The Garfield Gardener - July 2018

The Garfield Gardener THE NEWSLETTER OF GARFIELD PARK MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION

July 2018

Next Meeting July 11 (6:30 p.m.)

GPMGA Annual Picnic Garfield Park Corporate Shelter; Centerpieces to accompany the picnic; Prizes awarded August 8 (6:30 p.m.)

Topic: Extending the Vegetable Season in Your Garden Speaker: Carol Michel, May Dreams Gardens Future Meetings: September 12 October 10 November 14 December 12

Meetings occur the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Garfield Park unless otherwise noted.

Purdue University is an equal opportunity / equal access / affirmative action university.

If you require an accommodation or special assistance to attend these programs due to a disability, please contact Steve Mayer at 317.275.9290. Some accommodations may require 2 weeks notice.

Newsletter Editor: Oren Cooley pastpfct@aol.com Learn more at: www.IndyGPMGA.com www.IndyMG.org www.IndyHorticulture.org

President’s Letter Greetings Gardeners, I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine this summer. My husband, Jeff, and I are planning some trips within Indiana. I came across some information regarding 20 top things to do in Indianapolis (and Indiana). The city has reinvented itself with pretty green spaces and cutting-edge museums while striking landscapes survive beyond the state's patchwork of farms -- hulking sand dunes along Lake Michigan and pristine wilderness in the southern reaches.

I have listed below some of Indiana’s places to visit that would include gardens and/ or natural wildlife:  Indiana Dunes State Park: The 15 miles of the national lakeshore encompass

the state park; together, the preserves include beaches, prairie, swamps and bogs

 French Lick Resort – West Baden Springs Hotel Gardens  Parke County’s Covered Bridges: Maps from the Rockville visitors center    

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show color-coded routes to the historical spans, many of which still are open to traffic Brown County State Park and T.C. Steele Gardens Conner Prairie: Costumed interpreters at Conner Prairie play historically accurate roles in areas including an 1836 town and one of Indiana's first farms Falls of the Ohio State Park Columbus Architecture: Two-hour bus and walking tours highlight Columbus' striking architecture, including buildings by Eliel Saarinen, his son Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei and other noted architects.

Indiana Caverns – Underworld Boat Voyage Hubers Orchard, Winery and Vineyard Amish Country – Shipshewana The Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart, Formal Garden at T.C. Steele with 19th- and 20th-century American works; the woods, bonsai displays and formal gardens at Wellfield Botanic Gardens Carmel’s Arts and Design District Indianapolis Children's Museum: New sports experience The Gardens at Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) Indianapolis Zoo/White River Gardens

“Gardening requires lots of water, most of it in the form of perspiration.”

—Lou Erickson, Cartoonist (1913-1990)

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Garfield Park Conservatory Tours

Next GPMGA Meeting: July 11 The Garfield Park Master Gardeners will enjoy delicious picnic food, festive centerpieces and great summer fun at the GPMGA Annual Picnic at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.

July 14 (2:30 p.m.)

Tour Guide Needed July 28 (2:30 p.m.)

Arlene Bow Oren Cooley John Montgomery Anyone interested in becoming a tour guide should contact Victoria Metheaux at vmethx@comcast.net.

At the Conservatory Learn about nature at Garfield Park Conservatory on Saturday, July 21, by attending the Urban Bird Walk (from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., $5 per adult) or Backyard Bugs (from 11:00 a.m. to noon, $5 per child). Although an urban park, Garfield Park also is a sanctuary for wildlife as the park naturalist and staff will show during these programs.

For more information or to register, visit www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org/ programsevents.

Upcoming Hospitality Help If you wish to help with a future meeting, please contact Jeanne Corder at corder99@aol.com. If you wish to help with the July pitch-in, contact Sue Hoyt at msue3@hotmail.com.

The annual picnic will occur at the big shelter just SE of the Arts Center at Garfield Park. (In case of rain, the annual picnic will be in the conservatory’s classroom.) As usual, we will have the best food and recipes to share along with time to chat and enjoy one another’s company.

Remember, our July program is member driven!

Please bring a centerpiece you have created to decorate the picnic tables. Your centerpiece should have some connection to gardening, but can be flowers, vegetables, herbs, fruits, natives only, flowering shrub branches or anything else garden-related that your imagination conjures.

