By Karen Weiland
Purdue Master Gardener
Cracking fruit, yellowing foliage and wilting leaves. Sound familiar? These are just a few common challenges to growing tomatoes, but oh the taste of those homegrown beauties right off the vine is so worth going head to head with the challenges. Consider these tips when growing tomatoes.
Choose the right location. Tomatoes need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day and plenty of good air circulation. Do not plant them too closely together.
Rotate your crops. Don’t grow tomatoes or related plants like peppers and eggplant in the same spot year after year. Many disease spores can live in the soil for years.
Improve the soil. Tomatoes like well-drained soil that is enriched with organic matter like well-rotted compost.
Water correctly. Water early in the day so plants dry before evening and give them a deep slow watering which will encourage good root formation. Try to avoid getting the foliage wet as this can lead to fungal diseases. Mulch to keep moisture levels consistent which will help prevent problems with blossom-end rot and leaf curl.
Encourage beneficial insects. Lady beetles, predatory wasps and toads are natural predators that reduce tomato pests. Avoid the use of pesticides in the garden which kills the good and the bad bugs.
Don’t smoke when working with tomato plants to avoid spreading the tobacco mosaic virus.
Keep your garden clean. Remove and destroy infected plants to prevent disease from spreading to healthy plants. Remove garden debris, leaf litter and weeds to keep pests and pathogens away. Sterilize garden tools in a solution made from one part bleach to nine parts water.
Plant healthy stock. Hundreds of tomato varieties are available, so choose the type that will grow best in your area. Look for healthy green leaves and stems when purchasing a plant. Carefully check for pests or diseased plant parts so you don’t introduce these problems into your garden.
Tomato varieties marked with these codes have resistance to these diseases: F – fusarium wilt, FF – fusarium race1 and race 2, L – septoria leaf spot, A – alternaria leaf spot, T – tobacco mosaic virus, V – verticillium wilt and N – nematodes.
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
Each time I visit a bed and breakfast, I declare that one my favorite.
So far, I have six favorites. Each one is as unique as the owners who invite their guests into the homes.
Welcome to Big House in the Little Woods Bed & Breakfast
Today makes my seventh favorite as I visited Big House in the Little Woods Bed and Breakfast.
If you want seclusion, this is it.
If you want to be surrounded by Amish farms and neighbors, this place is it.
If you want to rest beneath a handmade quilt, most of them hand-stitched by the local Amish community, sleep here.
If you want to make friends with the other guests, stroll the owners’ wooded grounds, and explore the Amish backroads while riding a buggy, this place is for you.
About Big House in the Little Woods
Five miles from the busiest highway, stretched beneath a ruler-straight country road and robin’s egg blue sky, you’ll discover this get away from it all gem.
Along the way, you’ll see handmade road signs announcing locals’ cottage industries: There’s the woodworker, the toymaker, the weaver, and the family who hosts in-home dining.
You’ll also see an Amish girl, barefoot, playing with her kitten in her yard, a mom walking across the field to greet her neighbor, lots of Amish farms, and friendly waves from passers-by in their buggies.
You’ll even make friends with the local livestock.
Most of all, you’ll become quick friends with the owners of Big House in the Little Woods.
About The Owners
David and Gail Hodges grew up in the city, but it didn’t take long for them to settle into the country life eight years ago upon purchasing the already-established bed and breakfast.
One thing that significantly helped was the warmth of their surrounding Amish neighbors.
“I came home one day and saw four or five people standing around the sign by the road,” explained Gail. “As I drove closer, I realized it was my neighbor and her children, pulling weeds around the sign and flowers for me.”
Another time, she came home to her neighbors cleaning windows.
One Amish neighbor, whom they call “Ben,” is especially kind. Shared David, “Ben will come over some mornings and have breakfasts with the guests and just sit and talk with them. He understands people want to know about his culture.
“He also takes guests on buggy rides.”
Ben is the organizer of the well-known twice-a-year Honeyville Quilt Auction, occurring once in April and again in September. Nearly all the quilts sold are handmade by the Hodges’ Amish neighbors and surrounding rural community.
The quilts are, in a word, exquisite.
Most of the beds at Big House in the Little Woods are adorned with quilts from this auction. The other quilts are made by Gail and her mother.
About the Accommodations
Two very unique qualities make Big House in the Little Woods a very attractive place.
First, the Hodges established a wheelchair-accessible room. It has its own entrance, its own sitting room, and is assembled with all the rails, shower amenities, and wide frames needed for easy movement.
Second, the property is home to not one but two homes.
The main home has six rooms with private baths, several sitting areas, and a screened in porch that makes you feel as if you’re lounging outside but without insects.
The second property, also a two-story, is a former “dawdy house” that was moved from a different location, complete with the original 1950’s floor and locally-crafted hickory kitchen cabinets.
