Kit | May + June 2021

Get Lost in a Book

ESCAPE WITH SUMMER READS THAT CARRY YOU AWAY

MAY+ JUNE

2 0 2 1 kitindy.com

Fresh Flair BREATHE IN SUMMER WITH POLLINATORS, PEONIES AND PLAY SPACES

Intimately Yours

LOCAL BRIDES FIND UNEXPECTED JOY IN NEW TRADITIONS

I was born and raised right here in Noblesville. I grew up in a home without domestic violence or assault – it wasn’t something I saw, or even heard about. But when I was introduced to Prevail of Central Indiana, I was shocked by the number of individuals who are affected by domestic violence. In 2018 alone, Prevail helped more than 4,000 clients in Hamilton County. (Nearly 80 percent of clients are women and children.) Domestic violence and abuse are hard topics to discuss, so you don’t often hear about them. But at Tom Wood Volkswagen in Noblesville, we’re breaking the taboo and raising awareness for Prevail, an organization that helps families in Hamilton County.

– Mike Bragg, GM of Tom Wood Volkswagen in Noblesville

To help Hamilton County families affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse, you can donate the following items:

Introducing the Volkswagen Taos.

Our newest SUV proves the best things come in small, thoughtfully engineered packages.

• Individually packaged snacks • Lysol • Hand sanitizer • Disinfecting wipes Drop off items at Tom Wood Volkswagen in Noblesville, 14701 Tom Wood Way.

Care • Committment • Convenience Tom Wood Volkswagen Noblesville

14701 Tom Wood Way Noblesville, IN 46060 317.853.4552

TomWoodVolkswagenNoblesville.com

Tom Wood Volkswagen Noblesville E. 146th Street

i n d i a n a

HISTORIC SEMINARY PARK, NOBLESVILLE 350 S. 10th Street | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

ThankYou to all who helped make this event possible.

Please support these wonderful organizations that sponsored the event:

The festival would also like to thank these organizations and committee members: Esther Lakes | Beth Forst | Laurie Dyer | Kim Claussen | Kaitlyn Smith | Amber Mink | Pam Parker Todd Jameson | Lorna Oskouie | Jenny Cline | Kelly McVey | Liz Tate | Mackenzie McGilvrey Bailey McGilvrey | Lindsey McVey | Julie Taylor Reed | Ria Rebein | Stacy Molander | Gary Nickander

35 M A Y + J U N E

DEPTS. 10

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KITINDY.COM: MORE THAN BEFORE FIND WEB-EXCLUSIVE WEDDING STORIES AND TIPS PLUS SEASONAL POLLINATOR PICKS ONLINE

Book Kit: Wish You Were Here SUMMER READS TO CARRY YOU AWAY

Home Kit: Space to Play 10 WAYS TO FASHION A HAVEN FOR GRILLING AND CHILLING

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Pollinator Paradise HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN INTO A RETREAT FOR BUTTERFLIES AND BEES

Wedding Trends: Closer than Ever WHY TODAY’S BRIDES, GROOMS AND GUESTS CHOOSE TO PRIORITIZE SPECIAL MOMENTS

Weddings: Intimately Yours THREE LOCAL BRIDES FLEX TRADITIONAL PLANS TO CREATE UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

A PASSION FOR PEONIES HOW ONE WOMAN’S LOVE FOR OUR STATE FLOWER INSPIRED THE FIRSTEVER INDIANA PEONY FESTIVAL

Food kit: FRESH Fiesta WELCOME SUMMER WITH A REFRESHING FUSION OF FLAVORS

Get Lost in a Book

ESCAPE WITH SUMMER READS THAT CARRY YOU AWAY

Fresh Flair BREATHE IN SUMMER WITH POLLINATORS, PEONIES AND PLAY SPACES

Intimately Yours

LOCAL BRIDES FIND UNEXPECTED JOY IN NEW TRADITIONS

MAY+ JUNE 2 0 2 1

kitindy.com

ON THE COVER

PHOTO BY LINDSEY McVEY

Photo of Gabrielle and Jack Noel’s wedding reception at Milktooth by Ivan & Louise. Flowers by Autumn Keller.

INSPIRED BY HAPPIER, HEALTHIER HOOSIER FAMILIES. We are proud to have earned Indiana’s new Perinatal Level III designation.

Always inspired to deliver the most comprehensive services, we offer specialty treatment in both Obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care. Our team includes advanced practice providers, 24/7 anesthesiologists, maternal-fetal medicine physicians and neonatologists from Riley Children’s Health.

New families will appreciate rooms that allow for privacy and space and help promote bonding.

As the only hospital in south Indianapolis to obtain this certification, we’re providing moms and babies all the care they need under our roof.

FranciscanHealth.org

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

beautiful

moments

As flowers open up and the trees grow new leaves, the world seems filled with possibility. That feeling of hope fills this issue of Kit, too. Flowers — especially peonies — are one of my favorite things. So are weddings. This issue is bursting with both — in print, on our website, in our e-newsletter, on social media and even at Indiana’s inaugural Peony Festival. I hope you’ll enjoy Kit in all these ways as much as we enjoy putting it together for you.

EDITOR + PUBLISHER Kelly McVey

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ashlie Hartgraves

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Alyssa Chase Nicole Keller

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ria Rebein

WRITERS Jackson Mahaney Ariana Mathews Dawn Olsen Ria Rebein Brooke Reynolds Julie A. Stewart

ART + PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Whonsetler LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Sophie Konop ILLUSTRATOR Julie Taylor Reed DESIGNER Jackson Mahaney PHOTOGRAPHER

WEDDING PHOTOS Cassie Howard Photography Hannah Crabb Photography Ivan & Louise Jim & Elysia Signature Portraiture Those McKissics Photography

MARKETING INTERN Emily Sullivan

MARKETING

INTIMATE MOMENTS Our wedding feature inspires me so much. It’s all about brides who’ve chosen to spend their wedding days sharing beautiful moments with the people they love. Gabrielle Noel, one of our featured brides, decided to have a small, intimate wedding for just that reason. Her story made me realize how much of my own wedding I missed. I forgot to have a special dance with my dad. I didn’t get to talk to my aunt and uncle who flew in from California.

Those things still bother me 33 years later. I’m so moved by how today’s brides make room and time for what matters most.

PEONY DREAMS This issue also showcases my love for peonies. On page 35 you’ll see how my wonderful community of Noblesville got behind the idea of honoring our state flower by hosting the inaugural Indiana Peony Festival on May 22. Originally planned for 2020, the festival is even more exciting after our long pandemic wait. Now’s the time to celebrate! Come out and visit us at the festival and meet peony growers like my friend Pamela Parker of JP Parker Flowers (above left), flower farmers and wonderful vendors from all around Central Indiana.

MORE KIT TO LOVE We’re also freshening things up at Kit Media, sharing original content, kits and stories you won’t find in our print version. So, if you get our print magazine but don’t get our email newsletter or follow us on social media, now’s the time to sign up and enjoy more fashion kits, home kits, health kits and inspiring stories from local women and business owners — all planned and packaged just for you.

Let’s keep looking out for the small and beautiful moments life provides.

Gary Nickander

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CUSTOMER SERVICE email info@kitindy.com Printed by EP Graphics, Berne, Indiana

KELLY McVEY, EDITOR + PUBLISHER

GET MORE KIT Sign up for our e-newsletter and find web-exclusive content at kitindy.com

What’s your most treasured memory as a bride, groom or wedding guest? Let us know! #KITCOMMUNITY

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romance

The intrigue of

starts with you.

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ON KITINDY.COM: LOCAL EXPERTS WILL PERFECT EVERY WEDDING DETAIL

W KIT

PHOTO BY CH

WEB

Read about the Indianapolis authorities in everything from jewelry and floral design to custom styling and the latest in wedding-guest wear. Plus, find two bonus wedding profiles, at kitindy.com. Here’s a preview.

