Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Marion County Master Gardener Association

The Marion County Master Gardener Association educates and empowers the community through gardening knowledge, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering a love for horticulture to enhance the environment and improve quality of life.

2026 MCMGA Evening Meeting

Marion County Master Gardener Association 2027 Spring Garden Clinic Welcome to the Spring Garden Clinic 2027. We are excited to have you join us at our new location - Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center on February 7, 2027 at 8:30 AM (Eastern Time). This location puts our Spring Garden Clinic closer to the center of Indianapolis and very easy to get to. The additional space of the conference center will make getting around easier. Get ready to learn about all things spring gardening in a fun and interactive environment. Whether you&#39;re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for you. 13 noted speakers will present 12 different topics. There will be 4 sessions that you can attend listening to those topics that you are interested in. Don&#39;t miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow garden enthusiasts and expand your knowledge. Following is the speakers agenda for the day. &nbsp;Four sessions with three topics each. &nbsp;When you register, you will have an opportunity to select 1 topic from each session to attend. You will also have a chance to select your meal for lunch. 9:30&mdash;10:30 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Session 1 John Bonkowski &ldquo;Purdue PPDL 2025 Sample Update: Disease Problems and Management&rdquo;We will walk through 2025 sample cases observed at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic lab and discuss how to diagnose the cause and what management options are available. &nbsp;The focus will be on ornamental plants grown in or for the landscape, but we will also cover some garden vegetables. Jayde Grisham &ldquo;Adventures in Seed Starting&rdquo;With a little plant science, learn how to stretch your growing season, your dollars, and your options with a variety of seed starting techniques. Can Jayde grow &nbsp; &nbsp; 2,250 transplants in her home office before June? Roger Hedge &ldquo;Indiana Ferns&rdquo;Learn about Roger&#39;s fascination with Indiana&#39;s approximately 80 species of ferns. &nbsp;If you have ever accompanied Roger on one of his DNR, Nature Preserves hikes, you know you are in for a treat! &nbsp; Varied leaf shapes and patterns make up for a lack of showy, colorful flowers. &nbsp;Indiana&#39;s impressive diversity of fern species can be attributed to the variety of habitats and natural communities found throughout our state, where Roger during his presentation will take you on a tour of these special natural areas that include among other sites, forests, swamps, and rocky cliffs. &nbsp; Some ferns can add a lovely texture and be grown in your own landscape. 10:45&mdash;11:45 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Session 2 Scott Namestnik &ldquo;Indiana&rsquo;s Endangered and Threatened Species: What Makes Our Rare Plants Rare&rdquo;Our state botanist, Scott Namestnik, will share factors leading to including plants on our endangered and threatened species list. &nbsp;More than 400 vascular plant species are listed as state endangered or threatened in Indiana. &nbsp;Although some rare plants are considered rare due to several common contributing factors, not all rare plants are necessarily rare for the same reasons. &nbsp;Some of our rare plants are truly rare globally, whereas others are surprisingly common outside of Indiana but are critically imperiled within our political boundaries. Karen Mitchell &ldquo;What If a Tree Falls in Your Garden&rdquo;Oh, no, a big tree fell in my yard! &nbsp;What was once a shady spot is now all sunshine.How do I re-purpose this location to another type of gardening? &nbsp;A perennial garden?A cutting garden? &nbsp;Vegetables? &nbsp;What are my options? &nbsp;Karen has suggestions! Steve Mayer &ldquo;Raised-Bed Gardening: Fresh Ideas&rdquo;Our Marion County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden has been an award-winning model of gardening examples for several years thanks to Steve Mayer and other Master Gardeners. Raised-bed gardening is one of the many gardening methods tested. &nbsp;Now that some of the raised beds are ready for replacement, find out what was learned in the process and what is recommended as current options for raised-bed gardening. 11:50 a.m.&mdash;12:40 p.m. &nbsp;Lunch, Ballroom 212, catered by Juniper Spoon(List lunch choices here) 12:45&mdash;1:45 &nbsp;Session 3 Amanda Smith &amp; Steve Sass &ldquo;Landscaping for Lepidoptera: Creating habitat for moth and butterflies in your yard&rdquo;Join Indiana Nature LLC&#39;s founders, Steve Sass and Amanda Smith, as they present about Indiana&#39;s rich biodiversity of Lepidoptera and how planting with purpose in home landscapes allows homeowners the ability to support their life cycles. &nbsp;The right native plant species will support butterflies and moths from egg to eclosing adult, allowing the opportunity to marvel and learn about these amazing insects. &nbsp;Our presenters will also share information about their statewide community project, the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAINLP), where users can share their sightings, learn more about their lifecycle, which plants support them, and population demographics. Dawn Slack &ldquo;Native Food Farm: Growing &amp; Eating Local and In-Season&rdquo; Imagine having a 200-year-old family farm with invasive plants. &nbsp;Let the transformation begin! &nbsp;This Wayne County farm has recently been re-purposed to a native food farm growing fruits, herbs and vegetables + opening a seasonal food stand/restaurant. &nbsp;Learn the process for this transformative accomplishment. Kevin Allison &ldquo;Garden Nutrients Made Clear: Soil Tests, Goals, and Fertilizer Choices&rdquo;When &amp; why do you soil test and how is that done? &nbsp;Then how do you interpret the results of the soil test? &nbsp;Finally, how do you follow the nutrient and amendment recommendations of that soil test? &nbsp;Is there a tool for measuring and implementing those recommendations? &nbsp;Kevin knows! 2:00&mdash;3:00 &nbsp;Session 4 Amy Mullen &nbsp;&ldquo;Designing a Kitchen Garden&rdquo;Create a kitchen garden that overflows with produce and beauty! &nbsp;Professional garden designer Amy Mullen will take you through styles of kitchen gardens from around the world, explain how to site and lay out the garden, and discuss the pros and cons of raised beds. &nbsp;Whether you&#39;re new to food gardening or already grow your own, she&#39;ll help you make the most of your garden space. Myrene Brown &rdquo;Shade and Woodland Gardening&rdquo;Do you have a great deal of shade in your landscape or live in a wooded area? &nbsp;Are you a gardener who does NOT get the 6 hours of sun that many plants require? &nbsp;Myrene is experienced at selecting and designing for both shade and woodland plants. &nbsp;She also prefers to emphasize native plants in the landscape. &nbsp;Enjoy the cool shade and the plants that thrive in these conditions. Kevin Davis &rdquo;Plant-Based Eating: The Pros and Cons of a Plant-based Diet&rdquo;Plant-Based Diets have become quite popular in recent years. &nbsp;There are thousands of articles, documentaries, and podcasts discussing them. &nbsp;In this session Kevin Davis will help put all the information into perspective to help you decide what is best for you and your family. See you there!

Marion County Master Gardener Association

Events

Events

2026 MCMGA Evening Meeting

Get your tickets

2027 Spring Garden Clinic

Get your tickets

Powered by