Temporarily living in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, has many benefits, one of which is being four blocks away from the edge of Indiana University’s beautiful campus.

Late summer, before the students arrive for fall semester, is the perfect time for a peaceful stroll through campus to admire the gorgeous annual flower installations. By this time of year, the flowers have had plenty of time to mature. They spill over the edges of containers and stone walls throughout the high traffic areas of campus. The campus gardeners rely heavily on tried and true performers, such as Begonias and Sweet Potato Vines, to create bold eye-catching displays. Some of the other annuals used this year include Angelonia, Licorice Vine, Petunias, Fountain Grass, Salvia, Ornamental Peppers, and Dusty Miller.

Start at the Sample Gates

The biggest concentrations of annual flower displays are located in central Indiana University campus. A good place to begin a stroll is through the iconic Sample Gates. They frame the entry to campus at the east end of Kirkwood Avenue. Dunn’s Woods, on the right, and the buildings around it are the oldest parts of campus, dating back to the late 1800s.

Don’t forget to occasionally look up from the flowers to check out the limestone architecture and large trees that give the campus it’s nationally recognized character. Either follow the brick paths through Dunn’s Woods, or head straight toward the Herman B. Wells statue and Rose Well House.

After exploring this area, turn north to walk toward the Indiana University Memorial Union and view the many containers and flower beds around its entrances.

Then follow the sidewalk east past Beck Chapel and Dunn Family Cemetery. This will bring you to the heart of campus, where one of IU’s large red clocks stands. These clocks chime on the hour and are programmed to play 100 songs, often based on the season or weather. This year, the clock is underplanted with a colorful bed of Dahlias. To the right is a peaceful woodsy lawn crisscrossed with streams and Bryan House. Veer to the left at the clock and then to the right to head toward Showalter Fountain, the auditorium, and IU Art Museum.

Take a few minutes to admire this area before heading north to stroll through the 11-acre Cox Arboretum. It is beautifully landscaped with hundreds of tree and shrub species, many of which are labeled. Head south again to complete the loop and head straight to walk along 7th Street. This leads to the other side of the Memorial Union along with the Jordan River and Dunn Meadow.

Indiana University: Worth a Visit

After years away from Indiana University campus, it was fun to stroll through and reminisce about my four and a half years spent there as an undergraduate. I may be a little biased since IU is my alma mater. But, thanks to its longstanding commitment to landscape preservation, IU has to be one of the prettiest campuses in the country.

Whether or not you attended school here, it’s worth a visit when in the Bloomington area. The flowers and landscaping are just a bonus for us plant enthusiasts. (Oops, I almost forgot to include the Jordan Hall Greenhouse, which is not far from the Bryan House. To get there, veer to the south (right) after passing the Indiana Memorial Union and walk past Ballantine Hall. This will bring you to Jordan Hall and its greenhouse, located at 1001 East 3rd Street. This conservatory is home to hundreds of plants from around the world. It is free and open to the general public until 4:00 pm on weekdays and 3:00 on Saturday and Sunday.)