#OTD in 1840, the Indiana Horticultural Society held its first meeting in Indianapolis at the new statehouse. According to a “Moment of Indiana History” program, attendees came from across the state with samples of fruit they had grown, such as the Bartlett pear, which was rare for the time.
Participants learned about fruit varieties being grown in other states. W.H. Ragan recalled his parents' departure to the first meeting, stating, "In August, 1840, I saw my father and mother, each well mounted, he with saddlebags filled to their uttermost capacity, and she with a good-sized bag swinging from the horn of her saddle, vanish from view into the wilderness that well nigh surrounded our cabin home, and for a period of almost or quite a week they were gone from us. On their return they had much to tell us about their visit to the great city and of the many things they saw and heard while gone."
The 1906 image of the Bartlett pear below is courtesy of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.
“From the time I can remember, we’d go out in the woods or pastures to pick plants for supper or to heal wounds. I didn’t even realize we did things that were considered ‘different’ until I was in college.”
Allen County resident Dani Tippmann grew up absorbing her Native American, Miami, heritage at her mother’s knee. When her own kids were in school, she saw how easy it was for Native Americans to be erased from history.
“My kids would come home and tell me their teacher said the Miami people left Fort Wayne in the 1800s, and that made me even more passionate about making our culture known,” Tippmann says. “Our people have a past, but we are of the present, and we’re going into the future. The Miami people are here in this Fort Wayne community.”
Today, Tippmann is one of five Allen County Folklife Scholars who are part of the Allen County Folklife Study focused on honoring, sharing, and preserving their cultural heritage through the arts. The study is made possible by a partnership between Traditional Arts Indiana and @artsunitedgfw, as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (@neaarts). It began in Spring 2022 with the contracting of five Folklife Scholars like Tippmann who are members of different cultures, including Black/African American, Burmese, Indian, Latinx, and Native American.
At Arts United's 2022 Taste of the Arts Festival (@tastefortwayne) on Aug. 27, the public will have an opportunity to meet these scholars and experience their stories, traditions, dances, food, and more. Learn more on the link in our bio. by Charlotte Ewing
“Where can I find scholarly journals and other sources on the history of #gardens and #gardening in America?”
See the answer to our #QuestionoftheWeek on #HistoryHub, our crowdsourced platform for history and genealogical research where anyone can ask questions and get answers from archivists and other community members.
This is a Public Group devoted to discussion of Indiana native plants. It is sponsored by the Indiana Native Plant Society, whose mission is to promote the appreciation, preservation, scientific study, and use of plants native to Indiana; and to teach people about their beauty, diversity, and importance to our environment.
We come from all parts of the state, and share a love of wildflowers and an appreciation of the importance of their habitats. We are a diverse mix that includes naturalists, gardeners, environmentalists, botanists, artists, photographers, etc. We are volunteer-led, and we look forward to YOU becoming a member of the Indiana Native Plant Society! Learn more at indiananativeplants.org - Indiana Native Plant Society
Note that any photos posted in this group may be used by INPS for educational purposes.
This database tool will help you choose garden-worthy Indiana native plants that fit your site and support pollinators.
🥲🌱🌷 - [Image Description: A quote to by Robin Wall Kimmerer from her book Braiding Sweetgrass that says, “in some native languages the term for plants translates to those who take care of us.”]
[Image Description:
A quote to by Robin Wall Kimmerer from her book Braiding Sweetgrass that says, “in some native languages the term for plants translates to those who take care of us.”]
"IN SOME NATIVE LANGUAGES the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’” So writes Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. A mother, member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, botanist and environmental biology professor, Kimmerer is renowned for her deeply personal wisdom about the human connection to Earth. Copied from Editor's Note The healing art of gardening Lisa Moore, Editorial Director Conservation Apr 01, 2022 National Wildlife Federation.
Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park in Steuben County, Indiana is named for the Potawatomi Indians who lived in the area before European settlement forced their removal in the 1838 Potatwatomi Trail of Death to Osawatomie, Kansas.