When Kathy Deer of McNamara Florist designs a bridal bouquet, her 40+ years of experience in the floral industry and passion for learning the bride’s personal style shows.

“There’s nothing more important and rewarding than to see a bride look at her bouquet for the first time!” Kathy said. She even adds special touches such as family heirlooms to make the arrangements unique and close to the heart. Learn about Kathy’s predictions for 2021 wedding trends and more at kitindy.com.

ETLER

RIS WHONS

PHOTO BY KYLE WILLIAMS

PHENOMENAL FLOWERS

THE RIGHT RING

STYLING ESPECIALLY FOR MOMS

CUSTOMIZED JEWELS FOR ALL

More at kitindy.com: Kit Media is expanding to give you more original stories online, like Click Click Chic for the Indianapolis 500 and guidance on what to plant to draw pollinators to your yard.

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Jill Duzan of Jill Duzan Jewelry will design exclusive pieces for your entire bridal party, from brides and bridesmaids to mothers of the bride and groom, that can be worn not only on the wedding day but every day ever after. Jill also turns your “something old” into “something new” by redesigning a piece of heirloom jewelry, such as your grandmother’s pearls, into a brand-new, custom design. See more of her artisan pieces at kitindy.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JILL DUZAN JEWELRY

PHOTO PROVIDE

T INGREDIENT D BY THE SECRE

Indianapolis boutique The Secret Ingredient provides the mothers of the bride and groom with an experience they can’t find anywhere else.

Pam Ellis, the boutique’s new owner, will set up a personal consultation to help you find the perfect dress or pantsuit to feel your best on the big day.

Pam has worked in fashion for more than a decade.

She’ll curate pieces especially for you and has dresses shipped from all over the United States and Canada! Read Pam’s story and all about her services at kitindy.com.

When it comes to gorgeous rings, Smith’s on the Square is the local go-to for one-of-a-kind engagement and wedding bands. Casting, custom design, jewelry repair: Brian Roll, one of Smith’s five owners, has done it all and more. Brian prides himself on being a perfectionist in everything he does and his ability to meticulously cast, carve and craft jewelry gives Smith’s customers nearly endless possibilities for wedding bands and beyond. Check out Brian at work in the Smith’s studio at kitindy.com.

B BOOK

KIT

WISH YOU WERE HERE ESCAPE WITH SUMMER READS THAT CARRY YOU AWAY

By Julie A. Stewart

GOT A SERIOUS CASE OF WANDERLUST? If you can’t remember the last time you got on a plane, packed for a road trip or got lost wandering unfamiliar city streets, let these books carry you away with the magic of stories in faraway places, until that not-so-faraway future when we’ll all be packing our bags for adventure.

JULIE A. STEWART is an Indianapolis-based writer and Ivy Tech professor whose short story collection “Water and Blood” won the 2020 Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize and will be published in spring 2022.

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SHOP INDEPENDENT

Purchase these books from bookshop.org, which supports independently owned bookstores. Audiobooks can be purchased through Libro.fm, which allows you to select an independent bookstore to benefit from your purchase. You can also reserve a copy from your local library.

HOOSIER AUTHOR Check out Ball State professor Angela JacksonBrown’s other books, “Drinking From A Bitter Cup” and “House Repairs,” too.

WINTER TREKKING

CIVIL RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE

THE WILD WEST

BIRD WATCHING

It may be warming up outside, but the temperature is plummeting in “The Children’s Blizzard” by Melanie Benjamin.

Based on an 1880s blizzard that caught Nebraska settlers off guard, the story centers around two sisters, prairie teachers who have to keep their students safe in the storm, and a journalist who sets out to tell the stories of settlers who lived through it. It’s a story of survival and loss when Mother Nature unleashes her worst.

If you prefer hot climates, take a trip with Indiana author Angela Jackson-Brown to Parsons, Ga. In her new novel “When Stars Rain Down,” we see the world through the eyes of Opal Pruitt, who dreams of her 18th birthday and a new dress for Founder’s Day. The Klan replaces those dreams with nightmares of violence. This story asks us to consider how we overcome a violent history to create a world where young women of every race can hold on to their dreams of romance and joy.

In Depression-era America, wealthy women visit the Flying Leap Dude Ranch outside Reno for one reason: to get a divorce. Their six-week stay allows them to become Nevada residents to legally separate from their husbands.

Told from the perspective of an elderly man who used to be a handsome, young ranch hand, this novel will have you laughing so hard, you’ll practically taste desert dust in your mouth.

“Better Luck Next Time” by Julia Claiborne Johnson has it all: romance, action and an unexpected ending.

When a young Syrian trans boy discovers the journal of painter Laila Z in an abandoned community house, he goes back in time where he discovers the secrets of his own family history.

“The Thirty Names of Night” is my favorite kind of book.

Zeyn Joukhadar transports the reader to a magical world without ever leaving home.

The audiobook provides an added bonus of giving Nadir the voice of his claimed gender, which feels like hearing a language spoken its native land.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE In “Hamnet,” Maggie O’Farrell takes us to 16th century England.

In Shakespeare’s time, there is no bridge to cross the Thames; visitors have to travel by boat. And there is no cure for the plague. When Shakespeare’s son dies unexpectedly, the young writer flees to the city to write his historic play, leaving behind his wife and surviving children to deal with the young boy’s ghost.

You’ll be charmed by the views of the English countryside and end your trip with a visit to the historic Globe Theatre.

TIGER SAFARI Sarah DeVaughn can’t resist the urge to return to India, despite the tragedy of her childhood years there. Her sister Quinn wants to stay safe at home in Louisville, Ky. Katy Yocom, who traveled to India to research “Three Ways to Disappear,” provides us a souvenir of her travels in the form of a story about two sisters set against the landscape of India’s people, animals and culture.

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ADVERTORIAL

EXPERT ADVICE

rethinking

joint pain

A FUNCTIONAL APPROACH

IT'S TIME TO DIG UP THE ROOT CAUSE OF JOINT PAIN WITH DR. ELLIOTT, LIVING WITH INTENTION

A WORD REGARDING TERMINOLOGY

“Arthritis,” literally translated, means “joint inflammation.” Now, while inflamed joints are almost always painful joints, there’s actually another word for joint pain, and that word is “arthralgia.” That said, I’m going to suggest that we set these distinctions aside for the purposes of this discussion and simply agree that when I refer to arthritis I’m referring to joint pain.

THE NEED TO DIG DEEPER

It would make perfect sense then, that if joint pain involves inflammation, we should be able to solve the problem of arthritis simply by controlling inflammation. And that’s true, to a point.

Controlling inflammation certainly helps relieve pain, but stopping there completely ignores the crux of the matter. The question is not whether or not we’re dealing with inflammation. The real question is WHY we’re dealing with inflammation.

To answer that question, we need to dig deeper, sometimes a lot deeper.

IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION — AUTOIMMUNE ARTHRITIS

In the world of conventional medicine, digging deeper with regard to arthritis often involves a rheumatology referral. And that makes a lot of sense. This is the rheumatologist’s area of expertise, especially when it comes to those types of arthritis associated with immune dysfunction, the so-called “autoimmune” diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and so on.

Conventional rheumatology is very good at testing for and identifying various patterns of autoimmune markers (typically different types of antibodies) that point to specific diagnoses. Then, given that information, rheumatologists have a rapidly growing arsenal of very powerful prescriptions capable of suppressing the immune system in ways that significantly reduce and/or completely eliminate arthritic pain. (We’ll not go into the potential downside or side effects of these medications, some of which can be very significant indeed; here we’ll simply focus on the positive, on the benefits they provide, which can also be quite significant.)