In this second property, visitors have access to a full kitchen. It contains two large bedrooms and an upstairs sitting area with a daybed.
Both homes are filled with beautiful antiques purchased inexpensively from the Shipshewana Antique Auction.
An Added Bonus
If you come at the right time of the year, say, Mid-June, David and Gail will also introduce you to other Amish neighbors who own a small strawberry patch.
I couldn’t help but make my way there, as the Hodges spoke so kindly about the family. Sure enough, the mom and her six children greeted me and loaded me up with strawberries. The Millers were busy making homemade jam, but they visited with me a few minutes, the two of the girls escorted me back to my car.
Upon leaving Big House in the Little Woods and the neighbors, I felt a renewed sense of perspective that the area obviously encouraged in me: to slow down, embrace the simple things, and celebrate the kindness of humanity.
Big House in the Little Woods Bed & Breakfast is located only eight miles from downtown Shipshewana, at:
4245 South 1000 West
Millersburg, IN 46543
(260) 593-9076
Rose Scott calls the folks who park their tents, campers, or motorhomes at the Shipshewana Campground-South Park her “happy campers.”
Wish you were here! These sites can handle the larger campers and motorhomes.
“They come in tired from a long day of traveling, they set up, and they’re so glad they’re here,” she explains. “Those who camp here are some of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet.”
Rose and husband Harry, the owners of the campground, also own the Shipshewana Campground-North and Amish Log Cabin Lodging on those grounds, along with this campground.
Imagine your camper here!
While no cabins exist on this south campground, this location is also lovely and according to Rose, attracts lovely people.
“People have hosted weddings and reunions here. We also have a “Camp Jam” where professional dulcimer players come in, play concerts, and hold workshops. We get a lot of positive feedback on that one.”
The pavilion was once transformed into a beautiful wedding barn with twinkling lights all around.
One year, Rose tells, a couple traveled all the way from Austria to visit Shipshewana over a holiday weekend. The campground had only one night of vacancy, said Rose, “so I just took them home with us. That’s not a normal practice of mine, but I felt really bad. Two days later they told us they were travel writers. I sure hope they wrote a nice article about us!”
One especially funny story happened along the tent area, my personally favorite part of this campground that is situated on the back part of the location and is nestled in beside a beautiful rolling field and tall oaks.
Tent sites located on the far end of the campground.
“This family was camping in a tent where one of the cows came through the back fence and was mooing,” shared Rose. “They were so upset the next day they demanded their money back because a cow was ‘harassing’ them. I thought it was a pretty neat cultural experience, myself.”
This campground has large pull-in areas for the bigger campers and motor homes with slide-outs. Fresh landscaping, two pavilions, pet walks, game fields, a gazebo, two bath houses, and an enclosed porch area nice amenities here.
And if you choose to come and stay, you’ll find yourself being a very happy camper here, too.
Shipshewana Campground-South Park
1105 S Van Buren Street (SR 5)
Shipshewana, IN 46565
260.768.4669
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June in Shipshewana is made for memories, and you have plenty of opportunities to make them with friends and family.
In the month of June alone, nearly two dozen special events are offered. Some are free, some you can take at your own pace, but all of the Shipshewana Amish Backroads offerings are family-friendly.
From concerts and musicals to shopping, tours, and celebrations, find whatever you’re looking for here, but most of all, find contentment all around.
This summer in Shipshewana and LaGrange County: Where memories await.
Concerts & Musicals
June brings a veritable “Who’s Who” list of artists who continue to top the charts in their genres of music. Be sure to note whether the concert will be held at either the Blue Gate Theater or at the larger Shipshewana Event Center.
Squire Parsons Friday, June 7, 7-9 pm, Blue Gate Theater
This dove award winning songwriter and vocalist performs in his deep baritone voice popular gospel songs like his well-known “Sweet Beulah Land.”
Spike & the Bulldogs Saturday, June 8, 8-11 pm, Shipshewana Event Center
The Shipshewana Event Center proudly announces the first local appearance this renowned 50’s and 60’s band.
Ronnie Milsap Wednesday, June 12, 7-9:30 pm., Shipshewana Event Center
This country singer has been on the forefront of the Nashville scene for forty years, and fans still flock to his concerts.
Gatlin Brothers Thursday, June 13, 7:00 pm., Shipshewana Event Center
Over the course of a four-decade career that has taken the Gatlin Brothers from dusty Texas stages to White House performances and more, the family harmony and music of this three-brother trio continues strong.
Gospel Jubilee Friday, June 14, 1-3 pm & 7-9 pm, Shipshewana Event Center
For the first time in this area, the Jubilee group consisting of the Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, and Legacy Five, will be uniting in Shipshewana for two concerts.