Potawatomi groups moved around a lot in early historic times. In the early 18th century, some groups of Potawatomis lived along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and along the Michigan-Indiana border. Thus, they occupied areas in extreme northern Indiana such as in the St. Joseph and Elkhart River drainages. In the 1770s, Potawatomi groups began moving as far south as the Wabash River, ranging over the northern part of the state. They also lived along the Kankakee and Calumet rivers. In 1838, the Potawatomis were removed from the state. Today, some Potawatomis continue to live in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Copied from Historical Indians of Indiana For Young Readers at Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The Potawatomi Trail of Death was the forced removal by militia in 1838 of about 859 members of the Potawatomi nation from Indiana to reservation lands in what is now eastern Kansas. The march began at Twin Lakes, Indiana (Myers Lake and Cook Lake, near Plymouth, Indiana) on November 4, 1838, along the western bank of the Osage River, ending near present-day Osawatomie, Kansas. During the journey of approximately 660 miles (1,060 km) over 61 days, more than 40 people died, most of them children. It was the single largest Indian removal in Indiana history. Copied from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
I get asked a lot about how to figure out what species are native to your area. So I wanted to share resources for...
I get asked a lot about how to figure out what species are native to your area.
So I wanted to share resources for folks in the USA (some also apply to Canada)
The National Wildlife Federation has an excellent tool called the Native Plant Finder. It shows you what native species support the most wildlife in your zip code - these are called “keystone” species. https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/
BONAP’s North American Plant Atlas has a prolific database of range maps for species in the US and Canada listed by botanical name https://bonap.net/Napa/
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s website has a search tool where you can input your state or province, growing conditions, and other descriptors like bloom time, height, lifespan, etc., and search their database for plant species that meet your criteria. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/
Wild Ones is another organization that advocates for native plants and has chapters in most US states. Find your local chapter here: https://wildones.org/chapters/
If you’re plant shopping and not sure where a species is from, do a quick google of “(species name) native range” Always use the botanical name because common names can apply to multiple species. I don’t recommend buying plants that aren’t labeled with the botanical name unless you’re 100% sure you know what it is.
iNaturalist can help you identify plants that you’re unsure of what they are. You can also browse what’s been seen in your area, check a species’ status as native or introduced, etc. www.inaturalist.org
Some may question what do Wildlife and Plants have to do with genealogy research? It can be argued that without the agricultural revolution starting in the 19th century that allowed one farmer to produce more food, animal, and plant products on his land than his family needed and the industrial manufacturing revolution of the 20th century that allowed more people to make a better living away from the farm we would not have the luxury of researching our family history online in the 21st century. We might still be growing plants and animals for our own food and clothing for survival instead.
Some "garden hints" from 1927! These fun illustrations were published in newspapers across the U.S. that summer. See...
Some "garden hints" from 1927! These fun illustrations were published in newspapers across the U.S. that summer.
See this clipping in the Grand Island Independent on our site: Garden Hints, 1927 The Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, Nebraska, Friday, June 10, 1927, Page 6
Color prints from a rare, 18th century coloring book for #BotanicMonday! "The Florist" (1760) has recently been...
"The Flortist" was printed in London in 1760 by Robert Sayer. It was specifically created as a coloring book and includes instructions for “drawing and painting according to nature.” Sayer wrote that it was a “new work intended for the use & amusement of gentlemen and ladies delighting in that art.”
The book is extremely rare, with fewer than 10 copies known to be held in libraries, and most of those are in Europe. The Missouri Botanical Garden's copy is particularly rare because none of the pages have been colored.
During warmer months, we spend much more time in nature. We sent a handful of poisonous plant questions to expert James Wolff with Purdue Extension - Allen County, so we could all be a little more prepared.
During warmer months, we spend much more time in nature. We sent a handful of poisonous plant questions to expert James Wolff with Purdue Extension - Allen County, so we could all be a little more prepared.
The most common plants that can cause adverse reactions to the skin if contacted are poison ivy, poison sumac and poison hemlock. Poison hemlock is becoming an increasingly common weed in the area.
Happy National Pollinator Week! Did you know that Indiana is home to many pollinators including 430 species of bees, 144...
Happy National Pollinator Week! Did you know that Indiana is home to many pollinators including 430 species of bees, 144 species of butterflies, more than 1,000 species of moths, as well as flower-visiting flies, wasps, ants, beetles, and birds?
Want to learn more about pollinators in Indiana? Visit 'Pollinator' Events and attend one of the many pollinator themed events taking place at DNR properties this week!
