HortusScope | What’s Up in the Central Gardening Community | Photo by Wendy Ford

Tuesday, September 5 Herb Society of Central Indiana Health and Healing in an Increasingly Chaotic World Join Constance Ferry, owner of Hobbit Gardens in Fillmore, Indiana, for a look at adaptogenic herbs. Learn about these sacred plants from our back yards and around the world that can build, tone, and nourish us to withstand the stresses and chaos in our lives. Gather at 6:15 p.m., lecture at 6:30 p.m., Clay Township Center, 10701 N. College Avenue, . herbsocietyofcentralindiana.org

Saturday, September 9 Fifth Annual THRIVE Party, Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful Enjoy a transformative evening of food, drink, and fun in support of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc., which is keeping our city clean and green. Since 1976, KIB has helped neighbors plant more than 50,000 trees, create roughly 2.3 million square feet of community greenspace, collect thousands of tons of litter, and empower agents of change. Come celebrate the hard work that citizens of Indianapolis put in to transform public spaces, dirty streets, and underutilized plots into an urban landscape that creates civic pride. Each ticket includes: 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour & Silent Auction; 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Program; 9:00 p.m. Afterglow Event. Featured experiences: silent auction, signature cocktails, Centerpoint Brewing, silent disco. Attire: urban chic—think cocktail with a litter-azzi twist. THRIVE is proudly presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis. 6:30 to 11:00 p.m., Circle City Industrial Complex, 1125 East Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis. RSVP

Saturday, September 9 Indiana Daylily-Iris Society Annual Pitch-In and Plant Exchange NCAP Daylily Auction, presided over by John Everitt & Dan Howell. Set-up 11:00 a.m.; lunch 11:45 a.m.; auction 12:45 p.m. First Friends Church social hall, 3030 Kessler Blvd, East Drive, Indianapolis. www.indianadaylilyirissociety.org

Saturday, September 9 Putting The Garden To Bed Join Myrene Brown of Myrene’s Garden for a pictorial program on preparing the garden for the dormant winter season. Learn about fall garden tasks that make for an easier start to the garden season the upcoming spring. 2:00 p.m., Glendale Branch Indianapolis Library, Indianapolis. Register for this free program at 317-275-4410.

Saturday, September 9 Eleventh Annual Nature Daze 2017 (Nashville) Nature Daze is an outreach program of the Brown County Native Woodlands Project to help landowners better understand the importance of managing their property to create a resilient native habitat. Activities for the day include talks and interpretive hikes led by resource professionals, a native plant sale, an herbicide giveaway, a

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children’s program, door prizes, and a free picnic-style barbecue lunch. Spend the day learning, exploring, and having fun in the beautiful hills of Brown County. Registration & check-in 8:30 a.m.; program 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Camp Rancho Framasa, 2230 Clay Lick Road, Nashville. Register Questions? Call: 812-988-2211 or email [email protected].

Wednesday, September 13 Marion County Master Gardener Association The Humane Gardener Writer and naturalist Nancy Lawson cultivates compassion for all creatures great, small, wonderful, and wild. A columnist for All Animals magazine, she is the author of the book The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Wildlife Habitat which was released in April 2017 by Princeton Architectural Press. The evening includes a photo show and silent auction. Tickets are available on line at https://mcmga-evening-meeting.eventbrite.com. You may register and pay by credit card or register on this site and send a check for $18.00 made out to MCMGA to the address provided. 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Riviera Club, 5640 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis.

Wednesday, September 13 Marian University Groundbreaking for the St. Francis Colonnade The public is invited to a reception and groundbreaking for the St. Francis Colonnade in the Jens Jensen designed Riverdale gardens. 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Allison Mansion, Marian University, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis. RSVP by September 9 to Olivia at [email protected] or 317-955-6146.

Tuesday, September 19 Fall Color from Native Plantings Learn how to make your garden perform multiple tasks. Myrene Brown will take you through a pictorial slide show of several wonderful native plants capable of adding to the fall show in your landscape. Native pollinators primarily use native plants to sustain them. With the addition of native plants to enhance your garden’s fall color you also provide for the wildlife and pollinators that share our space while creating a beautiful fall landscape to delight your eyes. Registration is required as space is limited. 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Zion Nature Center, 690 Beech Street, Zionsville. To register, email [email protected].

Wednesday, September 27 How Will Climate Change Affect Indiana? (Carmel) Experts from around the state have come together to synthesize the best available science on climate change impacts on public health, water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, and more. A guest speaker from the Purdue Climate Change Research Center will highlight the latest research on climate in Indiana. Sponsored by Carmel Green Initiative. 6:30 p.m., Carmel Clay Public Library, 55 4th Avenue Southeast, Carmel. RSVP

Thursday, September 28 IMA Horticultural Society GMOs, Marvel or Malady? Join the Horticultural Society for The Marguerite T. Smith Fall Lecture. The evening features conversation, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres ($35) followed by a free talk by Dr. Peter Goldsbrough of Purdue University’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. Goldsbrough will explain how GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are produced and used, providing a balanced perspective on this controversial topic. Open to the public. 5:30 p.m. reception in the Fountain Room, the lower level of the IMA Cafe (purchase tickets online by September 22); 6:30 p.m. lecture in DeBoest Lecture Hall, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis. http://www.imamuseum.org/HortSocFallLecture

Saturdays thru September Medicinal Plant Garden Tours The Medicinal Plant Garden at the Indiana Medical History Museum demonstrates more than 100 species from around the world. Informational signage tells how the plants have been used, and visitors are welcome to wander at their own pace. Free guided tours of the garden are offered on each Saturday morning in June thru September at 11:00 a.m. Group tours can be arranged by contacting the museum. More information is available at

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www.imhm.org and 317-635-7329. Indiana Medical History Museum, 3045 W. Vermont Street, Indianapolis. http://www.imhm.org/

Now Through October Public Garden Tours at the IMA The IMA gardens, which are renowned for their beauty and history, are the subject of these garden tours, which focus on the gardens around the main museum building and those of , an American Country Place estate recognized as a National Historic Landmark. The walk features stately mature trees and lawns plus many areas planted with a variety of garden species, both common and rare. Public tours are held Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 pm, April through October. Meet at the Horticultural Society Overlook just outside the Deer Zink Pavilion. Included with museum admission. Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis. www.imamuseum.org

Monday, October 2 Indianapolis Hosta Society The Symbiotic Relationship of Trees, Hostas, and Their Owners Hostas, trees, and people create an endless circle. Without one it is hard to have the other. This talk by Judd Scott, Consulting Arborist and President of Vine & Branch Inc., will focus on urban issues involving all three; looking at roots, shade, species selection, pests, and cool historical trees. Free and open to the public. 6:30 p.m., Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis. http://indianapolishostasociety.org/

Saturday, October 7 Herb Society of Central Indiana Herbie Kid Crafts for the Holidays Come out and make a memorable holiday season with the kids, ages 6 years and up. Fun herbal ideas to make during the holidays from Halloween to Christmas. Handouts and recipes. Goodies are provided. Reservations required, $5, limited seating. Call 317-327-7184. 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis. herbsocietyofcentralindiana.org

Saturday, October 7 Indiana Daylily-Iris Society Awards Banquet Japanese & Siberian Iris Presentation by John Coble, Ensata Gardens, Michigan. Lunch 12:00 noon; program 12:45 p.m.; Bravo Cucina Italiana, Willow Lake East, 2658 Lake Circle Drive, Indianapolis. www.indianadaylilyirissociety.org

Saturday, October 7 Hendricks County Master Gardeners Adventures in Gardening Seminar: Garden All Four Seasons Once the seasons change, there’s still plenty of garden fun to be had. Speakers will address Spring (Brent Heath of Brent & Becky’s Bulbs), Summer (Greg Marlett of Hard Way Farms, Martinsville), Autumn (Hoosier Gardener Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp), and Winter (Tess Park of the Conifer Society). The program includes two optional workshops on living flower arrangements with layers of bulbs led by Heath. Those who register for the workshops will take home a planter that they create. A silent auction and book sale will also take place. The seminar is open to the public, but pre-registration and payment of the $45 fee is required. The registration fee includes a winter-themed oatmeal buffet breakfast (7:30 to 9:00 a.m.), a summer-themed picnic lunch, and all materials. 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex, 1900 E. Main Street, Danville. To learn more or register visit www.HendricksGardeners.com.

