By Karen Weiland

Purdue Master Gardener

An annual plant can be described as that which completes its life cycle in one growing season.  There are some annuals that may seem like they are perennials in that they drop a large number of seeds in the fall, the seeds overwinter in the soil and new plants emerge in the spring around the area that was planted the previous year.   Some examples are petunia, cleome and snapdragon.

Do not be in a hurry to put them out as most annuals prefer a warm soil and a rather stable temperature.  Of course you never know when Mother Nature is going to throw in a cold night and you will then need to cover those tender annuals to protect them.  I came just short of snatching the sheets from my beds to try to cover all my newly planted annuals recently.  Oh surely, I thought, it is near enough to the supposed cut -off date of May 15 that I can set those plants out without fear of frost killing them.  NOT!  So there I was, arriving home from Indy on the evening of Mothers Day, 9:30 at night trying to get everything covered. It seemed like everything had a flower bud on it and I was trying to save it.   I will tell you I was not the picture of happiness.

When planting annuals in a bed, soil preparation is important.  Work in materials such as peat, compost, leaves and manure to help improve soil texture and drainage.

Annuals are termed “bedding plants” and may be sold in cell packs or in individual pots, it just depends on their size. Before planting, water the plants thoroughly.  To take the plant from the pot spread your fingers across the top of the pot, turn it upside down, gently tap the bottom of the pot and lift the pot off the roots.  To take a plant out of a cell pack spread your fingers across the top of the pack, turn it upside down and then I like to push the bottom of a cell in which will release the plant.  If the roots are very compacted it is a good idea to loosen them a bit.  This encourages better rooting after being planted.   If you are using a plant grown in a peat pot, remove the top portion of the pot that will be sticking out of the ground.  If it is left on, it can act as a wick and dry out the roots around the interior of the pot. It is also recommended to remove the bottom of the peat pot to allow for better drainage and rooting.

I like to use a root starter or starter fertilizer product in the water that I use to moisten the soil around my annuals after planting.  It just gives them a nice boost.  Using a mulch around annuals will help to conserve moisture as well as retard weed growth.  Deep, infrequent watering during the growing season is recommended over light, frequent watering.  The former encourages a deep root system and water early in the day so that the leaves have a chance to dry before evening sets in.

As always, Happy Gardening!!

More information about gardening and related subjects is available online at www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service can be reached at 499-6334 in LaGrange Co., 636-2111 in Noble Co., 925-2562 in DeKalb Co. and 668-1000 in Steuben Co.

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener, Purdue Extension, LaGrange County

Three words describe Amish Log Cabin Lodging located within Shipshewana Campground.

Word #1–Serene.
14 cabins with full shower and television line the far back hillside of the property, while six “rustic” cabins glide to the west. These latter cabins are “rustic” in that they have no shower facilities. Those are located in a red barn located within 20 steps from the cabins.

All the cabins evoke harmony with nature. Trees and open fields surround the cabins, with horses gazing near the rustic cabins.

Word #2–Clean.
Spotless. Neither speck of dust nor hint of cobweb can be found in these cabins.

Everyone wants to know about bath facilities. Here, they're spotless.

My first experience camping elsewhere included an unwanted guest: a tree frog in the shower. I’ve not camped since, but these dreamy cabins could change my mind.

The ladies stripped the bark, and the men made the headboards.

Even the shining woodwork has an interesting history: Owners Harry & Rose Scott tell me the wood was taken from the same property to a sawmill in Topeka. An Amish man readied the wood and then built each cottage by hand, along with each piece of furniture.

The final cabin the Amish man constructed on the property mimics the school he attended as a child, complete with a bell tower.

Word #3–Ice Cream.
Or, to be more exact, custard.

Jesse, the young man who works at the ice cream & custard shop, tells me the recipe is under lock and key with an armed guard, but he reassured me the custard is made on site, and that it’s the best around.

I was a bit skeptical, but I stood in line to give it a try. The flavor of the week was black cherry.