Please be prepared to tell the membership what inspired your creation and talk about some of the plants or garden items (and, perhaps, how you grow the plants used and the conditions needed for growing).

Each participant will have about 4-5 minutes to share this information.

Prizes will be given to the top three favorite centerpieces as voted on by the membership. Remember, you may count the time it took to collect and assemble and discuss your creation as a MG volunteer hour.

Flower fun. MG volunteer hour. Possible prize. We know you will want to create a masterpiece to share with the GP Master Gardeners!

2018 GPMGA Officers/Committee Chairs President Carrie Alumbaugh carriesalumbaugh@gmail.com

Program Director Barb Jablonski bpjablonski@gmail.com

Newsletter/Publicity Director Oren Cooley pastpfct@aol.com

Immediate Past President/Secretary Nancy Boettner nancyboettner@sbcglobal.net

Hospitality—Snack Coordinator Jeanne Corder corder99@aol.com

Conservatory Tour Coordinator Victoria Metheaux vmethx@comcast.net

Vice President Lane Judkins APJ44@sbcglobal.net

Hospitality—Set-up Coordinator Bill Bernstein billbe19@comcast.net

Historian Jayne Queck jaqueck@aol.com

Treasurer Cindy Maude cmaude@sbcglobal.net

Hospitality—Pitch-In Coordinator Sue Hoyt msue3@hotmail.com

Plant Sale Kay Martin-Pence guitargirl929@gmail.com

Questions about Reporting Hours Debbie Schelske dschelsk@purdue.edu

Please contact the officers and chairs of the Garfield Park Master Gardener Association if you have any questions or suggestions .

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Some Thoughts about Plant Tags There is a collection of plant tags sitting on the corner of my desk. I cannot bring myself to dispose of them. They are a reminder of what we planted at the War Memorial, and I look at them daily.

Garfield Park Master Gardener Association in association with

I have a similar collection of plant tags sitting in a dish on my potting bench at home. They are a reminder of what I have planted in my own garden.

The annual plant tags are so pretty, and have such vibrant colors. I am trying to think of a craft project or some other interesting way to display them; even just glued to the wall inside my garden shed! Some of these plants look better on the tags than they do in the garden right now, so this reminds me of what they are supposed to look like!

I really like the red, white and blue theme, and I’d like to see the War Memorial keep this color scheme every year. Petunias came in trays called the Pretty Grand Flag Mix, and the vinca was a lovely mix of deep dark pink, white and purple. (How did I not grab a tag for the vincas?) There are not many true blue flowers, but purple fits the bill well enough, especially from a distance.

What I am really excited about is a salvia called Big Blue, which came with an orange TRIAL tag. This plant is a 2019 new variety, and will get 2-3’ high and 1 ½ - 2’ wide. As of this writing, they are pushing 2’ and some are just starting to bloom. These are planted at Veterans Memorial Plaza and University Park.

The large raised bed on Vermont Street is planted like an American Flag this year, with ‘Star Dust Super Flash’ Grassleaf Spurge, Red Hot Sally II Salvia (so there is a Red Hot Sally I?), and Techno Heat Upright Dark Blue Lobelia. I refer to the tags often to remind myself of the plants’ mature size so I can see how they are filling out as the season progresses.

I hope you have most of your planting wrapped up, and I’d love to hear about what you do with your plant tags.

—Lane Judkins, GPMGA Vice President

Minutes of June 13 Meeting Program  Field Trip to Cool Ponds, 901 E. Hanna Ave., Indianapolis Business Meeting  President-Carrie Alumbaugh: Welcome  Plant Sale Update-Kay Martin-Pence: $1,680.00 raised; Thanks to Kay and all the MGs that helped with the plant sale!  Garfield Park Events: Urban Bird Walk, Nature Play Day, Pollinator Appreciation Night, Orchid Workshop - Repotting Orchids, Little Pot of Horrors, Nature Stroll; Visit www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org for details.  Hospitality-Sue Hoyt, Jean Corder, Bill Bernstein: July Picnic in GP Corporate Shelter, sign-up sheets available, entrée from City Barbeque  Newsletter/Communications and Website Update-Oren Cooley: Thanks to all contributors  Programs-Barb Jablonski: Members asked to bring centerpieces for July’s meeting; prizes for top three  Conservatory Tours-Victoria Metheaux: Tours are covered —Nancy Boettner, GPMGA Secretary

Purdue Extension - Marion County Discovery Hall, Suite 201 Indiana State Fairgrounds 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 Phone: 317.275.9290 FAX: 317.275.9309 E-mail: MayerSL@purdue.edu AnswerLine: 317.275.9292 or marioncountymg@gmail.com It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.

