Growing Flowers, Herbs and Companion Plants - Master Gardeners, Grant Count, Indiana

1. PURDUE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Grant County
Knowledge to Go newspaper column
By: John E. Woodmansee, Extension Educator, Agriculture/Natural Resources
E-mail: jwoodman@purdue.edu Phone: 765-651-2413
Please use by: June 20, 2010
June 15, 2010
Growing Flowers, Herbs and Companion Plants
Many Grant County residents enjoy growing annual and perennial flowers, culinary and
ornamental herbs, and experimenting with companion plantings. Bring your ideas and questions
about growing these plants to Master Gardeners at this year’s Grant County 4-H Fair.
The theme of this year’s Grant County Master Gardener booth, located in the commercial
building at the fair, is “Flowers, Herbs, and Companion Plants.” Master Gardeners will be on
hand to discuss gardening with you – your successes, your failures, your challenges, and your
ideas. Note that the commercial building is not open the first night of the fair, June 20, but will
be open from 4pm-10pm June 21-25, and from noon until 10pm on Saturday, June 26.
The purpose of Master Gardeners in a nutshell is to learn a broad base of knowledge through
the introductory 14-week class, then share that knowledge with others as a volunteer. Some local
Master Gardeners specialize in flowers, while others may grow more vegetables, herbs, or other
landscape plants. One of the great things about the program is that participants continue to learn
from each other and from residents like you that they interact with. So, please make it a point to
stop by and say hello.
At the booth you will also be able to get information from Purdue Extension on flowers, herbs,
and companion plants. And, if you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, pick up a flyer
that explains the program in simple terms, including how you can be sure to receive information
about the next class, tentatively offered January through April of 2011.
In addition to the booth, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 26, 1pm at the fair. I will be
conducting a “roundtable discussion” on flowers and herbs, with Master Gardeners on hand. The
public is invited to this event, and if you have a particular insect or disease problem anywhere in
your landscape, you may bring a sample to this event for help with diagnosis and management
options.
Following the roundtable discussion, at 2pm on June 26 I will be offering an update on the
Emerald Ash Borer and what management options exist for homeowners. Emerald Ash Borer
was confirmed for the first time in Grant County in the summer of 2009. Find out what you can
do to protect your ash trees against this pest.
For everyone, please come enjoy the 4-H Fair June 20-26!
· 401 South Adams Street · Room 422 · Marion, IN 46953-2037 ·
(765) 651-2413 · FAX: (765) 651-2415
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/grant/
Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S Department of Agriculture Cooperating
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution