• Oct 31

The Flea Market might be closed for the season, and summer might be over, but that’s okay, because the holiday happenings begin NOW in Shipshewana!

What’s your holiday preference? Traditional? We have dozens of trees. Flashy? Catch our light parade! Family-themed? We have that, too, from chocolate walks to concerts. Old fashioned? Feast your eyes on our antiques. Whatever your style, you’re going to love celebrating with us. Read on for our November events, and then visit us–you’ll be sure to make great memories and start new traditions.

November 2: Antique & Collectibles Show at the Antique Auction Barn, 345 S. Van Buren St., 9-5
You’ll find all sorts of collectibles and more at this show. Items are reasonably priced. Enjoy antiquing? You’ll find some great items.

November 6: Antique Specialty Auction at the Shipshewana Antique Auction Building, 345 S. Van Buren Street, 11 am-3 pm
What’s your specialty? Last year I found a mother-of-pearl handled mirror, and it looks stunning on my dresser! A gentleman who had collected over 300 clocks in his lifetime “needed just one more.”

November 8: Evening at the Gallery at the Antique Gallery, 368 S. Van Buren St. 6-8 pm
Meet your favorite antique dealers, make new friends, and enjoy homemade refreshments as you browse hundreds of booths, all indoors.

November 8, 9: The Chuck Wagon Gang at the Blue Gate Theater
This new generation of vocalists will wow you with their harmonies as much as previous generations of The Chuck Wagon Gang.

November 9: Kingsbury House Gallery Holiday Open House downtown Howe
Kingsbury House is its own story with quite a history, and it has been completely restored as a gallery housing fine art from local artists. If you’re looking for something especially unique, this is the place to come, and you can enjoy 15% off at the Open House.

November 9: Sleigh Bells on Parade, Downtown Shipshewana, 6-8 pm
Thousands of people come to Shipshewana for this event, bringing blankets and hot chocolate to make memories at the light parade. At the end of the parade, awards are presented for “best of” floats, and then the tall tree in front of Blue Gate Theater is turned on to light up the entire downtown area.

November 9- throughout the holiday season: Christmas Tree Shimmer Walk
E
njoy all the beautifully-decorated trees throughout our numerous shops. Vote for your favorite as well. This tour-on-your-own-time event will be sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

November 9: The Bulldogs Concert at the Shipshewana Event Center, 8-11 pm
Who doesn’t enjoy a throwback concert reminiscent of the 60s and 70s? The Bulldogs have made quite a name for themselves and have a large following. Sit back, enjoy, and be entertained with finger-snapping music!

November 15: Soul’d Out Quartet at the Blue Gate Theater
Soul’d Out Quartet brings tight harmony and great sound to their concert in this growing genre of Gospel Music. Based in Georgetown, Ohio, Soul’d Out Ministries was formed in 2001 as a trio and then reformed as an all male quartet in 2004. Soul’d Out is a full time ministry touring 25 states each year.

November 15: 4th Annual AYCE Fish Fry and Giveaway, LaGrange County Fairgrounds, 4-8:30 pm; K-9 Demonstration at 6 pm
Fish fries are very popular in Northern Indiana, and this fish fry is one of the freshest and best. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere and company as you eat, and you’ll love the K-9 demonstration after dessert.

November 15-17: Essenhaus Tour of Trees, 10 am-8 pm
Take a self-guided tour throughout the Essenhaus campus in the neighboring town of Middlebury and enjoy 30+ beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Pick up a location guide at any cash register and select your favorite themed tree. Return your entry fee and be entered at a chance to win 1 of 3 gift baskets with a cash value of $100 packed with Christmas decorating supplies and ornaments.

November 16: Chocolate Day, beginning at Aunt Millie’s Candy and Nuts in the Davis Mercantile
Homemade caramels, turtles, fudge, chocolate covered peanuts, haystacks, truffles, buckeyes, and more, all smothered in the freshest chocolate around. Purchase a chocolate box at Aunt Millie’s Candy & Nuts on the 3rd floor of the Davis Mercantile, and then visit 20 different stores to fill your box.