Saturday, October 28 INPAWS 24th Annual Conference Aldo & Friends: Phenology, Biology, and Saving the World The Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society provides the knowhow to help Hoosiers appreciate, grow, study, and conserve Indiana’s native plants, with the aim of sustaining healthy ecosystems that support life. Keynote speaker Dr. Stanley Temple will show how Aldo Leopold’s meticulous phenological observations provide us with an unparalleled record of when plants bloomed, birds migrated, and other natural events; comparing his observations of hundreds of natural events to recent records helps us understand how climate change is affecting the ecological community. Doug

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Ladd will look at critical issues facing contemporary conservation, focusing on the increasing importance of citizen naturalists and organizations such as native plant societies. View the full program Between sessions visit the bookstore, vendor displays, silent auction, and native plant seed swap. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monroe Convention Center, Bloomington, Indiana. Discounts apply if registering by October 6. Register for the conference

Apply Now Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy Organized by Purdue University with support from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy gives participants the chance to engage in basic and advanced level watershed topics covering leadership principles, watershed science, organization and communication, technology and GIS, stakeholder involvement techniques and policy skills; meet, learn from, and build a network of peers; interact with topic experts; gain strategies, skills, and resources for successful watershed management; and earn a Professional Certificate in Watershed Management. Fee $700, due December 16, 2017, includes lodging and food for overnight and one-day workshops, plus all course materials. Training includes three face-to-face group sessions and distance learning, online (approximately 3-4 hrs/week). The Academy runs from January to May 2018. Specific workshop dates are January 17-18, April 4-5, and May 23. Purdue Continuing Education Units are available for an additional $15 fee. Register by November 3 at https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/academy.html. For more information contact Sara Peel, [email protected].

Healing Plants Herbal Studies at Hobbit Gardens Erth Gatherings Center Begin your journey with the healing plants, a journey of wonder and surprise, evolving our way of living on the earth, in community. Our apprentice “Herbal Studies” program will give you the knowledge and basis to create health and healing for yourself, your family, friends or expand into an herbal practice. You’ll discover a way to live a healthier, more whole life in which the decisions and choices that create our world come from within. The program begins in October 2017 and continues for one weekend in each of eight months, ending in July 2018. The weekends for 2017 are Oct 14-15/Nov 11-12/Jan 6-7/Feb 10-11/Mar 17-18/May 5-6/June 17-18/ July 21-22. A Certificate of Completion is awarded at the finish of the program. To register or get a copy of the syllabus, contact Constance Ferry at [email protected] or call 765-246-6315. hobbitgardens.blogspot.com.

Employment Opp The Nature Conservancy TNC seeks a Relations Education and Outreach Associate for its new Upper White River project. The hiring committee is looking for an individual with skills and experience in working with partners and government agencies, knowledgeable about a variety of conservation initiatives, both in agriculture and natural lands protection, and experience in coordinating outreach projects and work across teams and organizations to achieve optimal results. This position offers the opportunity to help protect and improve Indiana’s freshwater resources, improve our soil health, and protect and restore natural areas for people and nature through the development of education and outreach strategies for elected officials and decision makers in the Upper White River watershed that strongly aligns with the Conservancy’s global agenda. In doing so, they will serve as the principal contact with partners in joint education and outreach opportunities with elected decision makers. The position is posted online at http://www.nature.org/about-us/careers/careers-interactive- job-map.xml?ref=www.nature.org. Applications will be accepted until September 11, 2017.

Employment Opp Looking for a Few Good On-Call Science Instructors Do you enjoy the outdoors? Enjoy teaching others about the outdoors? Our instructors are involved in all aspects of pre K-12 programming in the EcoLab at Marian University, including field trips, STEM summer camp, distance learning programs, public programs, girl and boy scout badge programs, and more. To learn more about

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this opportunity, contact Janice Hicks Slaughter at [email protected] or 317-524-7701. All employment opportunities in the EcoLab can be found on our website.

Opt-In to Clean Energy An important choice is on the table for residents of Indiana that helps combat climate change and supports clean, renewable energy. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, anyone who pays a power bill can do it. There is nothing to install, there are no contracts, and your local utility still delivers reliable electricity. Simply log in to Arcadia Power and opt-in your local utility account. It takes just two minutes. When people are given a choice, they can move entire industries; you have a tool to do it.