Red admiral butterfly on Miami mist at Turkey Run State Park
On lot 109 Calhoun street adjoining the Sentinel building, and Calhoun and Washington streets listing various trees, shrubs, evergreens, and other plants using variations of modern scientific names. Don't see a name for the business or owner.
How to find out if something is native, a refresher! So a while back when I was still learning, someone (maybe Ellen Jacquart) shared a link not only to BONAP, but directly to their Query Page, where it is easy to search for a species distribution map based on the scientific name. I have since saved this link in my bookmarks and use it often! http://bonap.net/tdc...
Here are two comparisons between a native and an exotic species in BONAP (native Pineapple Weed and nonnative Wild Chamomile which came up on a recent post), along with the color key! Note that sometimes a species in green since it is native to North America, but in a particular state it will be color TEAL, for adventive, ie. not historically native to that area.
Botanists and other experts please chime in with any other tips, tricks, and thoughts you have about using BONAP.
[ BONAP The Biota of North America Program North American Vascular Flora ]
In the 20th century cemeteries used to have water spigots for watering plants. Lindenwood Cemetery used to have them too, have they been removed?
German names can be found in almost every cemetery in Indiana; every county has thousands of gravestones of persons with German heritage. Friendship Methodist Church Cemetery, in Samaria, (left photo) and St. Ferdinand Catholic Cemetery, in Ferdinand, contain good examples (right photos). Some gravestones are written in German or indicate a German place of birth. Some cemeteries and markers contain only hints of German heritage. Planting yucca to keep souls in the ground is a folk tradition from Germany and Northern Europe which came with immigrants as they settled southern Indiana. The shape or material of a marker can indicate heritage, such as wrought iron crosses, which are often found in Catholic German cemeteries. For more information on these and other historic places visit our online database at on.IN.gov/shaard.
"In the wild, every square inch of soil is covered with a mosaic of interlocking plants, but in our gardens, we arrange plants as individual objects in a sea of mulch. We place them in solitary confinement."
Instead we should look at our native plants as "social creatures. Our garden plants evolved as members of diverse social networks."
Take Butterflyweed, for example. Its flowers are the same height of the grasses it grows amongst. "Its narrow leaves hug its stems to efficiently emerge through a crowded mix. It has a taproot that drills through the fibrous roots of grasses. Everything about that plant is a reaction to its social network."
Jeffries Cemetery is in neighboring Whitley County near Churubusco not far from Eel River Cemetery here in Allen County. It was on the farm where the website coordinator's mother grew up in the 1930s. The photo shows several native plants some call wildflowers, others call them weeds. White flowers are probably spring beauties. The yellow flowers will be identified at a later time. It has been cleaned up so likely no longer looks like this.
Jeffries Cemetery is located on 300N, just west of 825E in Churubusco. Jefferies Cemetery has just under 70 graves....
Jeffries Cemetery is located on 300N, just west of 825E in Churubusco. Jefferies Cemetery has just under 70 graves. History tells us that this cemetery holds black and Indian graves from the 1800’s.
We will begin an initial cleanup this month and again in June. If you would like to volunteer please let us know.
Stay tuned for that cleanup date!
If you would like to donate to this project you can send checks to the
Community Foundation of Whitley County, 400 N. Whitley St. Columbia City, IN. 46725. Attention: Concord/Jefferies Cemetery.
36-page Fort Wayne Plant List with photos and information by the City of Fort Wayne. Native plant species are recommended over exotic foreign species because they are well adapted to local climate conditions. This will result in less replacement and maintenance, while supporting the local ecology.
Milksickness was a deadly illiness for early pioneers taking the life of Nancy Hanks Lincoln October 5, 1818 in Spencer County, Indiana, mother of future President Abraham Lincoln. See our 1818 Timeline.
The Weed Program was developed to protect the public safety, health and welfare and enhance the environment of the City of Fort Wayne by eliminating tall grass, high weeds and other noxious vegetation (including poison ivy). Per the City's Ordinance (Chapter 100: Nuisances), a violation exists when the grass exceeds nine (9) inches or there is other poisonous vegetation on the property. [ CHAPTER 100: NUISANCES at American Legal Publishing ]
Neighborhood Code Compliance's Weed Program is both proactive and reactive in its enforcement. Complaints come through the 311 Call Center, and the Weed Inspectors are responsible for canvasing their specific territory. Once a yard is deemed to be in violation, a placard is placed in the yard, and a letter to abate is sent to the owner of record. Property owners then have five (5) days to correct the violation. If grass, weeds, or noxious vegetation are not removed within that timeframe, the City's mowing contractors will cut the lawn and/or remove the noxious vegetation, and subsequently, the owner will be charged for the cost of the mowing which will include an administrative fee. If the mowing invoice is not paid within 30 days, a lien will be placed on the property.