If you require an accommodation or special assistance to attend programs due to a disability, please contact Steve Mayer at 317.275.9290. Some accommodations may require 2 weeks notice.

Purdue does not endorse nor disclaim information that appears in this newsletter. It is intended only for informational purposes.

Questions: Contact Steve Mayer at mayersl@purdue.edu or Debbie Schelske at dschelsk@purdue.edu

Helping Others Grow Sharing Knowledge Volunteer Commitment

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From the Bookshelf . . .

Botanic Gems: Indiana Public Gardens, including Greater Chicago, Dayton, Cincinnati & Louisville

by Alan McPherson Throughout Indiana, Hoosiers in increasing numbers are discovering the joys of creating their own private gardens as well as visiting public gardens—verdant sanctuaries where they often find ideas and inspiration.

Alan McPherson has spent considerable time wandering Indiana, seeking out the most outstanding gardens or "botanic gems" whose gates are open to the public. He shares his findings of these Eden-like public retreats in this readable companion guide. The rich array of garden types found in Indiana and neighboring cities include historic, estate, ethnic, educational, commercial, arboretum, conservatory and pleasure gardens. With numerous color photographs and a delightfully informative text, this guide book directs readers to Indiana's diverse public gardens with ease.

On the Web . . .

Purdue Herbaria https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/Herbaria/ Pages/kriebel.aspx Explore the Kriebel Herbarium (and other herbaria) online at the Purdue Herbaria, which preserves Indiana’s oldest collections of vascular plants.

Purdue University’s oldest herbarium began when the university opened in 1874. Among the more than 90,000 specimens in its various herbaria today are the Kriebel Herbarium (named for Indiana botanist Ralph M. Kriebel) which contains more than 10,000 specimens of important Indiana flora, the Charles Deam herbarium which showcases Deam’s collection used to create his work Flora of Indiana and the General George Armstrong Custer collection, which contains a dozen specimens believed to have been collected by Custer and botanist Aris Donaldson.

Do you know a great website? Please send to pastpfct@aol.com.

President’s Letter

(continued from Page 1)

 Turkey Run State Park: Indiana's best all-around park (65 miles west of Indianapolis) has a large lodge; hiking trails through deep, wooded ravines; horseback riding; hayrides; and an impressive, year-round lineup of naturalist programming. Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park is great for fishing and canoeing.  Indiana’s Antique Alley: The towns along old U.S. Highway 40 east of Indianapolis harbor nearly 1,000 antiques dealers, earning the 60-mile stretch the nickname, “Antique Alley”.  IU Bloomington/IU Art Museum and Lilly Library: The Sample Gates of Indiana University form a gateway from campus to downtown, where excellent restaurants (such as farm-to-table FarmBloomington and Finch's Brasserie) rub shoulders with vintage bars on Kirkwood Avenue. Back on campus, check out the I.M. Peidesigned Indiana University Art Museum and the Lilly Library.

Some of the places are local and some you can easily reach within a couple of hours by car. Let’s get out and enjoy the summer by visiting one of our local cities within Indiana! Hope to see everyone at our Garfield Park Annual Picnic this month.

—Carrie Alumbaugh, GPMGA President

GPMGA Call for Grant Applications Any organization wishing to apply for a grant from the Garfield Park Master Gardener Association should submit their proposal by November 1.

Applications should be submitted to Treasurer Cindy Maude at cmaude@sbcglobal.net. Requests should not exceed $300 per application.

A committee of GPMGA officers will review all submitted applications to ensure projects will meet the GPMGA’s desire to advance gardening and beautification. Recommendations from the committee usually are announced at the November meeting for approval by the general membership. Checks typically are sent by year’s end.

Members of GPMGA are encouraged to nominate organizations. Volunteer garden activities headed by GPMGA members are given priority. Also, projects affecting Garfield Park are considered a high priority in this process.

