Taltree Arboretuem & Gardens (Valparaiso, Indiana)
The land at Taltree in Indiana has seen great and wonderful change through the years. What was once a pristine savannah-type landscape, human development transformed into a land dominated by large scale crop farming. Hitz Design was hired in 1998 with the objective of restoring existing cornfields to their original Oak Savanna and prairie landscape.
Creating a master plan, Hitz proposed a phased project that would eventually yield multiple public areas on the Taltree property; all designed to offer natural inspiration for its visitors. Multiple gardens span this 300-acre preserve of wetlands, prairies, and woodlands. The Japanese Stroll Garden, Rose Garden, Joseph E. Meyer Garden Pavilion, and the recently completed Taltree Railway Garden are all products of the Hitz Design team. Taltree continues to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors to the South Lake Michigan area.