Are you celebrating #EarthDay by gardening? Here are some tips to keep habitats healthy for overwintering native species and pollinators.
Pioneer families often brought plants and animals from their home countries for various reasons whether food sources or memories not realizing they were going to cause future problems with the native wildlife already here.
You may know many of the 126 plants currently listed as "officially invasive" in Indiana, but do you know the history of...
You may know many of the 126 plants currently listed as "officially invasive" in Indiana, but do you know the history of their arrival?
In this program, Amanda Smith and Steve Sass of Indiana Nature LLC will take a historical journey from European settlement to the current day tracing how these species found their way to the United States. The program will reflect upon the historical factors that contributed to their arrival and examine the lessons learned and unlearned.
You may know many of the 126 plants currently listed as “officially invasive” in Indiana, but do you know the history of their arrival? In this program, Steve Sass and Amanda Smith take a historical journey from European settlement to the current day, tracing how these species found their way to the United States, reflecting upon the historical factors that contributed to their arrival, and examining the lessons learned and unlearned.
INPS: Our Community November 11, 2023 Indiana Native Plant Society on YouTube
We bring together interesting people from all walks of life, experts and novices, to collaborate on programs and activities advancing our mission. Many a lasting friendship has been formed while engaging with the Indiana Native Plant Society. We invite you to join in the fun.
Flax was grown to make cloth
We will soon begin planting this years' flax crop. Our little batch last year turned out nicely. We are expanding from...
We will soon begin planting this years' flax crop. Our little batch last year turned out nicely. We are expanding from an app. 3 x 3 foot area to 12 x 12 foot this year. There is reference to the Johnston's growing flax in Ireland, as well as in the United States. Noted in one of Mr. Johnston's list are the following items: 3 ten cut hank, flax yarn, 2 cuts in one, and 1 eight cut hank flax tied in same way
[ comments indicate a 12x12 area might make a hanky size cloth. Another say a 20x20 plot is enough cloth to make a shirt. ]
An interesting article on flax from the Piqua Gazette Newspaper of 1823. 🎋🎋🎋 #historicgarden #historicgardening...
Two species of wild strawberry occur widely across North America: Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is associated with meadows and open areas, while Woodland Strawberry (F. vesca) is more typically found in forested habitats. The Virginia Strawberry is one of the two wild strawberry species that were crossed to eventually create the domesticated strawberry we know and love today (the other is a species from Chile, and the actual hybridization was done in France). Wild strawberries are significantly smaller than their domesticated cousins, but are often considerably sweeter. They reproduce by both seed and runner, the latter often resulting in large strawberry patches.
[Photo by Leah Grunzke (Occidental Botanist) on Flickr; CC-licensed]
Most of our food plants are not native to our area, while some will grow here, most commercial production is located elsewhere.
A common roadside "weed"Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota is also called wild carrot because this is the European plant that cultivated carrots were developed from. It was brought to North America with the colonists as a medicinal plant and is now naturalized throughout the continent. See Queen Anne's Lace, Daucus carota at Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension
Guest: Ricky Kemery (Retired Purdue Horticulture Extension Educator). This area’s only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime airs Fridays at 7:30pm. This program is hosted by PBS Fort Wayne’s President/General Manager Bruce Haines.
Sweete April showers, Forgotten month past,
Doo spring Maie flowers. Doe now at the last.
In Cambridge shire forward to Lincolne shire way,
the champion maketh his fallow in May.
Then thinking so dooing one tillage woorth twaine,
by forcing of weede, by that meanes to refraine.
"In the wild, every square inch of soil is covered with a mosaic of interlocking plants, but in our gardens, we arrange...
"In the wild, every square inch of soil is covered with a mosaic of interlocking plants, but in our gardens, we arrange plants as individual objects in a sea of mulch. We place them in solitary confinement."