To apply, individuals should submit the following items: Cover Sheet, including: —Organization benefiting (not-for-profit organizations only please) —Name, location and brief history of project —Applicant/contact person (name, address, telephone, e-mail) —Amount requested (not to exceed $300); New or existing project —Prior Garfield Park Master Gardener Association funding Text of Proposal (Not to exceed 2 pages) —Summary of project (50 words) —Clear, concise description of project, including: 1. How the project furthers the GPMGA’s mission 2. Why is the project needed?

3. Objectives to be achieved 4. Detailed list of plants, seeds & materials needed (Itemization of funds needed; drawings/graphs may be included) —List names of Master Gardeners and/or Extension Staff working on this project as well as others benefiting —Anticipated start and completion dates of project —Additional donors to your project (if applicable) Budget Sheet, including: —Materials, labor and program costs —Sources and amounts of any funds already raised —Total cost of project Project Summary and comments on the expected results to be achieved within the following year. Photos may be included if applicable.

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Indiana State Fair August 3-19

Botanist Charles Deam

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, circus lovers from around the world! You are hereby invited to be spectacularly amazed and delightfully entertained at the GREATEST showcase of agriculture and entertainment. Step Right Up! to the Greatest 17 Days of Summer—August 3-19 at the Indiana State Fair!”

Charles Deam (1865-1953) was appointed the first State Forester of Indiana by Governor Thomas R. Marshall in 1909.

The fair’s theme this year pays homage to Indiana’s rich circus heritage by offering a world-class Big Top Circus presented by Bee Window. The new family-friendly Big Top Circus is free with paid State Fair admission and features acrobats, clowns, trapeze artists and more!

Under Deam’s supervision, a period of outstanding forestry education and research began in Indiana. While working at Clark State Forest, Deam actively sought ways to reclaim the forest on land that had been cleared for farming and timber.

He ultimately convinced the state to purchase more than 2,000 acres to add the state’s forest lands.

In addition to the “World’s Greatest Comic Daredevil” Bello Nock, the fair has announced additional performers who will delight fairgoers at The Big Top Circus. Newly added circus acts include Ringmaster Kevin Venardos, Alanian Cossack Riders, Urias Motorcycle Riders (who perform motorcycle stunts in a “globe of death”), and Juggler Noel Aguilar.

The Big Top Circus is being custom built and programmed for the Indiana State Fair.

This family-friendly circus will be presented daily at 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. in a single-ring big top tent. (No show at 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays.) Open to the first 1,600 people per show, the circus will not feature any exotic animals.

The Indiana State Fair is the state’s largest multi-day event celebrating Hoosiers’ spirit and agricultural heritage, promoting it to hundreds of thousands of people across Indiana and beyond. Nationally recognized for offering great entertainment, showcasing youth, interactive agriculture education programs, premier facilities and a variety of unique, fun foods, the Indiana State Fair has been an annual attraction for generations of Hoosiers since 1852.

The Indiana State Fair and Corteva Agriscience will honor 17 Featured Farmers at this year’s Indiana State Fair. In its fourth year, this program celebrates and helps put a face on Hoosier agriculture by connecting consumers with farmers. The 17 farm operations represent all regions of the state, showcasing different agricultural products throughout the fair,.

Visitors to the Indiana State Fair can attend a live chat at the Glass Barn with a Featured Farmer every day of the fair, in addition to many other opportunities to talk with that day’s Featured Farm family and learn about their operation. This year’s featured farmers (and their home counties) are: Aug 3: Aug 4: Aug 5: Aug 6: Aug 7: Aug 8: Aug 9: Aug 10: Aug 11: Aug 12: Aug 13: Aug 14: Aug 15: Aug 16: Aug 17: Aug 18:

Legan family - Legan Livestock & Grain, Inc. (Putnam County) Tim Schwab - Kopp Land & Livestock (Franklin County) Cox family - Maple Island Farms (Benton County) Mark Boyer - Hoosier Healthy Oils (Miami County) Brian Churchill - Preferred Popcorn (Harrison County) Verhey family - Verhey Ag Production (Tippecanoe County) Goebel family - Goebel Farms (Vanderburg County) Obert family - Obert Legacy Dairy (Gibson County) Corbin family - Corbin Beef & Poultry (Clay County) Herr family - Herr Dairy Farm (Noble County) Smith family - Smith Sheep Farm (Benton County) Troike family - Hoosier Shrimp Farm (Starke County) Mohler family - Sweet Corn Charlie Produce LLC (Elkhart County) Michalke family - Sugar Creek Malt Co. (Boone County) Kristy Kikly and Mike Hoopengardner - Caprini Creamery (Henry County) Zody family - Zody Family Farm & Narrow Gate Horse Ranch (Howard County) Aug 19: Wehr family - Wehr Farms (Fayette County) To learn more about the farmers or the state fair, visit www.IndianaStateFair.com and follow along on social media (@IndyStateFair).