Now armed with a specific autoimmune diagnosis, we again face the same problem we encountered earlier. We have a WHAT (i.e., a diagnosis), but we still don’t have a WHY. Using the markers found to be abnormal, we can now confidently establish a diagnosis of, say, “Rheumatoid Arthritis.” But that still begs the question of WHY the immune system is malfunctioning in such a way that it produces those abnormal markers in the first place.

To answer that question, we need to dig deeper still.

A ROLE FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

And here, in the digging deeper, is where Functional Medicine really has a lot to offer.

Why? Well, for one reason, because Functional Medicine has a variety of tests in its tool kit that aren’t typically used in conventional medicine. And, secondly, because Functional Medicine is keenly aware that every part of the body, every system within the body (digestive, immune, neurological, musculoskeletal, etc.) is intimately interconnected to every other part and every other system.

ADVERTORIAL

PERHAPS IT’S THE GUT

Take, for example, the gastrointestinal (GI) system, or “gut.” Since about 70-75 percent of the body’s immune system is headquartered around the GI system, sometimes immune dysfunction starts there. The problem may be something referred to as “Leaky Gut.” Or it may be that an atypical and potentially pathogenic (i.e., “bad”) bacteria or yeast is growing there and causing problems. In other words, it may well be that the true root cause of an “autoimmune” problem, and the true root cause of someone’s joint pain, is actually a gastrointestinal issue. If so, then treating that GI problem might well provide the ultimate and definitive treatment, completely eliminating the need for immune suppressing medications altogether.

PERHAPS IT’S CHRONIC INFECTION

Consider as well the possibility of chronic infection. One of the things we’ve learned from COVID-19 is that some people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to experience problems months after the initial infection. In fact, some who are completely asymptomatic at the time of infection only develop problems months later. And among the symptoms reported by those suffering this so-called “Long COVID” or “Long-Haul COVID” is joint pain, sometimes severe and debilitating joint pain.

That this might come as a surprise to some is, well, rather surprising in itself. We have long known that the human body is simply incapable of completely eradicating some infections. Consider Chicken Pox, the virus of childhood that reappears years later as Shingles. Consider as well the Herpes virus, that annoying bug that flares from time to time as another painful “cold sore.”

Consider Epstein Barr Virus, the cause of Mononucleosis in adolescents known to be capable of reactivating years later as well, triggering symptoms like severe joint pain, chronic fatigue, and more. Consider, too, some of the more controversial infections like Lyme disease, where a growing tome of literature and data suggests that it, too, along with other insect-born infections, can linger on, waxing and waning for years, triggering any of a wide variety of symptoms, including joint pain.

PERHAPS IT’S SOMETHING EVEN SIMPLER Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause joint pain. Iron excess, too. It may be that the digging uncovers a significant nutritional issue that’s easily remedied.

Stephen P. Elliott, M.D. Living with Intention, INC 11979 Fishers Crossing Drive Fishers, IN 46038 317-863-5888 LivingWithIntention.biz

A CLOSING NOTE — TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

Clearly, this discussion could easily continue for quite some time. I’ve only touched on the tip of the iceberg.

The take-home message I’d like you to consider is this: If you or someone you know suffers from arthritis, from chronic joint pain, then talk to your doctor about some of the possible causes mentioned above and/ or consider consulting with a Functional Medicine physician yourself.

Specific food sensitivities, too, are known to cause joint pain. Testing for these is pretty straight forward — just a simple blood test.

AFTER THE DIGGING, THEN WHAT?

Once we've dug deep enough and uncovered the true root cause of the problem, then we develop our treatment strategy accordingly. For Leaky Gut, we would go one direction. For gastrointestinal yeast or “bad” bacteria, we would go a different direction. For chronic infection, we would typically use an entirely different array of tools. Low Vitamin D? Take Vitamin D. Specific food sensitivity? Avoid that food for several months. And so on.

In Functional Medicine, our goal is always to do things as naturally as possible.

Stephen P. Elliott M.D. practices Functional and Integrative Medicine at Living With Intention, Inc. For more information call 317-863-5888 or visit us at www.livingwithintention.biz and www.lwimedtherm.com.

PHOTO BY SARAH KNUTH

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P r o a t r a a n i d l l i o s e P

WISELY CHOSEN FLOWERS TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN INTO A HAVEN FOR BEES AND BUTTERFLIES Story and Photos by Jackson Mahaney

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’ve always been a wannabe bee keeper. Yet despite reading books, watching videos and even attending a local beekeepers’ convention, I haven’t established a bee hive in my garden. What my partner and I have managed to create, however, is a paradise for bees and other pollinators on our western Indiana farm.

The term “pollinator” tends to drum up images of European honey bees — easily domesticated, friendly for the most part and happy to create loads of honey. But look more closely in your garden and you’ll see many different types of pollinators.

Tiny mason bees and sweat bees, lumbering bumble bees and even carpenter bees are all part of the garden community. Hoverflies, butterflies and hummingbirds also shoulder their fair share of pollinating.

Modern stresses have done great damage to pollinator populations of all types.

Honey bees tend to get the most press, but even smaller bees, butterflies and hummingbird populations are being affected by commercial beekeeping, edge-toedge farming (wiping out what once were plentiful roadside habitats), pesticides and suburban sprawl.

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THINK LIKE A BEE Think like a bee for just a second: Those hundreds of acres of cereal crops or miles of urban asphalt that hold no food for you are like a desert — it might take you hours and huge amounts of energy to cross that desert just to find one stand of sustenance. Creating “oases” of sustenance becomes critical for not only bees but also for migrating butterflies and hummingbirds.

By choosing plants, trees and flowers that provide pollinators with food, breeding grounds and shelter, I’ve worked to create a pollinator oasis amid many acres of commercial farm fields. One of the best things all of us can do in the face of declining pollinator populations is to create as many of these sustaining habitats as we can.

Provide a little water and fill your garden with the right plants, and you can do just that.

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SELECT FOR THE SEASONS Wild bees emerge in very early spring and will be looking for food. How early do plants in your garden bloom? Honey bees in Indiana need to gather nectar all through summer and late fall — right up until frosts force them to retreat to their hives for winter. How late does your garden bloom? If you plant your garden to bloom just after winter snows and just before fall frosts, you’re thinking like a bee.

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IN SEASON FIND A LIST OF SUGGESTED PLANTINGS FOR EACH SEASON AND LINKS TO SOURCES FOR PLANTS AND SEEDS AT KITINDY.COM.

1 The heady scent of lilacs, particularly the intense perfume of the blue lilac “Ami Schott,” attracts bees of all types. Lilacs make good foundation plantings for pollinator gardens and are beneficial as a spring food source.

2 After I harvest my lavender, a little pruning will often get it blooming again, providing both bees and butterflies — such as this little cabbage white — a food source all season long.

3 As late summer takes over our gardens and fields, New England asters continue to feed bees and butterflies well into late fall. Providing bees with food sources up until frosts occur can be critical to their surviving the coming winter.

4 Cup plants were once a prairie mainstay, offering bright yellow flowers for bees and butterflies, shelter for wildlife and water and seeds for field birds. Our stands attract pollinators and goldfinches and remain one of our favorite garden plants.

5 During late spring, our apple trees literally hum with the sound of worker bees gathering nectar and pollen.

Simple and open, apple blossoms are a perfect example of the type of flower loved by all bees — both large and small find easy access, plenty of nectar and loads of pollen.

6 Tall, dark stalks of ironweed wait to bloom until late summer and fall, making ironweed a perfect plant to extend your garden’s offerings late into the season. Bees like them and they attract butterflies, too.

7 A widely cultivated herb for centuries, comfrey is particularly popular with larger bees that can access the interior of the deep flowers more easily. For us, comfrey does double duty as a pollinator plant and a source of natural fertilizer for our apple orchard.

