The Master Gardener Hotline is available to help the public with home gardening questions. The hotline is open Monday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CDT, from April through September. The Garden Hotline phone number is 219-324-9407 or 219-874-5611, Ext. 201. Questions and photos can also be emailed to lpmastergardener@gmail.com
Do you know that Indiana has many public gardens throughout the state? Summer is the perfect time to visit one of these gardens. The link below takes you to garden list, including maps and directions. Indiana Gardens to Visit
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Gardening enthusiasts have their own set of jargon, just like many other hobbyists. Some of these terms can be confusing, especially to the gardening newcomer. So here’s a brief list of terms that all gardeners should get familiar with. Annual — Plant that completes its life cycle from seed germination to seed production in one
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Garlic mustard (Alliara petiolata) can be found in public parks, backyards, meadows, forests, gardens, and along roadsides throughout Indiana. The leaves have a strong garlic smell to them. Garlic mustard was first introduced from Northeastern Europe in the 1860s in Long Island, New York. Immigrants from Europe used it for food (an herb), medicine, and
Invasive! Garlic Mustard Read More »
Although we have been taught colors since before we began attending school, colors can be challenging. Colors are complicated and there is so much variety it may seem overwhelming. Think of the wall of paint color swatches at the hardware store, and you may recall entire sections are devoted to shades of blue or green
Complimentary Colors Read More »
Master Gardeners and Interns: New educational opportunities have been posted. Click on the webinar name to register for the session. To view and receive credit for past virtual training, login to the Purdue Master Gardener website and select “training” below your name:https://www.purdue.edu/mg-volunteer/login.php?action=unauthorizedCD&request
2024 Continuing Education Read More »
In Indiana most broods of the periodical cicada appear once every 17 years. However, two broods come out every 13 years. Periodical cicadas are usually referred to as “17-year or 13-year locusts.” They are about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long and have black bodies, reddish legs, wing margins, and eyes. LIFE HISTORY Cicadas have an
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The Autumn Olive is an invasive species in Indiana. This shrub can grow 20 feet in height. Leaves are alternate, lance-shaped, and have silvery dots underneath (a distinguishing identifying characteristic). The Autumn olive resembles the Russian olive, which is also an invasive species. This shrub produces small, yellow flowers with a pungent odor and
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The Indiana Native Plant Society was formed in 1993 and has over 1000 member families. Their mission is to promote the appreciation, preservation, scientific study, and use of plants native to Indiana, and to teach people about their beauty, diversity, and importance to our environment. The Native Plant Society has a great plant finder tool with
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Asian Bush Honeysuckle was once actively imported by the USDA as a plant for ornamental aesthetics, wildlife cover, and erosion control. However, it quickly became an enemy to native environments. Bush honeysuckles can release chemicals into the ground that are poisonous to native plants. Additionally, the dense foliage of these plants block sunlight from reaching
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