Instead we should look at our native plants as "social creatures. Our garden plants evolved as members of diverse social networks."
Take Butterflyweed, for example. Its flowers are the same height of the grasses it grows amongst. "Its narrow leaves hug its stems to efficiently emerge through a crowded mix. It has a taproot that drills through the fibrous roots of grasses. Everything about that plant is a reaction to its social network."
Put on your gardening gloves, dig into the soil, and become a steward of the land by growing native Indiana plants!
Our state has a rich natural history, so restoring your yard into a haven for native plants is a fantastic way to honor that history while creating a better habitat for the future. The biodiversity of native plants will attract many of your favorite pollinators, enrich your yard, and revitalize Indiana native wildlife.
#OnThisDay in 1739, William Bartram was born in Philadelphia. The younger Bartram was a botanist, explorer, and ornithologist.
Pictured here is an excerpt from Bartram’s Pharmacoepia, his notebook of pharmaceutical recipes to treat various ailments. View more of his recipes here: William Bartram Pharmacoepia.
Lindenwood Nature Preserve, 600 Lindenwood Avenue, is on the west side of Lindenwood Cemetery just across the road. It is a 110-acre wooded park featuring four hiking trails of varying lengths (one is wheelchair and stroller accessible) and a pond that allows visitors to see what the cemetery grounds and a lot of Allen County looked like when the cemetery opened in 1859.
Today is a beautiful day to come out and see some spring wildflowers at Lindenwood Nature Preserve. Lots of our wildlife are enjoying the pleasant temperatures as well!
Today is a beautiful day to come out and see some spring wildflowers at Lindenwood Nature Preserve. Lots of our wildlife are enjoying the pleasant temperatures as well!
We have all seen those clumps of daffodils that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Well maybe it is "nowhere"...
We have all seen those clumps of daffodils that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Well maybe it is "nowhere" now, but that wasn't always the case.
This is an interesting short article on how the particular cultivar of daffodil can provide historical information on when it may have been planted and by whom.
'Blooms and Borders: How Daffodils Reveal Historic Buildings Foundations' via Southern Rambles, an outreach initiative of the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP) at Middle Tennessee State University.
A key paragraph from the article referring to the Southeast is:
According to the American Daffodil Society, there are now more than 40 species of daffodils and more than 20,000 registered cultivars. N. pseudonarcissus and N. incomparabilis are two of the popular cultivars planted in the Southeast (see William C. Welch, Heirloom Gardening in the South : Yesterday’s Plants for Today’s Gardens, 2011, pp. 352-4). Because there is a register of cultivars, we can narrow down the time frame of a building’s construction through the presence of daffodils. Daffodils can also mark the presence of graves when the tombstones have fallen and the slow accumulation of dirt covers them as the decade pass.
Daffodils are not native plants and rarely produce seed on their own. Daffodil pollen is too heavy to be windblown, and there isn’t nectar to attract pollinating insects. Copied from Do Daffodils Spread? Brent & Becky's Admin March 27, 2019 on The Bulb Blog. So when they are found growing in undeveloped or formerly occupied overgrown places the presence of daffodils most likely indicates previous human activity.
After the establishment of the Virginia Company in 1606 and the settlement of Jamestown colony in 1609, daffodil bulbs were transported by sailing ships from Britain to America, often by women colonists who brought them along as a reminder of home. The bulbs adapted readily to the climate and conditions of the Virginia Tidewater region, and particularly the area known as the Middle Peninsula, which includes Gloucester and Mathews counties. I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils
—William Wadsworth, published 1807
Caption of a historic marker in Gloucester, Virginia on Main Street: In his famous poem Wordsworth could have been referring to Gloucester and Mathews Counties, Virginia, where by the 1800's naturalized and planted daffodils bloomed Copied from Daffodils Arrived Here With the Colonists Marker
in abundance each Spring. Copied from Daffodils Arrived Here With the Colonists
History of the Daffodil in Gloucester County on The Historical Marker Datatbase HMdb.org
Allen County Advanced Purdue Extension Master Gardener Bethany Beebe recently shared a look at the history of Victory Gardens and their relevance to today. Enjoy!