I asked the couple in front of me where they were from. They replied, “New York,” and they proceeded to tell me each year when they drive through the area, they stop for the custard.

But then the real evidence came when I tried it.

Best I’ve ever tasted. I’ve returned twice in the same week, and brought my family.

The.Best.Ever.Custard made at the Ice Cream Stand at the Shipshewana Amish Campground.

The.Best.Custard.Ever.

About Amish Log Cabin Lodging:
Twenty years ago, Harry and Rose began to wind down their chiropractic business and enjoy something new. They purchased land at the corner of State Roads 5 and 121 and opened Shipshwana Amish Campground & Amish Log Cabins. Since then, they’ve watched a small campground become an oasis of peace and memories for new and return guests. The campground is small enough to feel intimate, but big enough for privacy.

Also on the grounds is a tourist information center decorated with a barn quilt mural, part of LaGrange County’s Barn Quilt Tour.

Given the scenery, friendships, and amenities, nothing more is needed for a great camping experience.

The couple also owns a second camping location just south of the Shipshewana Flea Market, Shipshewana RV Park.

For more information on Shipshewana Amish Log Cabin Lodging, click here.

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They’re a block from the Flea Market, a block from shopping, and a block from the Blue Gate Restaurant & Theater.

Morton Street Bed and Breakfast is one block from everything. In the 1800s, this Victorian style house was office space for five Shipshewana physicians. Today, it’s a home away from home.

Upon entering, you’ll notice the beautiful curved staircase reminiscent of old movies where beautiful women in stunning gowns make a grand entrance. To the left is a living room filled with Victorian-style furniture and an old piano, all surrounding a large fireplace. To the right is a dining room equally nostalgic to the 1800s.

A guest room resides on the main level, and three other bedrooms are upstairs, all complete with antique beds and Victorian-era décor. Each guest room has a private bath and its own air conditioning unit. A total of 12 guests can stay here.

If the interior isn’t historical enough, then sit outside on the porch where you’ll see the many Amish buggies being pulled by Belgian, Clydesdale, and Standard bred horses. Slightly to the north is a gazebo and fountain to lull you to sleep in the sunny afternoons.

After your nap, take a three-minute walk directly south to the Shipshewana Flea Market and enter the modern era of shopping; by then, most of the crowds are gone, and because you stayed here, you don’t have to look for or pay for parking.

You’re also in the mix of 75 downtown shops. The owners of Morton Street Bed and Breakfast are also owners of the adjoining Bread Box Bakery & Café as well as Scherger’s Kettle, where homemade jams and jellies are made each day. The day I visited, I could smell the glory of 900 DOZEN cookies being prepared for the Flea Market.

Whether you enjoy history, the busy-ness of today, or somewhere in-between, Morton Street Bed & Breakfast will appeal to you.

Located downtown Shipshewana at 120 Morton Street. One block from everything.

Click here for more information & photos.

Kelly McConnell, along with her parents David and Peggy Scherger, run Morton Street Bed and Breakfast, Bread Box Bakery & Cafe, and Scherger’s Kettle Jams & Jellies.

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The guys will love this bed and breakfast because of its location out on the rural countryside. They can stretch their legs, pet the cows, or talk to the birds—they’ll listen!

The ladies will love this bed and breakfast because of the aesthetics. From fresh flowers that match the hand-sewn quilts, to the cozy sitting area awakened by a morning fire and bathed in natural light, oohs and aahs will be heard throughout the sprawling farmhouse.

Walls are painted in uplifting colors, and when the sun sets, the entire house is awash in blaze orange.

Bright Morning Star Bed and Breakfast is, in a word…beautiful.

Three Amish farms surround this country bed and breakfast located between Middlebury and Shipshewana. The house itself is built on three country acres where you can glance outside and see horses and buggies traveling on the country road, or view the owners’ pasture filled with cattle and horses. One neighbor might be plowing the fields while an Amish mother hangs laundry. Children will be riding their bikes and carrying their fishing poles.