8 With its showy orange flowers and compact habit, butterfly weed makes a pretty garden plant. I’m always happy, however, to turn them over to Monarch butterflies at the caterpillar stage.

9 Our pink aster stands (which we increase by making root divisions in the spring) are an unusual color variation and attract just as many bees and butterflies as the purple varieties. Their simple flower structure offers nectar and pollen to tiny hoverflies (Syrphidae), small but incredibly important garden pollinators.

10 Hummingbirds are amazing pollinators, and it’s their work that allows us to collect zinnia seed every year and replant with vital seed. Watching them flit and fly — and often tussle — among the blooms is also an endless source of entertainment.

11 Sea Holly is an odd plant — it’s perennial and its tall, spiky blooms add a lot of interest to a garden. It also has a funky smell, which seems to be wildly popular with pollinators.

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ALL PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY © JACKSON MAHANEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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PHOTOGRAPHER, WRITER AND BEE LOVER JACKSON MAHANEY has created a pollinator paradise on his western Indiana farm. Find Jackson’s photos and “From the Garden” journal at jxnmahaneyphoto.com. See more of his photographs at Zionsville’s SullivanMunce Cultural Center’s “Flowers in the Family” exhibit June 4 through July 24 (sullivanmunce.org). The exhibit also features the flower-inspired abstract-expressionist paintings of Jackson’s mom, the late Edie Kellar Mahaney.

jxnmahaneyphoto.com @JxnMahaneyPhoto @JxnMahaneyPhoto

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12 When growing flowers for cutting, it’s important to have “filler” flowers. We grow many kinds of celosia just for that purpose. They’re also a highly favored flower among bees and butterflies, including this sleepy carpenter bee.

13 Early blooming flowers such as striped squill (Puschkinia libanotica) offer emerging bees a ready source of nectar and pollen.

Easy to grow from bulbs planted in the fall, squill will self-seed and soon naturalize areas of the garden left relatively undisturbed. If it seems to be spreading farther than you like, mow the flower heads before they seed.

14 Gomphrena (also known as globe amaranth) is one of those garden flowers you’ll always find busy with butterflies.

Smaller species, such as skippers and sulfurs, will sit on a bloom and carefully work their way through each small flower that makes up a flower head. As a cut flower, we like to pair it with zinnias in summer bouquets — always leaving plenty for the butterflies.

15 One of the joys of growing pollinator flowers is watching our flower beds host the variety of insects and wildlife they attract.

Red gomphrena makes a wonderful filler plant for bouquets, and we also enjoy it as a draw for several species of butterflies, including this delicate Clouded Sulfur.

THREE TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN POLLINATOR GARDEN

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Keep it simple. All pollinators like plenty of nectar and pollen, and flowers with simple blooms are much better at attracting pollinators. Bigger bees will happily crawl through double hollyhocks or peonies, but smaller bees and insects won’t. Simple flowers make for much less work, so when choosing flowers, remember the little guys and remember to think “simple.”

Mix things up. The growing popularity of using native plants has raised another consideration — should you switch out those showy perennials for natives? Not necessarily — pollinators love variety.

The more and different kinds of plants and flowers the better. Lilacs, petunias, snap dragons, sages and other blooming herbs — all are just as popular with pollinators as native plants.

Plant zinnias. If you have the sun and space, plant a huge swath of brightly colored zinnias. During high summer, you’ll draw every type of pollinator you could hope for!

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Friday, June 4th is National Donut Day! #NationalDonutDay

DOUGHNUTS AND WWI The story of how an Indiana native's war-time ingenuity led to the beginning of one of America's favorite sweet treats...

There’s no denying that Americans love doughnuts, but this sweet treat hasn’t always been popular on this side of the Atlantic.

In fact, we have one resourceful young Hoosier to thank for her role in kicking off the doughnut craze that hit our nation 100 years ago.

Helen Purviance was only 19 years old when she left Huntington, Indiana in April 1917 to join the first wave of U.S. soldiers headed to France to fight in the Great War. Helen was an ensign with The Salvation Army and one of dozens of young women from across the country that were sent by The Salvation Army’s National Commander, Evangeline Booth, to serve in alongside servicemen in Europe.

In France, the women lived in huts behind the front lines, praying with the sick and injured, reading letters from home to blinded soldiers, mending uniforms, assisting medics, and offering hot coffee and cocoa to the exhausted men. Dwindling supplies meant that Helen and her fellow Salvationists had to be creative with special treats, but these limited supplies ultimately inspired the young Hoosier and her friend, Margaret Sheldon, to try a recipe that would change everything.

Using a little flour, sugar, canned milk, baking soda, cinnamon, and lard, Helen and Margaret began making homemade doughnuts. They used bottles, tins, and tubes to shape the treats and fried them on a tiny pot-bellied stove in their hut.

“I was literally on my knees when those first doughnuts were fried, seven at a time in a small fry pan,” Helen recalled many years later. “There was also a prayer in my heart that somehow this home touch would do more for those who ate the doughnuts than satisfy a physical hunger.”

Word got out quickly, and the girls knew they had a hit. That first day they fried 150 doughnuts, yet more than 2,000 soldiers lined up in hope of a taste. Units across the front began to talk of the “Salvation Army doughnut lassies” who were frying up doughnuts right in the middle of the action. It wasn’t long before young Salvationists were frying doughnuts day and night in huts, tents, and trenches across France.

At their peak the “doughnut lassies” were churning out 9,000 doughnuts daily and had become rallying symbols of the American war effort abroad.

Helen Purviance spent two years living and serving on the front line. She became famous for her doughnuts, but never stopped praying with dying soldiers and

tending to the shell-shocked and homesick young men in her care. When the war ended, the veterans brought their love of fresh doughnuts back to the U.S., spurring a doughnut craze that continues to this day.

National Doughnut Day was established in 1938 to recognize and celebrate the bravery and compassion of the young women who are known today as Salvation Army Doughnut Girls. Helen’s hometown of Huntington officially recognized her contribution during Indiana’s WWI Centennial celebrations in 2017 and a permanent Doughnut Girl exhibit in the Indiana War Memorial Museum in Indianapolis places these lassies right where they belong – on the front lines of history.

ARTISAN

Bridal

Photo by Violet Short

LET JILL DUZAN CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY. From brides and bridesmaids, to mother’s-of-the-bride and groom, Jill will design exclusive pieces for your entire bridal party that will be worn not only on the wedding day, but everyday.

JILLDUZANJEWELRY.COM

W I DO

KIT Brides’ anticipation of gathering with loved ones inspires intimate environments and unique touches that bring bride, groom, family and guests closer than ever before

Story by Ariana Mathews + Illustration by Sophie Konop + Photos by Hannah Crabb Photography and Jim & Elysia Signature Portraiture

THE YEAR 2020 BROUGHT WITH IT RESCHEDULED WEDDINGS, DEFERRED DREAMS AND DELAYED PLANS. But it also created opportunities for brides to plan imaginative alternatives and unique, often intimate, ceremonies. Lindsey Romack of Ooh La La Events rolled with the changes, noting that all but one 2020 wedding she’d been planning was canceled or moved to 2021.

TOGETHER AGAIN

Lindsey explained that the majority of couples postponed their weddings to 2021 to hold on to high hopes for the wedding of their dreams. “They’re determined to stick to their original plan,” she said. As she plans weddings for 2021, she notices that the anticipation of gathering with loved ones and creating special, intimate environments is greater than ever before.

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MADE BY HAND Illustrated programs and Mom-created arrangements featuring Fifty Flowers blooms were personal touches that Kit illustrator and newlywed Sophie Konop loved about her April wedding.

Visually, Lindsey expects to see bright, joyful color palates, boho designs and loose, decorative greenery to create natural, earthy vibes. After the pandemic forced separation from loved ones during a time we longed to spend time with them most, people are ready to let loose and have fun, she said.