Blessed with a load of groceries to put away, I wondered if I had shopped in present-tense Fort Wayne or left the set of a science-fiction movie. Mask-clad and waiting in line to enter, I was fortunate to find what I needed. The new era of COVID-19 is offering us hints of history repeating itself in a whole new context.
This is not the first time in modern history that a large-scale event has caused a call to arms. Armed with weapons that leave weeds and soil clods battle-torn, we can follow in the footsteps of our predecessors, benefiting the wellness of individuals—and our economy as a whole. “By examining how farmers and Extension specialists worked together to overcome these challenges in the past, we may be able to come up with solutions for our future,” Purdue Extension reports, summarizing a book by Fred Whitford, clinical engagement professor and Purdue Pesticides Program director (1). Several key events give us examples of social and functional growth in gardens, cared for by individuals under societal stresses.
World War I and Flu
With 500 million worldwide cases and about 10% of those dying during the flu pandemic of 1918, the American garden machine had just been motivated by World War I (2, 3). The United States became the world leader of seed sales as Woodrow Wilson encouraged the country to plant gardens as an opportunity to fight the war effort—both militarily and with domestic agriculture (2).
World War II
Begun with the victory garden movement of World War I, an estimated 20 million gardens offered, at the peak, around 40% of the vegetables consumed during the Second World War (2, 4). Among those growing the huge quantity of produce were members of the WLA, or Women’s Land Army. In both urban and rural settings, these women stepped in to do agrarian work for the approximately 3 million men who had either left to fight or enter industry relating to the War effort (2).
More modern history and today
Reports of modern victory gardens for battling the Coronavirus have already begun to emerge. Amateurs who know nothing of raised beds, seeds, and soil have started contacting those in the know for information and supplies to start a garden themselves in anticipation of possible food shortages (4). Local cases like this are ideal times for Extension Master Gardeners to use our bountiful access to Extension knowledge to help the public prepare and enjoy the garden of modernity.
Master Gardeners enter that call to arms in a climate primed by national leaders. Michelle Obama planted a garden on the South Lawn of the White House, fighting the war on obesity. With examples like a Federal Government-led school gardening program during World War I that encouraged the growth of $48 million in vegetables by school children (not adjusted for inflation), pioneers like Alice Walker encourage school gardens now (2).
A Government publication bolsters the rallying cry of the MG, encouraging us to “maintain and improve the morale and spiritual well-being of the individual, family, and Nation” with gardens. “The beautification of the home and community by gardening provides healthful physical exercise, recreation, definite release from … stress and strain” (5). From a Federally published 1942 guide to planning a victory garden, the same results can happen today with the help of Purdue Extension Master Gardeners.
Have you ever heard the popping sound when walking near a patch of Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) during the fall time?...
Have you ever heard the popping sound when walking near a patch of Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) during the fall time? If so, you were witnessing the ballichorous dispersal of the Wild Petunia's seed. Ballichory, or ballistic, dispersal of the plant's seeds is when the seeds are actively or passively catapulted away from the plant.
Several colorful flowering plants that grow tall enough to hide outhouses have been called outhouse flowers. They allowed users to ask where those particular flowers were located rather than ask to use the outhouse. See Outhouses on our Diseases page.
Alcea rosea, outhouse hollyhocks were tall enough to hide outhouses, and also as a signal to guests to discretely ask where were the hollyhock were located to use the outhouse. Some seed companies sell them as Outhouse Hollyhocks.
Hemerocallis fulvaDitch Lilies are better known as ditch lilies, railroad lilies, tiger lilies, outhouse lilies, and wash-house lilies from the National Garden Clubs. Although ditch lilies, genus Hemerocallis, are not related to true lilies, genus Lilium, their name is attained from the similarity of the flower’s morphology. Like other daylilies, their flower lasts only one day, with each flower opening in sequence. Ditch lilies, unlike hybrid daylilies, may have as many as twenty buds on a single stem. The dense display of orange begins in early summer and ends in late autumn. See our Ditch Lily section.
Rudbeckia laciniata hortensia a tall native plant with bright yellow flowers is sometimes known as the outhouse flower, shithouse daisy, goldendrop, goldenglow, cutleaf coneflower (or just cutleaf), green-headed coneflower, tall coneflower, sochan and thimbleweed, is in the aster family, asteraceae.
Since it’s an unofficial lilac day, here’s our story on early America’s use of the plant…and why you see them near old farmhouses.
