Wellfield Botanic Gardens' director resigns after ten years

Eric Garton, the executive director of Wellfield Botanic Gardens, is resigning after ten years in the role. He will leave at the end of May to be closer to his family in Oregon following a recent family emergency. In a letter to the community, Garton reflected on his time at Wellfield, emphasizing the importance of “growing community.” He shared that the Gardens are rooted in a vision to attract, inspire, and educate people about nature and art. A search committee has been formed to find his replacement, and Garton will assist during the transition period. Garton has overseen several successful projects, including a new Events and Visitors Center that will open soon. During his tenure, he helped create the Children's Garden, Island Garden, and Peace Garden. The organization expressed sadness at Garton’s departure but pride in his contributions to the Elkhart community. Garton thanked everyone involved with Wellfield for their support since he began in 2015. He acknowledged the achievements of the Gardens and their impact on the community. Before joining Wellfield, Garton held various positions at botanical gardens in California and Arizona. Wellfield Botanic Gardens operates as a non-profit “living museum” aiming to foster a connection between humans and nature. It was established in 2005 to promote creativity, learning, and community engagement.