PHOTOS BY HANNAH CRABB PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding planners, photographers, caterers and venues are more than just vendors; they serve as moral support for couples. Balancing the desire to proceed cautiously to care for loved ones with the eager hopefulness of gathering after being apart for so long makes for some compromise and tough decisions.

“I think many couples worry that a rescheduled or smaller wedding will be less than what they had dreamed, but they have been pleasantly surprised how wonderful the day turned out to be,” said Sarah Godby, vice president of sales and marketing at Ritz Charles.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT

For many brides in 2020 and beyond, the goal of their special day is to make their relationship the heart of the event. Focusing less on the formality of a wedding and more on the marriage itself, brides are less concerned with checking all of the traditional boxes.

Now more than ever, couples are embracing the special, the memorable and even the unusual.

One couple’s favorite holiday is Christmas, so carolers performed at the reception, Lindsey said. Another couple treasured the memory of a first date at an oyster bar, so staff served guests from a strolling oyster cart. These touches give attendees a taste of the couple’s style and the life they are creating together.

Lauren Barr Decker, who was featured in Kit’s July/August 2020 issue, celebrated a small church wedding last June. She’s now preparing for this June’s 250-person vow renewal celebration under an enormous tent on a friend’s land. “We’re roasting two hogs, and I’ll still wear my dress,” said Lauren, who loves to camp with her husband, Zach. At a “simple, sweet” ceremony, groomsmen and bridesmaids will wear their tuxes and dresses while Lauren and Zach recite their vows.

Lauren advises brides to let go of their vision of the perfect wedding.

Through embracing change, couples can glean even more beauty from their wedding day than they’d hoped. “I’ve learned I can’t change what’s going on. I just have to adapt,” she said. “This is all going to be part of our story.”

LOVE STORIES

Gabrielle Noel, a local photographer who got married herself in 2018, says couples have become increasingly intentional about creating a wedding day that celebrates their personalities and relationship. Journeying with the couple through their story of love is becoming more important than strictly following tradition. In the place of extravagant five-course meals are funky food trucks and smaller-scale restaurant dinners. Instead of planning a spectacle, couples are choosing to celebrate their love and the people who mean the most to them in more modest settings such as a family member’s backyard.

Another photographer, Cassie Howard, has focused in particular on capturing sweet moments with grandparents. She’s noticed the loving affection between couples and their grandparents, and she aims to capture photos that bring that same feeling back to life even after years have gone by.

It’s details like these that make up smaller, more intimate events that are much more purposeful and significant to a photographer’s approach to capturing the day, Gabrielle said. Stolen moments with family members in between elements of the program become cherished memories when there’s less worry about derailing a big event’s second-by-second schedule.

As Gabrielle put it: “This year is all about the importance of being together.”

Read about Chris and Dana Meyers’ intimate wedding at the Eiteljorg Museum and Jenna and Clayton Mosley’s wedding at Conner Prairie at kitindy.com.

PHOTO BY JIM & ELYSIA SIGNATURE PORTRAITURE

yours

INTIMATELY ON THESE COUPLES’ WEDDING DAYS, TRADITIONAL TOUCHES AND UNEXPECTED SURPRISES COMBINED TO CREATE THREE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND EQUALLY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES Story by Ariana Mathews + Photos by Ivan & Louise, Those McKissics and Cassie Howard Photography

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KIT WEDDING ISSUE

A Family Affair GABRIELLE AND JACK NOEL

A SPECIAL GUEST The day Jack and Gabrielle Noel sent the save-the-dates for their wedding, they found out they were expecting their first child. Initially, they’d planned a 300-person event in a tent outside of Jack’s parents’ home.

But the sweet news of a baby boy on the way called for a more intentional and familial setting.

“We wanted everything to feel intimate,” said Gabrielle, who wanted to spend the day with special people who made an impact on her life, relationship and community.

PURPOSEFUL togetherness As a photographer ingrained in the wedding industry, Gabrielle knew exactly who she wanted to work with for her own special day. But with the knowledge she’d be 20 weeks pregnant, simply being together took precedence over the traditional pomp and circumstance.

“On each table were place cards with handwritten notes telling every guest what they meant to us,” Gabrielle said.

“We wanted our change in plans to be purposeful and become something that we wouldn’t have been able to do with a big wedding.”

At the ceremony, the couple recognized their unborn baby by reading him his first book, one of Gabrielle’s favorites by Shel Silverstein, and Gabrielle wrote a letter to her future husband and addressed it to “Monkey” — the couple’s nickname for one another. Now that they’re a family of three, it’s the nickname Jack and Gabrielle use for their son, Charlie.

Each of the 40 guests wrote notes to the couple during cocktail hour and placed them in a box, which also held the couple’s vows and a bottle of tequila.

“When we open the box in 10 years, the notes from loved ones and the vows will remind us why we’re together, and the tequila will be either celebratory or comforting,” Gabrielle said.

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUE Milktooth FLOWERS Autumn Keller PHOTOGRAPHER Ivan & Louise WEDDING DRESS Nordstrom CATERING Milktooth

BABY’S FIRST BOOK: To include their unborn child in their big day, Gabrielle and Jack recited a childhood favorite

by Shel Silverstein.

WEDDING PLANNER Plum and Poppy

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KIT WEDDING ISSUE

Unexpected Pleasures

VICTOIRE AND MATTHEW KUMALO CALM AMID CHAOS Victoire, a lawyer, and Matthew, a real estate investor, married during a tumultuous time. But they both held firmly to the original date they planned for their wedding: May 31, 2020. Not only was the world in the early days of a pandemic, but the country also was undergoing civil unrest in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. “I’m so proud of us for not allowing the circumstances around us to change our plans,” Victoire said. “We fought for what was most important.”

THE BARE necessities Matthew and Victoire had planned to marry at Black Iris Estate in front of 250 guests.

But as the pandemic spread, they knew they’d have to pivot. A month before their wedding, the state of Indiana restricted events to no more than 50 people. That’s when the soon-to-be Kumalos discovered Holcomb Gardens at Butler University.

“It was so beautiful we didn’t even need decorations,” Victoire said.

On her wedding day, Victoire wore a simpler dress and hairstyle than she’d planned, along with a custom mask. “Once we chose the garden as our venue, the tone of our wedding changed to laid back,” she said. “I was walking barefoot.

There was mud at the bottom of my dress.

I wore my natural curls. And I wouldn’t do it any differently even if I could. It was our own little paradise.”

Many of Zimbabwe-born Matthew’s and Rwanda-born Victoire’s guests had planned to travel to the wedding from abroad but, toward the end of April, the couple postponed their large celebration, paring their event down to the bare necessities — a gorgeous outdoor setting, a close friend to officiate the ceremony, 15 guests and a reception hosted on Zoom featuring traditional African dishes prepared by the mother of the bride.

CEREMONY VENUE Holcomb Gardens at Butler University RECEPTION VENUE The home of the groom’s mother FLOWERS The Flower Box PHOTOGRAPHER Those McKissics WEDDING DRESS Curvy Custom Bride CATERING AND CAKE Traditional African dishes prepared by family members WEDDING PLANNER The bride

TYING THE KNOT: Victoire and Matthew braided three strands to create a single cord in honor of the Bible verse “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) and symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife.

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KIT WEDDING ISSUE

Rite of Passage

KRISTIN AND JUSTYN WEILER HONORING LOVED ONES Kristin and Justyn Weiler consider themselves fortunate that they were able to gather with their loved ones just a few months after they had originally planned without reducing their guest list. But between their original April 2020 date and their rescheduled August wedding, one of both Kristin’s and Justyn’s grandparents passed away. The couple honored their grandparents with a memorial table and a moment of silence. They also came up with creative ways to include as many loved ones as possible in their scaled-back celebration.