"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" is a long-form poem by Walt Whitman, written as a response to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Considered one of the greatest American poems, it explores themes of grief, loss, and the ongoing cycle of life and death.
Plant News
It's mowing season! Every year INDOT crews mow hundreds of miles of land. That's a big task! INDOT utilizes a remote controlled mower in order to improve spot mowing and make harder to reach areas safer for our crews.
America's First Urban Agrihood Free Food from Neighborhood Gardens
How 3 acres feeds 2000 homes, in America's first agrihood! Jul 11, 2022 Leaf of Lifeon YouTube.
#greencity Detroit the largest city in Michigan and has suffered a long period of economic decline with tens of thousands of abandoned buildings and empty commercial lots. It is also considered one of the unhealthiest cities in America due to food insecurity and the inability to find affordable nutritious foods. Since 2020 ten full-service grocery stores have shut down. This means for many inhabitants there is no access to fresh food.
A 2017 report from the Detroit Food Policy Council stated that 30,000 people don’t have access to a full-line grocer. As a result Detroit has been described as a food desert. The U.S Department of Agriculture considers a food desert an urban area with no ready access to a store selling fresh and nutritious produce within one mile. Food deserts have been a growing problem and it’s estimated there are more than 23.5 million Americans living in food deserts with more than half of them on low-incomes and living in impoverished areas, these households may not have access to a car and with limited or no fresh grocery store near to their home they are unable to access healthy and nutritious food which has a lifelong impact on health.
However Detroit is starting turn this around by transforming abandoned spaces into urban farms providing free organic food to local communities. This can be considered a major accomplishment for any city especially Detroit where more than 550,000 residents live in areas defined as food deserts. In this video we will show you how the heart of Detroit city is turning into a farmland oasis.
NIPSCO is dedicated to protecting pollinators like bees and butterflies across the hundreds of miles of Rights of Way we...
NIPSCO is dedicated to protecting pollinators like bees and butterflies across the hundreds of miles of Rights of Way we service across northern #Indiana. Our land management practices promote safe habitats for these vital creatures through conservation mowing, targeted species control and native plant reintroduction.
Pollinators are essential to our environment because they:
- Pollinate 75% to 95% of flowering plants
- Are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat
- Support healthy ecosystems that clean the air and stabilize soils, protecting them from severe weather
- Promote biodiversity
At our #MerrillvilleIndiana headquarters, we’ve developed a pollinator habitat around our solar panels. We’ve also forged partnerships with community organizations for pollinator habitat restoration efforts and the planting of thousands of trees in northern Indiana.
We’re proud to support wildlife and pollinator species.
We’re delighted to share that one of our Lincoln Village resident gardeners was just named the winner of the 2024 Landscape Beautification award, an honor given by the Fort Wayne chapter of Gardeners of America. You may have noticed Beth Peter’s exuberant garden brimming with sunflowers; it's near the corner of Stand Ridge Run and Newberry Drive at the north entrance to Lincoln Village.
Beth began developing her garden six years ago, and it’s been a work in progress ever since. She focused on one bed at a time, she tells us, adding various features along the way, such as a small frog pond. Over time, Beth has developed a system of companion planting that works well—weaving flowers and herbs in among her vegetable plants.
A key focus for Beth are caterpillars: “It’s all about giving the birds what they need to feed their babies,” she says. As a result, she primarily chooses plants native to Indiana, which feed native insects, which turn support wildlife--and the food web that supports people.
Beth often puts out bouquets of flowers from her garden, free to passersby. If vases are later returned, she puts them back into circulation, bringing beauty to more people.
Take a stroll down Stand Ridge and admire Beth’s exceptional garden. Lots of great ideas there for your own landscaping! And if you see Beth out tending her garden, tell her congratulations on her award!
by Charlotte Ewing
The National Wildlife Federation has an excellent tool called the Native Plant Finder. It shows you what native species support the most wildlife in your zip code - these are called “keystone” species. 
BONAP’s North American Plant Atlas has a prolific database of range maps for species in the US and Canada listed by botanical name 
iNaturalist can help you identify plants that you’re unsure of what they are. You can also browse what’s been seen in your area, check a species’ status as native or introduced, etc. 
NIPSCO Merrillville Headquarters