

Next tour: The next guided tour will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 21. Participants should meet at the information desk.

Plant sale: A plant sale is planned from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Brief educational segments will be offered throughout sale hours.

Web site: www.millcreekmetroparks.org

Source: Mill Creek Park Web site