SHARING memories As soon as Kristin made the decision to reschedule her wedding, she sent an email to her vendors to ask when they would be available later in the year. She gratefully recalled how accommodating they all were — from her florist to her venue.

While some friends and family members chose as a precaution not to attend, the couple decided to keep their wedding its original size, with 120 guests in attendance. They did limit the reception to just the bridal party — with a unique twist. Desiring for their ceremony guests to enjoy their first dance and cake-cutting with them, Justyn and Kristin invited guests to join them from a balcony above while they danced and cut the cake on the ballroom floor. Afterward, the guests went home and the bride, groom

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUE Scottish Rite Cathedral FLOWERS Bella Sorella Floral Design PHOTOGRAPHER Cassie Howard Photography WEDDING DRESS Marie Gabriel CATERING AND CAKE Kahn’s WEDDING PLANNER The bride

and bridal party ate Kilroy’s breadsticks (an ode to the couple’s alma mater, Indiana University) and danced the night away to an iPad playlist instead of the live band in the original plan.

Throughout the day, special details set a warm and tender tone. The couple exchanged gifts and presented their parents with gifts and letters of gratitude.

Kristin’s parents have been married for 35 years and serve as role models for the newlyweds. “We really value their marriage,” Kristin said. “Our wedding day was the perfect day to show them just how much they mean to us.”

SEASON SWITCH: Kristin always looked forward to having an April wedding just to see all the spring flowers in bloom.

Andrea Carroll from Bella Sorella Floral Design made those dreams come true even though Kristin had to reschedule her wedding to August.

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Noblesville Farmers Market

Concert at the Commons

a passion for HOW ONE WOMAN’S LOVE FOR THE PEONY, THE INDIANA STATE FLOWER, INSPIRED A COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO HOST THE INAUGURAL INDIANA PEONY FESTIVAL

By Ria Rebein

PEONIES SYMBOLIZE ROMANCE, PROSPERITY, GOOD FORTUNE AND COMPASSION.

Noblesville resident and Kit publisher Kelly McVey discovered her love of peonies 13 years ago. She and her sisters, Carla Crask and Kari Nickander Perry, had set out to farm annuals and perennials on a 10-acre plot in Cicero, Ind. The experiment went south when the sisters couldn’t agree on what to plant — but not before they fell in love with one flower in particular: the peony.

“I didn’t know much about the peony, our state flower,” Kelly said. “I thought of peonies as a grandma flower.” But she quickly learned about the perennial’s historical significance, diversity, hardiness and beauty, not to mention its thousands of varieties, which she could look forward to reappearing in her garden every year.

Kelly filled her yard with peonies and started hosting “peony parties,” where friends and family would gather to assemble bouquets and celebrate the state flower every May. One year her family sold peonies at the Noblesville Farmers Market, where she met fellow peony lovers: The flower always seemed to remind people of their mother, their aunt or someone special in their life.

All this got Kelly thinking: Why don’t we celebrate our state flower more, especially in May, when thousands flock to Indiana for the Indianapolis 500? “I used to preach this to everyone I knew!” Kelly laughed.

A flourishing friendship Kelly had long wanted to share her passion for peonies in a more meaningful and far-reaching way. One spring, while driving to a women’s event, she couldn’t stop thinking about peonies.

She arrived at the Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Award (SEWA) Luncheon to discover a bouquet of peonies as the centerpiece and a peony farmer seated next to her. Pamela Parker of JP Parker Flowers won the award that day, and Kelly and Pam became instant friends. The two chatted about Kelly’s dream of hosting a local peony festival.

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We look forward to the start of a wonderful new tradition."

MEGAN WILES, CITY OF NOBLESVILLE

INDIANA'S INAUGURAL PEONY FESTIVAL will be held in Noblesville’s Seminary Park on May 22, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

Learn more about the Indiana Peony Festival at indianapeonyfestival.com.

I believe that this festival will become a signature event for Noblesville, bringing not only Hamilton County residents to Noblesville, but those from other areas of the state as well."

ESTHER LAKES, FESTIVAL COMMITTEE MEMBER

“We were immediate soulmates and best friends because of our love of peonies,” Pam said. The next year, when giving a speech at the SEWA luncheon, Pam spoke the festival into existence.

“I talked about so many good things that had happened in the past year, like meeting Kelly McVey and sharing our love of peonies. I said it in my speech: We’re going to have a peony festival!”

Thanks to Pam’s encouragement and their connection, the festival began to take shape.

Breaking ground One of the most exciting things about the peony festival is the way that the Hamilton County community came together to support the idea.

In 2019, one of Kelly’s friends, Esther Lakes, was on a planning committee to renovate Seminary Park in downtown Noblesville. “She said that she wanted to plant peonies — and I wanted to get involved!” said Kelly. Esther, the former owner of Noblesville’s Smith’s Jewelers, supported Kelly’s vision. Brandon Bennett of the Noblesville Parks Department was also on board and agreed to purchase 150 peonies to get the project underway. “Two years ago, on a cold blustery day in November,

PLENTY OF POSSIBILITIES: Sisters Carla Crask, Kelly McVey and Kari Nickander Perry started the seeds of the Indiana Peony Festival in 2008, when they planted peonies on Kari’s 10-acre farm in Cicero, Ind. OUTSTANDING FIELD: Pamela Parker, owner of JP Parker Flowers and a founder of the Indiana Peony Festival, grows peonies on her family’s third generation-run farm in Franklin, Ind. Here, Kelly McVey and Pam inspect peonies for frost damage.

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I was honored to be part of Kelly’s planting brigade, planting over 150 peonies in Seminary Park,” Esther said. The location would become the home of the inaugural Indiana Peony Festival.

PLANTED POTENTIAL: Top, volunteers Steve and Kulyn VanMeter, Mike and Kelly McVey, Kari Nickander Perry and Kaylynn and Dan Nickander sowed 150 peonies last fall in Noblesville’s historic Seminary Park, site of the inaugural Indiana Peony Festival on May 22. Not pictured, volunteer Esther Lakes.

JUST A START: Above, peony tubers and the Seminary Park planting plan.

FLORAL STATESMAN: Top right, Indiana honored state Rep. Laurence D. Baker, a well-known peony grower from Kendallville, by naming the peony the state’s official flower in 1957. Here he admires Festiva maxima from one of his farms.

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Once the Noblesville Parks Department agreed to the location at Seminary Park and volunteers planted the first peonies there, the seed of the idea for a festival took root. The City of Noblesville signed on as a sponsor, and Noblesville Main Street collaborated by planning the festival and engaging the downtown community. Peony farmers and small businesses across the state have also jumped in and gotten involved. The date is set: Indiana’s inaugural Peony Festival will be held at Seminary Park on May 22, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

The mission of the festival is to celebrate the Indiana state flower and to raise money to build peony gardens throughout Hamilton County and then throughout Indiana for community beautification projects.

“Indiana can become a destination to see these peony gardens,” Kelly said. “I want people to know that peonies are so much more than the pink, white and red — there are so many gorgeous colors and varieties. There’s so much to know and love about our state flower.”

A Hoosier Tradition, A Blossom of Hope Peonies have been cultivated in China, Siberia and Japan for over 2,000 years, and arrived in the United States in the 1800s. With 40 species and over 6,500 cultivars and hybrids, peonies can produce beautiful blooms every spring for decades — even generations.

In 1957, the peony became the state flower of Indiana in honor of Laurence D. Baker, an Indiana politician who operated four peony farms throughout the state, mostly to keep up with the demand for peonies each May. Historically, the peony has been used for “Decoration Day” to decorate the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day. Baker even sold peonies at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, and he presented a bouquet of peonies to Amelia Earhart! Today, his legacy lives on through his grandchildren, who are still in the flower business at Baker Flowers and Gifts in Kendallville, Ind. “Long before the shipping of flowers was commonplace, the peony was the local flower in bloom,” said Todd Jameson of Balanced Harvest Peony Farm in Needham, Ind. Across the state, thousands of families would harvest peonies and use them to decorate graves in May. “There’s a real heartfelt connection to the peony thanks to generations of Hoosiers who have carried on the tradition.”