Bright Morning Star, with a 900 square foot work area and lounge in the downstairs, provides an ideal spot for retreats. The owner says she has hosted numerous groups there, including quilt groups and scrapbooking groups. The downstairs room is also used as a gathering place when several couples come at once.

This bed and breakfast contains five bedrooms, each with a private bath, and offers a homemade country breakfast.

And while it’s located among the beautiful country backroads, it’s only a few minutes from the Shipshewana Flea Market and all the shopping a lady could want. The auction barns are nearby, too.

If you are weary from work and need respite for your soul, this is the place. Bright Morning Star will shine for a very long time in your memory.

Located at 0255 S 100 W, Middlebury, Indiana

Click here for more information and beautiful photos.

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Gwen Newcomer greets you at the front door of her Songbird Ridge Bed & Breakfast.

I wonder what would entice a husband-wife team to run a bed and breakfast for 20 years like Gwen and Gene Newcomer have run Songbird Ridge Bed and Breakfast in Shipshewana.

When I asked Gwen that question, she replied without thinking: “I love the friends we’ve made over the years. It’s fun to have people enjoy their time here. I love seeing them having a peaceful, restful time. They need to get away from work. They like to hear the rooster crow in the morning and watch the sheep and goats graze in the pasture right behind us. Right now we have babies, baby sheep, and seven baby goats in the last few days. People love watching the little goats jumping along in the pasture.”

This is only part of what you'll see in the back yard of Songbird Ridge.

I witnessed a couple of those baby goats with their mother, and I laughed at the two lambs playing in the pasture. I also got to pet Wink, the Newcomers’ miniature horse.

Indeed, Songbird Ridge does exude peace, even amidst springtime’s flurry of new life. There’s just something about breathing in the country air that makes one exhale gratitude. Relaxing among the rolling hillsides where Amish children play barefoot is better medicine than anything else I can think of.

The Newcomers add beautiful touches throughout their home. In the right corner is a clock Gene made.

Even though Songbird Ridge is only two miles from downtown Shipshewana, it feels like it’s in a different world and time, not only because of nature’s surroundings, but also because the many symbols of history on the inside of the home.

This beauty decorates the downstairs area.

Gwen has decorated with many interesting antiques. From wagon wheels to a pump organ, from dishes to desks, from quilts to cupboards, the items in this bed and breakfast tell their own stories.

Pointing to a two-tiered coffee table made from wagon wheels, Gwen shares, “My mother saw a table like that at the World’s Fair years ago, which is where she got the idea for having this one made for Gene’s and my wedding. The wheels are off my husband’s grandfather’s old grain wagon.”

This spool cabinet is only one of the many beautiful antiques that adorn the interior of Songbird Ridge.

Gwen also explains the antique being used as a side table was once her mother’s spool cabinet.

Gwen has many beautiful quilts in her bed and breakfast.

Pointing to a quilt on the second story, Gwen adds, “This is at least a hundred years old. It was Gene’s parents’ quilt, a wedding gift to them.”

All the guest rooms, like this Cardinal Room, are named after a songbird.

And of course, not to miss the obvious, the name “Songbird Ridge” comes from the many songbirds that rest on the hill and in the trees. “You can watch the birds feed in the morning, watch them grab the worms,” explained Gwen. “We also named each of the rooms after a bird. It seemed only natural to do so.”

Songbird Ridge can sleep a total of sixteen people, with eight sleeping downstairs and eight sleeping upstairs. Each bedroom has its own bathroom.

Guests enjoy a full breakfast menu of bran muffins, baked oatmeal, toast, cereal, juice, coffee, and a fruit cup. Gwen will add a meat and cheese plate, and sometimes, she will offer an egg casserole.

Enjoy a quiet breakfast, a large eating area, and expansive views of the Amish countryside.

The dining area offers several different tables to linger and enjoy the day’s first meal.

