Events

Review December 2021 Minutes; Treasurer's Report; 2021 State of the Chapter report; Greenhouse Orientation; Plant Sale & Symposium Discussion; February Board Meeting announcement-Main topic: 2022 Responsibilities & Goals. 

Greenhouse Orientation for all members. Will focus on best practices, and scheduling.

bump up and maintain plants for sale in May. Continue maintaining leftover plants throughout the year. 

Join us for a virtual Winter Sowing workshop on Zoom. Learn a great method for starting hundreds of native seedlings in a tiny space. Winter Sowing is a great alternative to growing them inside your home and is best for native seeds that benefit from a cold period (cold stratification). This method takes advantage of the natural temperatures and day length to naturally stimulate germination. Seed collection will also be covered in this workshop. 

** Start collecting 1-gallon jugs and potting soil now. A good well-draining, soilless mix that does not contain water-holding polymers or fertilizer is best and is challenging to find in January and February ** 

Treasurer's Report; website updates & membership retention; symposium decisions; volunteer/card swiper; plat sale planning; community projects update; Briar Ridge Woods update; open floor.

Native plants are hardened, adapted, and freed our ecology.  From a windowsill or acreage, Oakley will address common difficulties and introduce new ideas on to help incorporate your favorite natives to any available space.  Some issues to be highlighted include water erosion, dry sandy soils, and areas of heavy clay with poor drainage   Hugelkultur will be highlighted as one practice, along with a variety of plants that may fit your needs-including: Butterfly Milkweed, Cardinal Flower, Stiff Goldenrod, and Wild Bergamot.

Oakley Molinaro is a student Arborist and Naturalist.  He previously worked a garden program for therapy and environmental education and is currently working in tree healthcare.

Welcome; Treasurer's Report; Minutes; Symposium Update; website update; community projects update; garden walk; extensive plant sale discussion.

Few sights are more of a delight to behold than the Midwestern forest floor in early Spring.  Even before the snow begins to melt, the race is on for our native woodland flowers.  Within a period of only a few weeks or less, they must employ specialized adaptations to maximize sunlight and reproduction before the tree canopy closes.

Come along with Amanda & Steve as we take you on a seasonal journey through the flora.  Along the way, we'll take closer look and explore their physiology, life strategies and folklore favorite locations to see them and provide tips on incorporating some of them into our home gardens.

An outdoor event, rain or shine.  Over 100 species of flowers, grasses, sedges, & shrubs; including prairie, wetland, shade, & woodland.

Welcome; Treasurer's Report; Review Minutes; Plant Sale Review; Discuss the years projects & summer activities.

*Dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair and beverage .

Seed collecting is a fascinating skill to learn.  Collecting seeds helps you start new plants for free, protects diversity & affords you gifts for friends, family and community plantings.  remember never to collect where you do not have permission. 

Welcome; treasurer's report; review minutes; plant sale review; symposium update.

3 Speakers; beverages; boxed lunch; silent auction & door prizes; book sale.

Welcome new members; review minutes; treasurer's report; future newsletters; review symposium; 2023 preliminary planning.

Please bring native plants and seeds in labeled bags/pots.

Ezekiel Flannery will present an introduction to some of the native Wild edible plants of Northwest Indiana.  We will explore how these native plants form a central part of the local Native American cultures, including the Potawatomi and the Miami.  Participants  will learn some of the beliefs and best practices that indigenous people use when havesting Wild edible s and medicinals to ensure the sustainability of our ecosystems for future generations.

Welcome new members; Review Minutes; Treasurer's Report;

Enjoy the delights of tallgrass prairies in winter through this interactive program.  Relax as you view lovely photography of  the snow-covered prairie and hear stories of how animals, pollinators, and birds use the prairie or overwintering.  Then listen to prairie readings that will spark your creativity and warm your soul.

Craft, book sale, seed swap

Business Meeting •  Welcome new members •  Treasurer's /Symposium Reports •  Review of Minutes •  2023 Officer Election •  CISMA information presented by Rebecca Koetz •  Community Projects for 2023 •  Update on this year's donations •  Greenhouse/Plant sale updates •  Reminder about SOTCR coming up in December/January. •  Upcoming Meetings & Events Meeting Adjourned