Gaither Vocal Band, Saturday, June 15, 1:00-3:30; 7:00-9:30 pm, Shipshewana Event Center
With Bill Gaither still at the helm, this five-member team is known world-wide for its quarter of a century songs and harmonies.
Inspirations Friday, June 21, 7-9 pm, Blue Gate Theater
Still packing churches and concert halls to capacity, the boys from Bryson City, NC continue to offer amazing gospel harmony, with original member and pianist Martin Cook leading the way.
Gospel Caravan Friday, June 28, & Saturday, June 29, 7 pm, Blue Gate Theater
What began in the 1960s as a gospel group that incorporated great artists coming together to form a single group, today remains deeply rooted in their tradition of great sound and versatility.
Half-Stitched the Musical June 1-29, Blue Gate Theater
Amish widow Emma Yoder’s first quilt class brings the most unlikely people together at this show exclusive to Shipshewana. Based on similar novels by Christian Fiction writer Wanda Brunstetter.
Shopping
Shipshewana is home to over 100 downtown shops and the location of the Midwest’s largest flea market. Throughout LaGrange County, you’ll find Amish-owned cottage businesses featuring furniture, homemade quilts, ice cream, and more.
Specific to June includes these notable shopping experiences:
Apple Creek Alley is inviting you to celebrate their new location and offer you a chance to come in and experience their friendly hospitality again! Sample gourmet dips, receive discounts, and enter for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate. May 27-June 1, 115 Harrison Street, downtown Shipshewana.
Shipshewana Antique Market June 1, 2013, 8:00-5:00.
100+ Antique vendors gather to sell high quality antiques on the meandering grassy grounds at the Trading Place Antique Gallery.
Newbury Square Swap Meet & Flea Market Saturday, June 15, Daylight to 1:00 pm
Located ¼ mile west of SR 5 on US 20, this smaller flea market venue features local items, produce, and more.
Outdoors
Shipshewana’s Amish backroads in the summer is a huge playground of fun. Enjoy these special June outdoors events:
Reminisces of Shipshewana June 14-15, Noon-5 pm Friday, June 14, 9-4 pm Saturday June 15.
Enjoy watching the old trades of the past on these two days downtown Shipshewana. Storytelling, wool spinning and weaving, woodcarving, and copper smith, blacksmith, and steam-powered sawmill demonstrations are all featured at this history-sharing event.
14th Annual Pumpkinvine Bike Ride Saturday, June 15, 7:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Starting at the Shipshewana Flea Market, join 1,300 other bicyclists and benefit from generous SAGs serving locally produced foods. Enjoy riding on the former Pumpkinvine Railroad Trail, now a paved nature trail that leads through Amish countryside with beautiful scenery. A variety of ride lengths are offered for all biking levels.
Calf Days Celebration at Cook’s Bison Ranch Saturday, June 15, 10:00-4:00 pm.
Enjoy a buffalo-roaming kind of day where you can hitch a free wagon ride to see and feed the buffalo. Have fun participating in over a dozen other related activities at Cook’s Bison Ranch.
Old Mill Festival & Hotcakes for Huntington’s Saturday, June 15, 8am-2pm
Join the owners of the historical Greenfield Mills for a pancake breakfast and tour of the mill where the ever-popular New Rinkel Flour is made. Proceeds benefit the Indiana Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, and the HDSA National Youth Alliance.
Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail
Thousands of flowers planted in quilt patterns create amazing, super-sized garden murals located throughout LaGrange County. Enjoy this colorful display at your own pace for free. Contact the LaGrange County Visitor’s Center for a map.
Photo Credit: Danny Graber
LaGrange County Barn Quilt Trail
Jump in your car, grab your camera, download the map, and relish the beauty of over three dozen barn quilt murals that adorn barns and buildings of six LaGrange County communities. The LaGrange County Barn Quilt Trail celebrates Indiana’s history of agriculture, the time-honored tradition of quilting, community pride, and Hoosier hospitality.
Quilting
LaGrange County is the mecca of quilting, given its deeply-rooted tradition of handmade quilting from the local culture. What was once a practical skill today has become an art form that you can participate in at these events:
Shipshewana Quilt Festival Wed., June 26-Saturday, June 29, 2013. All day events.
As the region’s largest event of its kind, join thousands of others for this four-day event, with renown quilter Wendy Butler Berns as the featured personality. Attend workshops, view stunning quilts at the quilt and vendor show, and experience Shipshewana hospitality at this unforgettable event that you’ll want to return to year after year.
39th Annual Topeka Honeyville Quilt Show and Sale, Monday June 24, 9 am-5 pm
The 39th annual show and sale averages 80 exhibitors displaying over 1,300 quilted items, with most of the items for sale. This event is held at the Eden Worship Center in the small town of Topeka.
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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.
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