Their history isn’t the only reason people love peonies. “Peonies thrive here,” Todd said. “They’re breathtaking flowers,” said Pamela Parker of JP Parker Flowers. “And the fragrance, of course, is wonderful.”

Empowering each other is our most important priority. That’s why we work so hard to make women look and feel their very best!

5631 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46208

CELEBRATE OUR STATE FLOWER AT INDIANA’S INAUGURAL PEONY FESTIVAL The Indiana Peony Festival will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, in the newly renovated, historic Seminary Park in Downtown Noblseville. The event is free and open to the public.

SEMINARY PARK

vendors

FOOD AND DRINK Corks & Caps Tijuana Flats Tipsy Truck Four Day Ray Brewing Nicey Treat Board & You Indy Party Pops Noble Coffee and Tea

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: PEONY JUDGING, FLORAL ARRANGING BOUQUET-OFF, PEONY GROWERS, FOOD TRUCKS, ART, POTTED PLANTS, DOWNTOWN NOBLESVILLE SCAVENGER HUNT, SPECIAL OFFERINGS + MUCH MORE!

FLOWERS Balanced Harvest Rusted Window JP Parker Flowers/Truck Adrienes Flowers & Gifts Little Petal Farm Louloudi Fields Crown & Cloth Sweet Peas Flower Farm Petals & Pollen

ART Andrea Haydon Sharon Brooks Randall Scott Harden Joanie Weber Artist Leslie Haflich / Penny Roberson Sylvia Gray

OTHER

THE FESTIVAL IS ORGANIZED BY THE 501 (C)(3) INDIANA PEONY FESTIVAL INC., NOBLESVILLE MAIN STREET AND NOBLESVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

Boutique Elise Master Gardeners Linnea Local Folks Foods/Grateful Gourmet Jill Duzan Jewelry Indiana Paper Company Caravan Classes Earth Drops Soaps Threaded Blue Boutique Riverview Health

Festival

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AFTER STROLLING THROUGH SEMINARY PARK, check out these downtown Noblesville businesses for special peony perks and swag.

ALL ABOARD .

TAKE A TROLLEY BETWEEN THE SQUARE AND SEMINARY PARK

APPLE BUTTER BARN

WILD BOHEMIAN

Receive a 10% discount when you mention peonies

Free floral accessory with $25 purchase

LIL BLOOMERS

THE VELVET PLUM

Peony Tea Party

Enter a $50 gift raffle

LINDEN TREE

PRIMEVAL BREWING

Floral candle with $20 purchase

Bring your peony program and receive discounted beer

PERSIMMON AVENUE

BASH BOUTIQUE

Enter a $50 peony raffle

Free gift with $75 purchase

NOBLESVILLE ANTIQUE MALL Special antiques discount

BICA CAFE Free cup of drip coffee. No purchase necessary.

NOBLE MADE Locally made products like beautifully beaded earrings by Olivia Saner

NICKEL PLATE SMITH'S JEWELERS

KARISMA

Enter to win or purchase a peony necklace

Peony key chain

SHINE YOGA Peony poses + peony gift

NOBLE COFFEE

Visit artist studios and Healing Power of Art Exhibit

ROSIE'S PLACE Serving special peony cookies

Try a refreshing pink floral tea

CARAVAN CLASSES

LEARN MORE AT INDIANAPEONYFESTIVAL.COM

Peony art projects downtown and at Seminary Park

Drapery Street’s forceresistant retractable shades provide privacy and protection from bugs and sun.

SPACE

to play

By Dawn Olsen

10 TIPS TO HELP YOU CREATE A HAVEN FOR ENTERTAINING, GRILLING AND CHILLING As temperatures rise our thoughts turn to backyard barbecues, lazy afternoons by the pool and late-night chats around a fire. Your outdoor space is an extension of your home, so you’ll want to use the same thoughtfulness outdoors that you do indoors when planning your spaces.

Here are 10 things to think about as you create your blissful backyard or al fresco retreat.

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PUT FUNCTION FIRST Enhancing your backyard, front porch or deck can increase your home’s value, but the everyday benefits are the real payoff. As a starting point, Brian Adams of Godby Hearth and Home in Carmel's Indiana Design Center encourages you to first decide exactly how you want to use your space.

“If you want to build an outdoor area, be smart about it,” said Brian. You don’t want to spend money on a space that isn’t just right, so be honest with yourself.

Do want to entertain guests? Spend more time with your family?

Relax in a beautiful, blissful retreat? Figuring out the function of your space helps you make informed decisions on furniture, grills, lighting and other accessories.

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LAY IT OUT Once you identify how you want to use your outdoor space, create zones for each type of activity: relaxing, cooking, dining and/or playing. This will help determine the furniture you need and how to position it to take advantage of the views and get optimal use of your space. Consider scale and proportion, too. “Your furniture should complement the size and shape of your space,” said Jane Johnson, a designer at Surroundings in SoBro. “You don’t want to bring in something that’s too big or too little.” Thankfully, Wayfair and IKEA have apps that allow you to drop virtual furniture into your home and see how it would look. You can also try Photo Measures, which lets you write floor and wall measurements on room photos (it makes for easy reference while shopping).

Surroundings says a well-lit, dedicated zone begs you to relax and reset.

TAKE A SEAT Raise your hand if you’ve ever been stuck in a straight-backed, hard-seated chair for hours. It’s no fun for the back or the bum. If you want to relax on the porch, invest in comfy, cozy furniture, something you can lounge in like an outdoor sofa or a sectional that can seat your whole family. If you foresee hosting a lot of barbecues, you’ll need ample seating.

Need help cultivating calm? Check out Pollinator Paradise on page 17.

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4 5 GRILL LIKE A GENIUS

FIRE THINGS UP

Depending on the size of your grill station, you could install a perpendicular bar, which gives guests a place to sit and watch you cook.

Bonus: The grill master won’t feel left out. When it comes to materials, Brian of Godby Hearth and Home reminds that everything must be noncombustible and able to withstand UV rays. (That’s why concrete tops are popular, he said.)

And an outdoor kitchen is still a kitchen — you need ventilation. Think about what hood you’ll want over your new Twin Eagles or Fire Magic gas grill.

If you want an outdoor living space that keeps family and friends chatting late into the night, consider a fire pit. Or a fireplace. Or flame features or linear fire borders. Godby Hearth and Home does it all and then some. Before installing anything, though, Brian will ask you to consider how many times you’ll use it. “Everyone wants to put a firepit in the middle of their patio,” he said. “But if it’s in the center, there’s not enough room for other activities.” Don’t forget to add storage for blankets and marshmallow-roasting supplies.

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MANAGE MOTHER NATURE Bugs, sun glare, dust and wind are just a few of the elements you should consider when designing an outdoor space. If you’re leaning toward a screened-in porch or a roll-up screen “door” that connects your living room to the patio, consider a forceresistant retractable shade from Drapery Street in Carmel's Indiana Design Center.

They dim the glare, help keep out dust and bugs and are wind-tested. “You don’t want to invest in a really nice space and then not enjoy it because it’s uncomfortable,” said Caryn O’Sullivan, Drapery Street owner. Not seeking screens? Gazebos, patio covers and retractable pergolas also offer much-needed shade during those hot summer afternoons.

"EVERYTHING OUTDOOR USED TO BE SO OUTDOORLOOKING. NOW, THINGS LOOK RESIDENTIAL AND SOFT AND COMFORTABLE AS PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME OUTSIDE OR ON THEIR PORCHES.”

