Meet Your Neighbor: Sheets shares joys of Schedel gardens

ELMORE - What started as a part-time job getting her hands in the dirt, planting flowers and pulling weeds, turned into a career that has included planning events and greeting guests. This year, Veronica Sheets is embarking on her 21st season at Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, most of which she has spent as the Events and Development Coordinator.

“I started here working in the gardens one day a week, and then I was roped into the office to work on events,” said Sheets. And although event planning is not what she majored in while attending college, she has put her business degree to use.

But Sheets does not spend all of her workday in her office. She can often be found on the grounds checking in with coworkers and volunteers, directing placement of tents and tables for various events, and saying “hello” to visitors.

Since becoming the events coordinator, Sheets has planned hundreds of social gatherings at the gardens, everything from wine tastings to craft nights to garden parties to hosting visits by elementary students from local schools. And the list goes on. She added youth art and science summer camps to the line-up a few years ago.

Gardens host nearly six events a month

Sheets and her coworkers begin planning events in January, with approximately six events per month from February to November. The property is closed during December and January.

“Back in the day, events were self-inspired,” said Sheets. “Now, I’m watching what others do, and I’m tweaking past events, trying to improve on what we’ve done before.”

According to Sheets, this year’s Easter Egg Hunt in March was attended by over 1,100 people, with visitors traveling from all over, not just the immediate community.

“I got ‘the look’ from my volunteers when I told them how many eggs we needed to have ready,” Sheets said. “Thankfully, I have wonderful volunteers and sponsors to help with events.”

Schedel is often a wedding destination

Sheets has also assisted hundreds of brides and their grooms with planning their special day at the gardens, which has included coordinating spring bridal shows featuring local vendors, including photographers, florists, and musicians.

“It’s the perfect venue for outdoor weddings and receptions,” Sheets said. Schedel will soon be adding a permanent pavilion on the grounds, which will replace the need for tents, and will open the doors to hosting more proms and weddings. Construction is slated to begin in October.

The next big event on Schedel’s schedule is a Mother’s Day celebration. Families are invited to treat Mom to a day wandering the 17-acre garden estate. Holly’s Homemade Street Eats will be on the grounds with her food truck for those who would like a lunch option. Schedel Gardens will have cold beverages, mimosas, beer and wine available for purchase.

Admission includes access to the new collection of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes, three-dimensional translucent porcelain plaques, which when back-lit reveal detailed images. The lithophanes, which were first created in Europe in the 1820s, attract visitors from all over the world.

Schedel offers may options to visitors

Other highlights include themed gardens, an outdoor sculpture garden, the Leo Pelka bonsai shelter, and over 300 varieties of trees. A recent addition is the memorial garden, which is still a work in progress. Visitors will also likely spot the resident pair of swans and the gardens’ muscovy duck meandering around one of the small lakes. Art aficionados can check out the work of Jennifer Sowders on display. For those who love a scavenger hunt, a list is available at the front desk.

For Mother's Day, admission is free for all moms and the first hundred moms will receive a gift from Bench’s Greenhouse in Elmore. The event will run 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on May 12. This is the sixth year for the event.

In the week following Mother’s Day, volunteers will begin planting 9,000 annuals in flower beds across the grounds. Weather permitting, the work will take approximately 5 to 7 days.

“We hope people come back to see when things really start rolling,” said Sheets, referring to the explosion of color the flowers will add to the estate’s visual display.

Sheets has pondered retirement for a moment. “That’s still to be determined. I love my job, I love the volunteers, and all of my coworkers are great.” In addition to Sheets, there are nine others on staff. The rest of the workforce are volunteers who assist with gardening, manning the front desk, providing tours, and shuttling visitors around the grounds via golf carts.

Schedel Arboretum and Gardens is located at 19255 W Portage River S. Road, Elmore. Hours and contact information can be found on the website at Schedel-gardens.org.

This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Meet Your Neighbor: Veronica Sheets has spent 21 seasons at Elmore arboretum