WARSAW — In 2007, Young Adult Professionals was formed by Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce to, as the website states, “Show young people coming into the community what we have to offer in Kosciusko County and provide additional opportunities for them.” Since then, YAP has done just that. “YAP opened my eyes to what we …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Are the two really related? I think they are through kitchen recipes. It is easy to take for granted the accessibility of herbs and spices. If you live in a climate that supports the growth of spice trees or shrubs for flavor and scent such as the Mediterranean Valley …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — The lone scent of one herb, such as sage, can immediately bring occasions to mind such as family gatherings at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Blending two herbs or more together, such as basil and oregano, is a familiar aroma of pizza or pasta such as lasagna. Cilantro, onion …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — The herb gardens featured here are three of my favorite. They have been featured in previous articles and it is great to see how they have progressed. Keeping location in mind, each destination is premium space. The production yield is clearly based on sun exposure, water source …read more.

By Gail Jacobs Master Gardener Most things seem like an eternity at the time. Take Japanese Beetles for instance.  About thirty plus years ago Japanese Beetles were the plague.  They consumed every rose, purple leaved or purple blooming growing thing in my yard.  They required each day that I head out into the green with …read more.

By Gail Jacobs Master Gardener Sometime back when I was in grade school probably second or third grade my family had a kindly old neighbor lady who I called “Mint”.  I have no idea how I came to call here that but looking back it seems fitting.  Mint introduced me to seeds.  I dug out …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener When it’s your garden, you have a personal attachment. Someone may do the planting, but you will not be far away, not missing a moment of all that is involved. It’s time to get busy, too, if you want to have fruit and flowers for summer. Finally we have …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern  For a number of years now, there has been a growing concern about the poor health of bee colonies and the subsequent impact on the environment. From 1947 to 2008, bee hives have declined rapidly, from 6 million hives to 2.4 million hives. This reduction has come about as …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — Living plants for summer in zone 5b can be designed into a purposeful relationship to each other, their environment and those who choose to enjoy a personal creation for garden design. First, consider the space available, direction of natural elements and lay of the land, drainage and …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — It isn’t too late to plant annual, perennial and biennial flower seeds for summer blossoms, maybe not this summer, but the following for sure. Why is it necessary to start plants before it’s warm outdoors? Well, for some species, it isn’t too early, directly sown seeds into …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern One of my favorite spring garden tasks is dividing plants. Plants can be divided to control the size of the plants, rejuvenating old plants or increasing the number of plants. How do you know if your perennials need dividing? Your flowers may be smaller than usual, or more sparse …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener WARSAW — You may need to screen your vermicompost, especially if you’ve used rough stuff (sticks etc.) in the bedding that takes time to break down. A round gardener’s sieve with a 3/16 inch mesh will work best. Try to find one with stainless steel mesh, it’ll do the job …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — Every year around the middle of March and as part of our St. Patty’s Day celebration, we plant snow peas and set potatoes in the ground. Some save planting potatoes for Good Friday. The Irish shamrock, Trifolium dubium also known as Lucky Charm plant, was used by …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener WARSAW — We will start with the type of worm to use for vermicomposting. These are not the usual big burrowing earthworms that live in garden soil. Here are some of the names used … red worms, tiger worms, brandlings, angle worms, manure worms or red wrigglers. They occupy a …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — Herbs are grown for their flavor, aroma and in some cases they are known to keep us healthy. All parts of the herb plant are used in some way for culinary arts or home amenities depending on the species. Most often it is the leaves, and to …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern WARSAW — Sharpen those pruning shears, friends. Pruning season is upon us. Look for a sunny day in the next couple of weeks (late February/early March), and get going. Here’s my pruning list and a few tips. Overgrown shrubs. Typically we only prune spring flowering shrubs like lilacs after …read more.