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UPGRADE TEXTILES “Outdoor furniture and textiles have become indistinguishable from indoor equivalents,” said Drapery Street's Caryn, who suggests outdoor drapes, pillows and other textiles to soften an outdoor space. “We’re seeing an explosion in what you can get outside.

Everything from simple textures to high-performance fabrics.”

Perennials is one example — they’re a textile company that sells fabric that’s fade-resistant, mildew- and mold-resistant, and bleachcleanable (a.k.a. designed to withstand Indiana’s weather extremes).

Want to splurge a little? Luxury textile company Schumacher — a Caryn favorite — carries indoor/outdoor fabric. Covering a couch may be pricey, but you can always make beautiful pillows instead.

CULTIVATE CALM The best outdoor living spaces seamlessly blend indoor comfort with outdoor verdure. Maybe that’s why a 2019 study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham found people had a 64% increase in life satisfaction immediately after being outside for 20 minutes. To ensure that indoor-outdoor balance, incorporate greenery into your décor. Use native plants — purple coneflower, black-eyed Susans, goldenrod — to attract bees and other pollinators. Trellises are perfect for crossvine or Virginia creeper (both native to Indiana) and also create privacy. Jane from Surroundings recommends Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan in Fishers and Rosie’s Gardens in Carmel for garden-related items. “They’re great places to shop for things besides plants — fountains, containers and decor,” she said.

Premier's outdoor TVs feature weather-proof, anti-glare, 4K video displays that resist the elements.

—CARYN O’SULLIVAN, DRAPERY STREET

9 The evolution of outdoor fabrics means they’re luxurious but also fade-, mildew-, stain- and moldresistant. Here, they draw the eye away from the Premier speaker peeking out of the plants.

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GO FOR THE GLOW

TERRACE YOUR TV

Accent or architecture lights add a decorative glow to brighten steps or highlight certain features of your home. You can also expand the feel of your space by illuminating trees or fencing farther out in the yard. And string lights can make your backyard feel a little more intimate. Here’s the fun part — everything can be programmed and customized. “Our outdoor lighting line is completely weatherproof, has a lifetime guarantee and integrates into home automation systems,” said Jamie Carey, the director of business development at Premier Luxury Electronic Lifestyles in Carmel. “We make it intuitive and simple through one app, Control Four. It’s not a bunch of gadgets.”

According to Jamie from Premier, outdoor televisions are all the rage. While indoor TVs are made of plastic, outdoor TVs are made of weatherproof material. Some are so durable they don’t even have to be brought in for the winter! For outdoor music, Premier sells systems that offer a full, continuous sound throughout the space.

These landscape speakers create a “Disneyland effect” — the music surrounds you but is never overwhelming.

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FRESH iesta WELCOME SUMMER WITH A REFRESHING FUSION OF FLAVORS Photos by Chris Whonsetler + Entrée recipe by Kari Nickander Perry + Styling by Ashlie Hartgraves

These fish tacos are deliciously satisfying.

Pair them with a corn and bean salsa, cilantro lime rice, citrusy lemon bars and a deliciously easy cocktail, and you have yourself a party! As a bonus, many of the elements can be prepared in advance for minimal fuss.

46 kitindy.com

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fish tacos SLAW /4 head cabbage /2 cup rice wine vinegar 1 /2 cup sugar 1 /2 cup canola oil 1 /4 teaspoon salt 1 1

1 Finely chop the cabbage into thin slices and place in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients and pour over the cabbage.

2 Stir and set aside until ready to serve.

HARI SAUCE 11/2-2 bunches cilantro, stems discarded 1 /2 cup lime juice 3 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon peeled, diced ginger root 1 /2 garlic clove, peeled In a food processor or blender, blend together the cilantro and lime juice until the leaves are finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Set aside.

CAPER SAUCE /2 cup mayonnaise 1 /2 cup plain yogurt 2 teaspoons chopped dill weed 2 teaspoons cumin 2 heaping teaspoons capers 1 teaspoon chopped oregano Juice from 1/2 lime 1

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.

FISH 1 cup flour 1 /2 cup very cold water Salt and pepper, to taste 11/2 pounds cod, cut into bite-sized pieces 2 cups panko bread crumbs 1 /4 cup canola oil 1 Mix the flour, cold water, salt and pepper in a bowl. Coat the fish pieces in the flour mixture and then roll in bread crumbs.

2 Heat enough oil to cover fish halfway.

Once the oil is shimmery but not smoking, fry fish about 4 minutes on each side until fish is flaky. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

cilantro lime rice 1 tablespoon canola oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 large onion, chopped 2 cups long-grain rice 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3-4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided Juice of 3 limes Zest of 2 limes 1 /2 bunch fresh diced cilantro, leaves only 1 In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and cook until onions are soft and translucent (3-4 minutes).

2 Reduce heat to low; add rice and salt. Cook for 3 minutes while stirring continuously.

3 Add 2 cups of the broth and the zest of 2 limes; bring to a boil.

4 Reduce heat to low and cover; simmer until the rice is tender and cooked through (10-15 minutes). Use the remaining broth as needed so that the rice is not sticky.

CRUST 1 cup butter, melted 21/2 cups flour, sifted 1 /2 cup powdered sugar 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix ingredients in a mixing bowl until well blended.

2 Press the raw crust into the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch pan and bake for 20 minutes. Set aside.

LEMON FILLING 4 eggs, beaten 2 cups sugar 4 teaspoons flour 3 /4 teaspoon baking powder 1 /4 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons lemon juice Powdered sugar, to garnish 1 Combine all ingredients and pour on top of the baked crust. Bake entire dish for another 20 minutes until the top is slightly brown.

5 To serve, stir in the lime juice and fresh cilantro.

2 Let cool and then sprinkle powdered sugar. Cut and serve.

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1 package 4-inch flour or corn tortillas 3-4 cubes fish (per taco) Slaw, to taste Hari Sauce, to taste Caper Sauce, to taste 2 mangoes, peeled and thinly sliced

Half bunch cilantro, leaves only, finely chopped 1 jalapeno, seeds removed 2 bunches green onion 1 /2 medium white onion 15-ounce can whole kernel corn 25 ounces petite diced tomatoes 15-ounce can black beans Dash of sugar Seasoning salt, to taste

1 Brown the tortillas in an iron skillet on the stove.

1 In a large mixing bowl, add cilantro, jalapeno, green onions and white onion.

2 For each taco, add fish, slaw and sauces to taste. Top with a few mango slices and serve.

2 Drain corn and add corn to bowl. Add diced tomatoes, leaving juice in. Add black beans, leaving roughly half of the juice in.

TO PLATE

lemon bars

1 lime Salt, to rim glass 2 ounces blanco tequila 6 ounces grapefruit soda (such as Squirt) 1 Spread the salt on a flat plate, just wider than the perimeter of your glass. Cut the lime in half, and swipe around the perimeter of the glass. Dip in salt to rim the glass.

2 Fill halfway with ice. Add tequila, grapefruit soda and juice from half a lime.

3 Stir, add a lime twist as garnish and serve.

3 Add sugar and seasoning salt. Stir and refrigerate until needed. Serve with tortilla chips.

48 kitindy.com

A version of this story originally appeared in Kit’s May-June 2015 issue.

Experience Carmel on your bike with these family friendly events

FAMILY FUN RIDES JUNE 12, JULY 10, AUGUST 14 Registration & Bike Rodeo begin at 8:30 a.m.

Ride rolls out at 9:30 a.m.

Free for participants

SLOW ROLL RIDES JUNE 8, JULY 6, AUGUST 10, SEPTEMBER 7 One Hour Social Ride through Carmel Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

Ride rolls out at 6:30 p.m.

Free for participants Visit BikeCarmel.com for more information and registration details.

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