Deam also studied the effects of tree loss on soil erosion and documented the environmental needs of second growth forests. He researched the history of the forests as they were affected by settlement and farming, noting that most of the forests in Indiana had been cut down to make room for farms or strictly for lumbering purposes. The loss of trees and their roots had led to increased erosion.

Deam worked to help farmers and lumbermen by encouraging sustainable use practices far ahead of its time.

Farmers were taxed for every acre of land that they owned—which motivated them to use every acre of land for farming and led to the mass clearing of their land. Deam worked to have state laws changed so that farmers would not be taxed for the land that they owned but that they did not farm.

The Forest Classification Act of 1921 allowed farmers to leave trees alone on land that was not taxable. Within 25 years, 2,000 acres of woods had been preserved on farmers' lands.

Deam retired as state forester in 1928 but remained with the forestry department as a researcher. He walked through the state’s 1016 townships, documenting and writing four books about the state’s plant life. In recognition of his life’s work, the Deam oak was later named in his honor.

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Extension Horticulture Hints—JULY 2018 Steve Mayer, Extension Educator-Horticulture, Purdue Extension-Marion County Steve Mayer, Extension Educator-Horticulture for Purdue Extension-Marion County, serves as coordinator and instructor for the Purdue Master Gardener program in Marion County.

2017 Master Gardener Growth Awards Many thanks and congratulations to the 54 Marion County Master Gardeners who received a MG Growth Award for 2017! They are: Sue Arnold, John Baldwin, Nancy Behymer, Nancy Boettner, Colette Bracken, Pat Brummer, Karen Coffin, Carole Cole, Oren Cooley, Carolyn Curry, Vickie Davis, Mike Doran, Sue Draheim, Mary Durkin, Janet Eigenbrod, Douglas Ellrich, Linda Foster, Beth Frailey, Dianne Gardner, Elizabeth Ann Hathaway, Deanne Heidrich, Nancy Herrin, Carol Hooker, Connie Hudson, Kathleen Hull, Meredith Hull, Rita Hupp, Julie Iverson, Barbara Jablonski, Betty Hurn Johnson, Phil M. Johnson, Karen Kennedy, Marie Koenig, Chris Lawson, Mike Logan, Dale Luchsinger, Deb May, Greg Micheel, Sally Micheel, Cynthia Monnier, John Montgomery, Sharon Patterson, Susan Pratt, Paul Ransberger, Anne Ripley, Jo Ellen Sharp, Nancy Snively, Jackie Sundboom, Judy Turner, Shirley Ulicni, John Westermeier, Debbie Whitman, Gail Wiseman, and Susan Zordan. Individuals completed at least 100 approved volunteer hours and 15 advanced training hours last year. They are recognized online: <https:// extension.purdue.edu/marion/pages/article.aspx? intItemID=18940>. If you think there is an error and you should be added to the list, please contact me to let us check that and make the correction.

 Third Week: Do not use a post-emergence herbicide

on crabgrass in the lawn after mid-July. It is too large to control well. Let it die from frost and fertilize this fall (AY-10). <https://www.extension.purdue.edu/ extmedia/AY/AY-10-W.pdf>

 Fourth Week: Continue harvesting raspberries.

Remove raspberry canes that fruited after harvest is complete (HO-44). <https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/ yardandgarden/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/ HO-44.pdf>

Follow me on Twitter @purduehortindy (or view at: http://twitter.com/purduehortindy) for more tips. You don’t have to be on Twitter to simply view my comments.

You can also see my tweets on each Master Gardener association website: http://indymcmga.org/ and http://indygpmga.com/.