By AMY MUNCY
Advanced Master Gardener
WARSAW — Vermicomposting is using specifically, worms to compost kitchen scraps. This is probably the best way of composting kitchen wastes.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — “The Herbalist,” a book I have had for many years gave me insight to start herb gardening. With the basic folklore that herbs need full sun and well drained, but not necessarily improved, soil I preceded to plant herbs in a prescribed location with this recipe. As …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern WARSAW — Growing vegetables from seed is an economic way to obtain your own produce. While some seeds can be direct-sown, particularly cold weather crops like peas, lettuce or carrots, most of our summertime favorites need to be started indoors as our northern Indiana growing season isn’t quite long …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Advanced Master Gardener WARSAW — I was going to talk about Vermicomposting in this article, but many people would be turned off by this form of composting without knowing some facts first.  I have included several articles below about the impact our country is having on our environment from food waste. This includes …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Advanced Master Gardener WARSAW — Many of you may already know about what you can and what you should not compost. I have found the following items left out keeps the compost cleaner and able to use quicker. What I mean is that you can compost anything that is natural but in …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — The spirit of the winter season to me is my indoor garden. Short days are enhanced with indoor space created by a professional design or an off season project built from reusable materials. It can be used this time of year to care for tropical plants or …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Advanced Master Gardener WARSAW — My new garden will be made from a compost I will have been ‘brewing’ for a year. I have talked before about the small trailer of horse manure that I mixed with leaves and gravelly dirt from a mound we have in the “back 40” of our …read more.

[weaver_youtube u7_blHE_gbc rel=0]   By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — Once you have the feel for an indoor garden many options for grooming and managing will take place. Smaller tools will be helpful. Many sizes of tools can be found in bonsai catalogues or from your cast-off table silverware. Soil and containers need …read more.

WARSAW — I know there are a lot of trees in this garden, but most are going to stay small. And things can change at any time and I can decide not to put all of the trees in it. I do plan to have some focal points in this garden among the foliage.

SYRACUSE — The variety of outdoor gardens I share with my family and friends, are relatively closed for the season, covered with blankets of leaves and spent foliage from annual plants and perennials which are now fast asleep.

By AMANDA ZAMBRONO Master Gardener Intern A garden journal is a great project to start up this time year, as things are winding down outside. The blustery days have come, with wind and rain and the promise of snow just around the corner. Our gardens have mostly gone to sleep, in spite of the unusually …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Advanced Master Gardener WARSAW — Now I must decide where to place the trees that need to be moved out of my so called holding gardens. I have always started my trees from the Arbor Day Foundation in a small raised bed with a fence around it. The fence helps keep the …read more.

WARSAW — Generally, I do not keep a journal of my garden. Putting it all in writing in this article will hopefully help someone else doing the same. It can be daunting doing your own landscaping from scratch. Yet knowing you did it yourself is a real boost.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Two forms of art in my life; culinary and garden require sharp tools. My father Ralph Freels kept mother’s kitchen hand tools sharp with a whet stone. I keep my knives sharp with a sharpening steel. The garden tools, shovels, hoes, trimmers, clippers and lawn mower blades can all …read more.

WARSAW — My garden needs some cleaning up. My hydrangeas are a big sprawling mess, my knock-outs are overgrown and my peonies are way past their prime. I can’t wait to hit the garden next weekend with my pruning shears and go to town.

WARSAW — The best time to start a garden project at a site that is sod is the year before. If it is a site with unplanted soil, you can start planning the garden right away.

Autumn air is blowing into Kosciusko bringing with it the change in leaves, the emergence of the fabled “pumpkin spice latte,” fall fare and most exciting of all, fall festivals. On Oct. 3, Winona Lake will welcome guests of all ages for an Oktoberfest celebration. The event, which honors Germany’s longest running celebration, will kick …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — By now all of us, here in Northern Indiana, may have experienced the frost date of September 15, scheduled by Mother Nature. Some of our tenders may already have been nipped by cold winds or drops of freezing dew. You may have heard the sound of the …read more.