Gwen and Gene are pros at making you feel at home. Hospitality runs in their veins. Gwen’s mother was the first person in the area to have any lodging at all, before any hotels even existed in Shipshewana.

“I worked for Mom when I was young,” said Gwen, “and that’s when I started enjoying getting to know people.

“Now I’m told coming here is like coming home.”

Songbird Ridge Bed and Breakfast is located at 4350 N. SR 5, Shipshewana.

For more information, click here.

These hand-carved swans are made locally, says Gwen.

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By Karen Weiland – Purdue Master Gardener

Edible landscaping is the integration of edible plants into the ornamental landscape.  More people are looking toward growing their own nutritious produce at home, thus saving money and natural resources at the same time.  Think about incorporating  fruit trees and blueberry bushes into the planting scheme of your yard or lining  the side of your patio with some beautiful rhubarb, with its bold red stalks and crinkly leaves, being under planted with some creeping thyme.

Many vegetables lend themselves very well to being planted into containers.  I have an assortment of greens and lettuces growing in my rain barrel planter.  When planting vegetables keep their looks in mind as well as their taste.  Pretty purple cabbage would look very nice planted with some snowy white cauliflower.  If it’s bold color you’re looking for, Swiss chard comes in a rainbow of colors and sweet peppers sport a very bright yellow.  Some cherry tomatoes planted in a pot would make a tasty snack while lounging on the patio.

Don’t forget the edible flowers such as nasturtiums, chives, day lily, lavender and basil.  Use them as garnishes and in salads.  My favorite is nasturtium with its zesty, peppery taste, can be added to a sandwich in place of mustard or add it to pretty up a salad.

Edible plants, like ornamentals, require maintenance.  Just remember to “plant the right plant in the right place”.  In other words take into consideration the plants growing requirements and what condition your landscape area is in.  Most food producing plants need a sunny location and well drained soil along with some pruning, fertilizer and water.

Keep in mind that vegetables and herbs that are planted and harvested frequently will need to be kept in an area to themselves.  This will allow you to amend and cultivate the soil without disturbing the roots of the ornamentals.

Landscaping with edibles not only adds a twist to gardening, it enhances your health and well-being too.  Raspberries you pick yourself will taste so much better than the raspberries that have been trucked hundreds of miles to get to your local grocery store.  So the next time you decide to make a change to your landscape or yard, make it do double duty by using edible plants.

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information about gardening and related subjects is available online at www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service can be reached at 499-6334 in LaGrange Co., 636-2111 in Noble Co., 925-2562 in DeKalb Co. and 668-1000 in Steuben Co.

Which will you enjoy most?

Gliding down the Pigeon River in your canoe or kayak?
Greeting the outdoors in the fish and wildlife area?
Camping? Hiking? Fishing?
Or making new friends?

The Senecal family and furry friends welcome you to Trading Post.

At Trading Post Canoe, Kayak, and Campground in Mongo, Indiana, you can enjoy all the above. Owners John and Jesslyn Senecal have worked long hours on the off-season to prepare for your arrival, and now the gates are open and they’re welcoming you in for the season!

Says Jessica, “I am looking forward to this year’s outdoor season because it provides us the opportunity to see our returning customers from the previous year, and also to meet and build relationships with new customers too!

This visitor made a very interesting new friend!

“Each year brings different circumstances with temperatures, rain levels and water conditions, so with Mother Nature we never really know what to expect. We learn to be very adaptable to whatever the conditions might be!”

Jesslyn says about this photo taken last fall, "Here are a couple sandhill cranes that we paddled right up to on an evening paddle!"

This year, the conditions are just right for your visit. The second largest canoe livery in Indiana, The Trading Post has six canoe and kayak river trip options which travel through the 13,000 acres of the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area.

The outpost also contains a 70-site campground, with all sites located along the riverside or surrounding the inland pond.

Grab a map at LaGrange County CVB and enjoy all the Barn Quilt stops in the area.

