It may be closed for the season, but Friendship Botanic Gardens opens to the public for one day and two celebrations.

Admission is free for Thanksgiving Turkey Walk and Native American Heritage Celebration on Thursday in Michigan City.

“We have these paper turkeys that we hide throughout the grounds, 60 acres of formal gardens,” said Ronald Taylor, communications director of Friendship Botanic Gardens, about the Thanksgiving Turkey Walk designed for children.

“They keep track of how many they find, come back to the front, give us the number and get a little prize bag.

Also, volunteer Jude Rakowski, of Long Beach, has done a Native American cooking demonstrations for several years.

“At the same time in the Native American Garden, which is down the trail a little bit in the front, Jude does a cooking demonstration. She usually has a few Native American artifacts and she demonstrates cooking over a fire pit modeled after a Native American cooking site.”

“Jude is very knowledgeable. It's a really positive experience for people to see that,” said Taylor, of Michigan City.

Attending the event also allows people to explore Friendship Botanic Gardens, which includes the ArcelorMittal Children's Garden. Finishing touches for the interactive playground, which features a simulation of how water is drawn up from the earth, were done in early September.

The timing of the event not only coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday but also helps Friendship Botanic Gardens celebrate National Native American Heritage Month.

“We have our Native American Heritage Garden, which really is a link to the past,” said Taylor, who is helping to organize Thanksgiving Turkey Walk and Native American Heritage Celebration.

“Our Native American garden is almost a re-creation, to some small extent, of an agricultural setting that Native Americans would have used. We grow traditional foodstuffs. People are interested in that.”

Although Friendship Botanic Gardens is only open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays during May through October, members can access the grounds from dawn to dusk year-round. Memberships are $35 for an individual and $50 for a family including two adults and any children younger than 18 in the same household.

Benefits include no admission charge for the remainder of a season, discounts on concerts, and reciprocal benefits ranging from special admission privileges to discounts at 300 fellow American Horticultural Society and participating gardens throughout North America and the Cayman Islands.

“It's a really unique blend of formal gardens and natural trails. It's about 105 acres total. About half of that is nature trails in the woods. Another half is formal garden areas,” said Taylor about Friendship Botanic Gardens.

“It's a really rich area in biodiversity. There's a lot of different landscapes within Friendship Botanic Gardens. We've got valleys and wetlands. There's a lake so it's a very rich experience for hikers and garden enthusiasts. It's really one of the hidden gems of our region.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance writer.