WARSAW — My favorite recent addition to my landscape is a layered bulb bed and fall is the perfect time to add one to your garden. The concept behind the layered bed is to plant your bulbs at appropriate depths so that they bloom in succession, providing color in your early spring garden.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern (EDITORS NOTE: This is the second of a two part article on problem areas. On Aug. 13, Muncy talked about shade, hot,dry area, slope, overgrown hedge/ugly view, unslightly features. This article continues the topics.)   WARSAW — AN OVERGROWN/NEGLECTED POND — There is a chance you can get it …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener SYRACUSE — Many of us have pulled off the seed pod of a marigold, pressed on the dried blossoms gently pulling the seeds out and fanning them between our fingers. You can save them in a paper sandwich bag to plant in your garden in a neat row like …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Long about August my whole landscape begins to look a little tired. My mulched areas are thinning and weeds are popping up. Things are getting a bit leggy and overgrown. The bloom is off most of my June and July blooming plants. It just looks a bit worn out. …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern Whether a new or old garden, you will need to decide which of the existing features you want to keep, such as an old swing, an old tree or a garden shed. Other items like a fuel tank, an unattractive view or an overgrown area you may need to …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — As the last full month of summer sets upon us, opportunities to enjoy outdoor dining dwindle as sure as the days get shorter. In a summer already limited by less than ideal weather, grabbing a bite or two under the sky while the weather is still balmy becomes a priority for those of …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener A flower is born, lives out its life and dies. It makes seeds or dust for the next generation of flowers. Some flowers bear fruit or leaves that we may eat holding nutrients that feed or heal our bodies. The reason to remove the “deadhead:” it is the proper …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern If you are enjoying an abundance of fresh produce from your garden right now, you’re probably dreading winter and a return to canned and frozen varieties. That doesn’t have to be your fate this winter. If you’re a die-hard gardener, winter gardening is possible, even this far north. Mid-August …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern At this time, my own yard needs a lot of work as a new septic system was just installed. You need to be careful what you plant around septic systems, as some long term plants can cause damage. The biggest problem I’ve heard of is tree roots getting into …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener The hot days of July and August can take a toll on perennials that need to survive not only cold spring weather but the warmer months without rain. This is the ultimate challenge for the seasoned gardener. It is important to have rotating crops of flowers to have your …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern WARSAW — Potted plants and patio gardening, for me, has required a little more care and attention than my vegetable garden and landscaping. Plants growing in pots, baskets or buckets require more attention because of the limited resources of their pot. They need more water quickly, and more water …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern When I drive around our wonderful county and notice newly constructed homes, many of them have what amounts to a blank slate behind them: a grassed rectangle. This gives you an opportunity to create a great outdoor living space. It is my hope this info gives someone inspiration to …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Your garden and surroundings can be a great resource for you. Plants, like people, have habits and characteristics essential to their survival. Some take more of a lot than a little water. Watering should be early, between 4 and 8 a.m. as a recommendation. If watering in the afternoon, …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Gardening can be an expensive hobby. Quality plants are expensive, as are soil amendments and tools. But gardening isn’t just for those with extra income – anyone can have a lovely garden or landscape with some sweat equity and the willingness to get a little creative. I’ve purchased some …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern When it comes to watering, there are some tips you should know about. If you live in a city/town with a water treatment plant, you should know what is being added to the water. You can have your water tested if you like. Call your local extension office to …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Annual labeling may be a thing of the past if you can develop a backup map and nomenclature descriptions for your flowers and the beds where they rest. The landscape here at the lake, 46 years ago, was pretty bleak except for the abundance of mature trees that outnumbered any …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Often times when we move into a new home, we inherit the landscape of the previous owner. Those of us who are new to the gardening world can be at a bit of a loss as to what we’ve inherited and how to care for it. By the third …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener Intern Any time you move a plant, it will need time to adjust to its surroundings, even in the house. If you buy houseplants at the greenhouse, the plant may go through changes, drop leaves or droop its branches. Greenhouses are usually more humid and receive more daylight than your …read more.

By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON Master Gardener Can you remember how you became acquainted with a flower with which you fell in love? My first impression of Caladiums, native to Brazil, was their use in a department store as a summer accent. Later, I saw a collection of Caladiums mixed with hosta and ferns at a …read more.

By AMANDA ZAMBRANO Master Gardener Intern Vegetable gardens have been a source of much angst on my shady lot. I thought tomatoes and zucchini were easy to grow, and didn’t think twice about plopping them in my little 4’ x 8’ raised bed. The first year, my tomatoes did really well. That was the year …read more.

By AMY MUNCY Master Gardener More on houseplants as promised in my last column. Once you realize you need to repot a plant and have chosen the correct type of pot and soil, remember the next size larger pot is all you need to put your plant in. If you put your plant in too …read more.

Spring has arrived in the area and with it comes planting time for both flowers and vegetable gardens. Not everyone has a green thumb and even those who do often have questions and concerns. InkFreeNews.com will be adding a new category to the site, “In The Garden.” We have asked three local master gardeners to …read more.