Trading Post is also home to one of the many barn quilt murals on the LaGrange County Barn Quilt Tour. Displayed on their store is the quilt mural “Crossed Canoes.” To read about this specific stop along the Barn Quilt Tour, click here. http://www.backroads.org/travel-blog/2012/05/14/lagrange-county-barn-quilt-mural-crossed-canoes/

The Trading Post Canoe, Kayak & Campground is located one block west of Mongo, Indiana on the Pigeon River, a short, scenic drive from Shipshewana.

The Pink Paddling Princesses & their escorts enjoyed a great day on the river last year.

For more information on The Trading Post Canoe, Kayak, and Campground, click here.

Spring Hours:
Mon: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tue: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wed – Thu: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sun: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

phone: (260) 367-2493

If you enjoyed this article, sign up to receive all our blogs in your e mail inbox for free by visiting www.VisitShipshewana.org, clicking on the blog link, and submitting your e mail address on our secure site.

By Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener

There are numerous types of leafy greens that can be grown in the garden to add variety, texture and color to the one’s diet.  Swiss chard, spinach, kale, lettuce, endive and collards are popular salad ingredients.  Arugula is one that is gaining popularity and one that I need to try.  Leafy greens are considered a cool season crop.  Swiss chard and New Zealand spinach are greens that will produce in the heat of the summer.

Usually, most leafy greens are direct seeded.  Lettuce, kale, collards and swiss chard can be transplanted.  To grow your own transplants, sow the seeds indoors in April or about 4 weeks before transplanting them to the garden.  To harden the seedlings before transplanting them reduce water and temperature for 2 to 3 days.  Space the plants according to seed packet directions.  Do not plant them too close together as plants will not reach their size potential and thus cause a poor yield. As soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, collards, endive, kale, lettuce and spinach can be directly sown into the garden.  Generally soil is ready for tilling and planting when a handful of it crumbles when you squeeze it.  If you are left with a muddy ball in your hand then it is too wet and if worked will form clods of hard soil.  Not a good thing!  After direct sowing the seedlings will need to be thinned while they are still small.  Weed control can be accomplished by applying mulch around the plants.  Mulch not only helps with weeds but it also helps to conserve moisture and keeps the soil temperature cooler.  If you are using grass clippings as your mulch be sure your clippings are herbicide free.

If you have not had your soil tested (and therefore know what nutrients it needs if any) 2 to 3 pounds of a balanced 12-12-12 fertilizer can be applied to 100 square feet of soil at the time when the garden is tilled.  If Mother Nature does not bless us with adequate rainfall, you will need to supplement with 1 inch of water per week in a single application.  Sandy soils may require more water.   Shallow watering will result in shallow rooting and the plants will be more susceptible to drought.  Leafy greens need about 6 hours of sunshine daily to produce well.

When it comes to harvesting take the outer leaves first, leaving the younger ones to keep on growing.  But, when it comes to collards, harvest the inner rosette of leaves. You will find the flavor will be better if you harvest before the weather becomes hot and dry.

If stored in cold, moist conditions, most leafy greens will keep up to two weeks.  They can be stored in perforated, plastic bags or I like to store mine in the plastic, perforated clam shells you can buy strawberries and other fruits in.

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information about gardening and related subjects is available online at www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service can be reached at 499-6334 in LaGrange Co., 636-2111 in Noble Co., 925-2562 in DeKalb Co. and 668-1000 in Steuben Co.

Karen Weiland, Master Gardener, Purdue Extension, LaGrange Co.

Meet our 11 year-old Jack Russell Terrier. She’s definitely part of our family. We don’t dress her up in people clothes or let her sleep in our bed, but whenever we go on vacations, making sure she’s cared for is a very big deal.

Meet Holiday Inn Express, Howe. They’ve become a home away from home for a huge family of travelers who hit the road with their pets because this hotel is pet-friendly. They welcome furry family friends, which is a big deal for travelers like us.