You Can Still Report Hours for 2016 and 2017 If you have not reported all of your hours for 2016 and/or 2017, you can still do that. They will not be added to our total county and state numbers but you can have them added to your personal cumulative total. Please report all of your hours for 2018. Thanks. You can contact Debbie Schelske or me if you need help on how to do that.

July Garden Calendar Tips Note: Letters & numbers following the tip refer to Purdue publications; other reference links may also be supplied.  First Week: Finalize your plan for a fall vegetable

garden. Some planting begins this month (HO-66). <https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO66.pdf>

 Second Week: Begin eliminating patches of peren-

nial grassy weeds like zoysia and nimblewill if actively growing. This allows time for retreatment before planting the lawn in late summer or early fall (AY-11). <https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY11-W.pdf>

Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon is a 2019 AAS Winner with compact, bushy vines (Photo: All-America Selections).

First 2019 AAS Winners Just Announced All-America Selections just announced the first two AAS Winners for 2019. The Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon is a Great Lakes Region winner while the Orange SilverWave Melon is a regional winner in the Northeast and Southeast. For more information, go to: https://all-americaselections.org/winners/.

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The Question Box July 2018

Steve Mayer, Extension Educator-Horticulture Purdue Extension-Marion County

Q. Where can I get my soil tested for lead?

A. There are two local sources for testing your soil for lead. Samples can also be sent by mail to other sources: http://extension.illinois.edu/soiltest/.

Safe Urban Gardening Initiative, Dr. Gabriel Filippelli, Dept. of Earth Sciences, IUPUI 723 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 Available free-of-charge Once samples get to the lab, results are typically sent in about one week. For soil sampling instructions, consult Garden Safe Garden Well publication at http://IndyUrbanGarden.org.

Not all cabbage worms are green. This cross-striped cabbageworm was found in the demonstration garden in June.

(Photo: Steve Mayer, 6/13/2018)

Q. I had a worm feeding on my broccoli but it was not green. What is it?

A. Not all cabbage worms are green. The crossstriped cabbageworm is light-colored with many fine black stripes running cross-wise on its back. Each side of the caterpillar also has long black and yellow stripes.

They typically grow to 3/4th of an inch long. The adult is not attractive like the white butterfly of the imported cabbageworm. This moth is yellowish-brown to brown with dark zigzag markings. Light yellow eggs are laid in clusters so you may encounter severe hot spots of feeding injury. The larvae feed on all tender parts of the plant.

Use row covers or selective insecticides such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to preserve parasitic wasps that may help with ongoing control. For management of insects in the vegetable garden, consult E-21: <https:// extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-21.pdf.>

Marion County Public Health Department, 3838 N. Rural St., Indianapolis, IN 46205 Phone: 317-221-4670 $30.00 per sample Typically takes about 2 weeks Collect soil from the spot you want tested & fill up a plastic sandwich bag. Fill out their form and pay by cash or check before testing (lead & some additional heavy metals). If you live outside Marion County, contact your local county health department to ask about available services.

UMass Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Lab, West Experiment Station, University of Massachusetts, 682 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: (413) 545-2311; soiltest@psis.umass.edu.

Website: <http://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plantnutrient-testing-laboratory/lab-services> Routine nutrient analysis (includes lead) is $15.00 + $6 for organic matter percentage

More information on this insect is at: <https:// entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef300> and <http:// ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cross-stripedcabbage-worm>.

All routine soil test results with an extractable level of 22 ppm or more should be tested using the Total Sorbed Metals Test ($55.00). It determines total sorbed levels of lead, nickel, cadmium, chromium, zinc, & copper in soils. This method may not be appropriate for woody material such as bark mulches. It is not intended for food.

Photos for identification of insect pests on vegetables are found at this Purdue website: <https:// extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/insectID.php>.

More photos of all types of pests on vegetables and strawberries are found in the Northeast Vegetable and Strawberry Pest Identification Guide: <http:// nevegetable.org/sites/nevegetable.org/files/ Pest_ID_2018_no%20cover%20date.pdf>.