Native Tree Sale Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District It’s time for the annual fall native tree sale, a great opportunity to obtain hearty, inexpensive native trees and shrubs that beautify neighborhoods, provide habitat for wildlife, produce energy-saving shade, and enhance communities. This year 35 varieties of native trees and shrubs are available. Trees provide many environmental benefits, from providing oxygen to energy conservation, from cooling shade to wildlife habitat. They increase property values and have even been shown to help build a sense of community in neighborhoods and increase shopping traffic in business areas. This tree sale focuses on species native to Indiana, species that have been growing in Indiana since before pioneer settlement. These types of trees are uniquely suited to our soils and weather but, most importantly, they are uniquely suited to support our wildlife, especially birds, insects, and other pollinators. All offerings are $26 each and will arrive in 3-gallon containers and be approximately 3 to 5 feet tall at delivery. Pre-orders are required and are due September 28. Trees can be picked up Friday, October 6, from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds Llama Barn. Order forms and online ordering are available at www.hamiltonswcd.org.

What To Do? Mosquito Control What if a truck drives through your neighborhood, spraying insecticide? A HortusScope reader called mosquito control with the Hamilton County Health Dept. and asked them what insecticide they use; it is called DeltaGard by Bayer. Her research shows it kills not only mosquitoes but also bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops or weeds. Although they spray at night, it seems likely that the spray will stick to the flowers and plants, so the next day, when the bees come to feed, they will in turn be poisoned. Our reader signed up online to receive texts as to when and where they will be spraying again. She will make sure windows are closed, as this product is also hazardous to humans. The driver can actually shut off the spray before getting to a specific house, though obviously the spray will drift. Concerned citizens can contact their county health department – mosquito control – and find out if they can take the same precautions.

Advocacy Opp Urge the Governor and the DNR: Don't Log 300 Acres of Pristine Backcountry Yellowwood Forest Hoosier Environmental Council advises us that the wild and rugged ridges, slopes, and ravines in Yellowwood State Forest are on the chopping block. According to plans posted by the Indiana DNR, roughly 300 acres will be logged in the Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood State Forest Backcountry Area, designated in 1981 as a primitive, wilderness-style recreation area. Since then, these areas now slated for timber harvests have not been logged—in fact, the most recent harvest in these areas was 50 years ago. What's more, part of the logging area is within the boundaries of the Ecoblitz, an intensive multi-year biological survey being undertaken by the Indiana Forest Alliance and partners including the Hoosier Environmental Council. The Ecoblitz survey has documented a high level of plant and animal diversity in the backcountry's mature hardwood forests, demonstrating the impressive biological value of protecting old growth forests. HEC urges you to call or email Governor Holcomb and DNR Director Cameron Clark today and ask them to halt these timber sales and instead commit to

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permanently protecting the wild backcountry areas in our state forests. Governor Holcomb: 317-232- 4567 or [email protected]; DNR Director Cam Clark: 317-232-4020 or [email protected].

Bird Hikes Eagle Creek Park: 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis. Every Sunday year-round, 9:00 a.m. Meet at the Ornithology Center. Information 317-327-2473. Beginning Bird Hikes at Cool Creek Park: 2000 East 151st Street, Carmel. 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m., and every other Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. Meet in the parking lot at the bottom of the road by Cool Creek, past the Nature Center. Information 317-774-2500 or www.myhamiltoncountyparks.com Strawtown Koteewi Park: 12308 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville. First Wednesday of each month, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Meet at the Taylor Center of Natural History. Information 317-774-2574 or www.myhamiltoncountyparks.com.

Garden Travel Spring Gardens of Virginia with Cole Burrell: Join Cole in his home city of Charlottesville to visit a stunning array of private gardens of friends and clients who are ready to welcome you into their cloistered sanctuaries. Tour the historic homes of presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, as well as the Academical Village of Jefferson’s University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historic Garden Week in Virginia offers additional opportunities to explore private estates only open for this unique event. April 19-25, 2018. Info and registration

Photo Notes It’s tomato time! These humongous specimens were gifted to me by gardening guru Bill McKnight. He obviously knows his stuff, and shares it in Rantings of a Mad Botanist: Comprehensive Guide to Gardening and Land Use Practices Emphasizing Central Indiana, available at select local garden centers. Chock full of useful information! https://www.themadbotanist.com/

HortusScope, an e-bulletin for the Central Indiana gardening community, is published the first of every month as a public service by Wendy Ford. To submit news items, add or update your e-mail address, or remove your name from the HortusScope e-mail list, please drop me a note at [email protected]. Your supporting donation gratefully accepted at 6911 Cabernet Way, Indianapolis, IN 46278, check made out to Wendy Ford.

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