As a matter of fact, this specific hotel has won a five dog-bone rating from BringFido.com, a “dog travel directory that provides unbiased reviews” (from their website). BringFido.com has a Director of Barketing who gave the Howe hotel the perfect score.

In our opinion, Holiday Inn Express gets positive “howes,” er, howls, for its pet-friendly service. But it also gets kudos because it’s an all-around solid hotel. Given the Holiday Inn Express franchise, this hotel stays consistent with the brand’s high standards of quality.

But because Holiday Inn Express is located in LaGrange County, Indiana Amish backroads, it also boasts of other regional amenities.

“We promote our local businesses,” said Ronnie Snook, manager. “A local person here can tell you about all the special attractions in the area. There’s so much to offer. Plus, along with popcorn and cookies, we also serve soup every day from the Howe Restaurant.”

Snook mentions a number of visitors are return guests. “We have one family from Pennsylvania who travels here twice each year, and they always stay with us. They tell us it’s because of the staff.”

That staff makes sure each and every room is cleaned from top to bottom, including those special rooms offering bunk beds or Jacuzzis.

Others choose to stay because the hotel is located right across from Michiana Event Center, home to numerous events throughout the year, including the National Clydesdale Sale and Show, Amish furniture shows, home shows, and even a circus.

I took a quick peek on one of the travel websites, and given the reviews on it, the Howe Holiday Inn Express received 4.6 out of 5 points.

Now that’s something to howl about in Howe.

This hotel is located at 45 W. 750 N, Howe, Indiana 46746

For more information on Holiday Inn Express-Howe, click here.

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By Karen Weiland – Purdue Master Gardener

Mosses are green plants that have fine, branched, threadlike stems with tiny leaves and reproduce by wind-blown spores.   They form a thick green mat at the surface of the soil and do not kill the grass as most believe but rather fill in the spaces in the lawn where grass is not growing.

The key to controlling moss is improving growing conditions to encourage a thick stand of healthy turf grass.  The conditions that are favored by moss are excessive shade, poor drainage, acidic soil, compacted soil, low soil fertility, excessive irrigation, improper mowing or a combination of these factors that add up to thin or weak turf.

There are several chemical options from which to choose to kill the moss.  Scotts and Ortho both produce a moss killer and another option is to use copper sulfate at the rate of 5 ounces in 4 gallons of water sprayed over 1000 square feet.  After the moss has been killed and if you are going to reseed, it will be necessary to apply 5 to 10 pounds of ground limestone to inactivate the copper sulfate prior to reseeding as the copper sulfate may be toxic to grass seedlings.  These materials kill the moss because they act as desiccants.  They should be applied over the moss infested area during winter through early spring when moss is actively growing and temperatures are cool.  Read and follow all package directions.  Once the moss is dead, remove it by raking.  You may like the non-chemical approach and try to rake as much moss from the grass as possible.

Unless you treat the underlying conditions to favor grass growth, any solution you try to get rid of the moss will only be temporary.  One of the first things I recommend is having the soil tested.  Mosses prefer acidic soil while grass prefers a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.  Check with your local Extension Service or local grain elevators as they offer soil testing instructions, bags and an address to send your sample to.  Once you have the test results your lawn can be treated accordingly.

Plant a more shade tolerant grass and mow grasses in a shady area at the top of their recommended mowing height range to encourage deep rooting and provide maximum leaf surface for the manufacture of food.

Consider pruning some low lying limbs from surrounding trees and bushes for better air circulation and to allow for more sunshine to reach the grass.

Compacted soil can be corrected with core aeration.  This process involves physically removing cores of soil from the lawn and helps to improve the growing conditions for grass.

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information about gardening and related subjects can be found online at www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs.  The Purdue Extension Service can be reached at 499-6334 in LaGrange Co., 636-2111 in Noble Co., 925-2562 in DeKalb Co. and 668-1000 in Steuben Co.

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener, Purdue Extension, LaGrange County