More information on lead in soils is at: Gardening on Lead-Contaminated Soils, 2017, Kansas State University: <https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/ pubs/MF3166.pdf> ď&#x201A;ˇ Reusing Potentially Contaminated Landscapes: Growing Gardens in Urban Soils, 2011, EPA: <https:// clu-in.org/download/misc/urban_gardening_act _sheet.pdf>

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Show / Event Calendar July 13-15 (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)

Jambo 2018: World’s Largest Tree Climbing Competition Holliday Park 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis www.treestuff.com/jambo.asp July 14 (11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana Iris Sale Minnetrista 1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie https://www.facebook.com/Indiana-IrisGrowers-of-Eastern-Indiana185006695678119/ July 14 (3:00 p.m.)

Give Pollinators a Chance: Plant Native Indianapolis Garden Club Indianapolis Public Library, Glendale Branch 6101 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis http://www.indypl.org/locations/glendale/ July 17-23 Count Pollinators with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. 1029 Fletcher Ave., Indianapolis www.inaturalist.org/projects/kibpollinator-count

July 21 (11:15 a.m., Lunch; 1:15 p.m., Tour) Indiana Organic Gardeners Association Pitch-in and Garden Tour (Henry County) Irwin-Simmons Residence 9054 West County Road 575 North Middletown, IN (east of Pendleton) Contact: Judith at 317-796-3581 July 29 (9:30 a.m.)

Teaming with Nutrients: Horton Heard a Who and You Should Too Midwest Native Plant Conference Bergamo Center 4400 Shakertown Road, Dayton, Ohio http://midwestnativeplants.org/sundaykeynote-presentation/ August 3-19 Indiana State Fair Indiana State Fairgrounds 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis www.indianastatefair.com

Volunteer Opportunities August 4 (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)

Fall Creek Community Orchard Greenspace Habitat Restoration 3836 Rockville Ave., Indianapolis Join KIB and Fall Creek neighbors in restoring natural habitat by removing the final remaining invasive plant species along the future Fall Creek Orchard Greenspace. Urban landscapes free of invasive species provide native plants and wildlife much-needed space to live, grow and thrive. KIB will provide all of the tools and training required to rid pesky plants (like non-native honeysuckle) from the area.

For more information or to register, contact Cathy Mangan, KIBI’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 317-520-8263 or cmangan@kibi.org.

September 10 Gardening for Monarchs Kylee Baumle MCMGA-GPMGA Evening Meeting

Benton House Historic Garden Offers Unique Visit A few of the plants growing within the unique Benton House Historic Garden (312 South Downey Avenue, Indianapolis) were in cultivation over 400 years ago whereas others were introduced in the 1700s. Most, however, date to the 1800s.

All are fitting companions to the historic Benton House (1873) and each, if plants could talk, would tell stories of intrigue, folklore, plant explorers who traveled the globe, their medicinal uses and, for some, their religious significance. Within the garden are significant numbers of iris, daylily, hosta, daffodil, tulip, minor bulbs and other genus commonly growing in gardens prior to 1900.

The garden’s “fernery”, adjacent to Ohmer Avenue, is home to several Indiana native ferns, including the evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) and the leathery-like fronds of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthlopteris). In additional, the site displays many of the garden’s species hosta native to Asia. Several of the earliest are H. tibea (1830s); H. sieboldiana (1830); H. verticosta (1790); H. plantagenia (1784); and a very fragrant blooming species and rare in the wild, H. nigrescens. Recent hosta additions include H. aequinoctiiantha, the small-leafed H. gracililma, H. nakaiana and H. minor.

The historic garden has a significant display of over fifty species and cultivars of heirloom iris. The earliest, Swertii, dates back to 1612. Others include Amoena (1812); Bridesmaid, bearing pale, silvery lavender flowers; Edina (1840); Kashmiriana (1877); and Mrs. Neubronner (1898), known for its deep, golden-yellow flowers. This season, they anticipate adding rhizomes of Mexicana (pre-1859), Innocenze (1854), Khaput (1895) and Fries Morel (1840).

Those visiting the garden in the spring are in for a special treat when thousands of daffodils are in bloom. They include the species Albas Planus Odorous (1600s), Van Sion (1620) and twenty-six other cultivars including Albatross (1891), White Lady (1897), 1890’s Lucifer bred by an Irish hybridizer, and dandelion-like Rip Van Winkle (1884).

The Benton House, a designated national historic site, is the property of the Historic Irvington Landmark Foundation. Its unique garden is maintained by club member and Advanced Master Gardener Ed Myers (EMyers3670@aol.com).