Taltree Arboretum & Gardens will host its monthly Garden Discussion Group from 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday, Feb. 6 in the Taltree Railway Garden Depot. The topic of this discussion is pest control. Volunteer host Zann Wilson asks attendees to bring their expertise and/or questions to share. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow gardeners in a comfortable environment. Bring a favorite book or magazine that relates to the month’s topic. Anyone who enjoys nature and gardening and wants to learn more and meet others with similar interests is welcome. Participation in the discussion group is free; entry cost into the arboretum is $5 per person for non-members; free for Taltree members. Enter the arboretum grounds to access the depot building at 450 West 100 North, Valparaiso.
The following classes are held inside Taltree Arboretum & Gardens Classroom (behind office & greenhouse – look for signs to office and classroom), 71 North 500 West, Valparaiso. Class fees are $15 for non-members and $12 for Taltree members. Pre-registration is required. Admission price for walk-ins is $17 for Taltree members and $20 for non-members.
Taltree hosts Classes, monthly discussion group and more
Beginners Guide to Starting Seeds will be held from 9 – 11 a.m. will be held on Feb. 6. There are few things as satisfying as growing your own plants from seed. This two-hour class will introduce you to starting seeds indoors for your garden. One hour of class time will be followed by one hour of hands-on learning in the arboretum’s greenhouse. This class will be taught by Patty Stimmel, Horticulturist at Taltree and a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Public Horticulture.
Vegetable Gardening 101 will be from 1 – 3:30 p.m. Feb. 6. Would you like to grow your own vegetables but don’t know where to begin? This class will get you “growing” with basic guidelines for raising flavorful, healthy food. Topics will include soils, composting, site preparation, garden layout and more. Instructor Chris Aylesworth was raised on a farm in south Porter County where she first began working in the family’s vegetable garden. In later years, she completed a secondary degree in Organic Gardening/Farming at Christchurch Polytechnic in New Zealand.
The Start of Something Beautiful is from 9 – 11 a.m., Feb. 13 -Nancy Marshall of Small’s Landscaping, Valparaiso will offer a peek into the artistic side of landscape design. Participants will learn how to design a landscape based on unique considerations that include lifestyle and plant and design preferences. Learn about design considerations that include living walls and roofs, firepits, and water features, as well as the importance of using soil amendments. Nancy is an award-winning landscape designer/consultant and co-owner of Small’s Landscaping.
On Feb. 20,Living with the Weather and Lake Effect in Northwest Indiana will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. Learn how the term “lake effect” is defined when it comes to a snow event and why Northwest Indiana’s climate is described as the most changeable and severe weather in the world. Senior Valparaiso University Meteorology student Jennifer Schuller will explain how Lake Michigan affects our area, and how it contributes to specific weather phenomena. Brittni Emery, a senior VU meteorology student, will talk about her research, which involves flying into lake effect snow storms. Details about the VU Meteorology program also will be offered. This class will be held inside Taltree Arboretum & Gardens Classroom (behind office & greenhouse—look for signs to office and classroom), 71 North 500 West, Valparaiso, IN 46385. Class fees are $15 for non-members and $12 for Taltree members. Pre-registration is required. Admission price for walk-ins is $17 for Taltree members and $20 for non-members. For more information or to register for any of these classes, call (219) 462-0025.
Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, located south of U.S. 30 between Merrillville and Valparaiso, establishes and maintains woody plant collections, gardens, and natural areas for the cultural benefit of the people in the South Lake Michigan Region. The 300-acre reserve of woody plant collections, gardens woodlands, savanna, wetlands, and prairie offers more than three miles of hiking trails that allow visitors to experience the natural biodiversity of the landscape. For more information visit www.taltree.org.