November 21: Studebaker’s Holiday Open House, 201 S Chapin St., South Bend, 5:30-8:00 pm.
This isn’t just any car–it’s the Studebaker! You’ll get free admission to this open house, refreshments, and a chance to snap a photo in front of a holiday-decorated Studebaker.

November 29-through Christmas: Gingerbread House Display and Contest, Davis Mercantile
You’ll be quite impressed at the detail these gingerbread houses display, and they’re all made by non-professionals!

November 29: David Pendleton at the Blue Gate Theater, 7 pm
As one of the nation’s premiere ventriloquists, David will make your believe anything can talk! A 20-year veteran entertainer, David’s humor and stellar technique keep audiences laughing from start to finish.

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.

Leave a comment

  • Oct 24

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener

Animal Damage in the Winter Landscape

There is a lot of work that gardeners put into planting and caring for trees and shrubs in the landscape.  One of the most annoying things you can see in the spring is plants that have been gnawed by mice or chewed on by deer and rabbits.  There are a few things you can do this fall to help protect plants from winter time feeding by animals.

Nutrients and water are shuttled through the plant in the bark, so when it is chewed off the plant suffers.  There more a trunk or branch is “girdled” (bark being removed) the less chance the plant has for survival.

Mice tend to live in tall grass or mulch around plants, so an easy fix would be to keep the mulch away from the trunk of a tree and to mow down the tall grass.  Mouse baits can be used but it is best to keep the bait contained in small box with a 1 inch opening or an empty soda can so that larger animals and children cannot get to it.  It is also possible that pets will get sick or die from eating a bait-killed rodent.

Rabbits will walk on compacted snow and will do their damage up higher on the plant.  To protect your plants from them you can wrap the trunk with tree wrap, a plastic tree guard or make a cylinder of hardware cloth mesh.  If using a wire mesh it should extend beyond the trunk by about an inch all around and be about 18 to 24 inches above the snow level.  If possible affix the mesh to the ground with 6 inch wire ground staples.  To keep mice from digging under the screen, bury it a few inches into the soil.  Scattering dried bloodmeal or mothballs with discourage rabbits in a small garden area.

If you have many trees or shrubs to protect there are taste and odor repellants that you can use too.  The down side to this is that if the rabbits or deer are hungry enough they will eat the bark anyway just to stay alive.  These repellants work by being sprayed on the tree or shrub.  This will have to be done again after a rain.  Soak some old rags in the repellant and hang them on the plants too.  Such smells work by interfering with the deer’s acute sense of smell and so of smelling potential danger nearby.

If all else fails you may have to resort to using fencing.  It is the most reliable deer control solution, but not always the most practical or aesthetically pleasing.  They are good jumpers and it is commonly recommended to use 8 foot high fencing to keep them out.  With individual fruit trees or shrubs you can place stakes around them then wrap with mesh deer netting.

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information about gardening and related subjects can be found online at www.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs

The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service can be reached at 499-6634 in LaGrange Co., 636-2111 in Noble Co., 925-2562 in DeKalb Co. and 668-1000 in Steuben Co.

Leave a comment

  • Oct 13

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener

The October Garden

Some may think that, with the arrival of the cooler weather of fall, garden duties become less.  I find that not so true.  There are still many things to do, including some planting for the next   growing season.  Planting garlic for next summers’ harvest, sowing a cover crop and digging up dahlias and cannas are just a few of the chores to get done before winter weather sets in.

October is garlic planting time.  Purchase garlic meant for seed or buy organic garlic.  Commercial garlic that you buy in the grocery store may have been treated to inhibit sprouting.  Plant individual cloves root end down (pointed end up) 2 inches deep and 8 inches apart.  Garlic likes well-drained, compost- amended soil.  Once the ground has frozen, cover the garlic bed with 6 inches of straw or some shredded leaves to protect it from the winter weather.

After frost has blackened the tops of dahlias and cannas, cut the foliage back to 2 inches then dig up the tubers.  Let them dry for a day or two, but not much more as they will start to shrivel.  Brush off the dirt and store them in a crate or cardboard box that has been lined with perforated plastic.  Fill the box/crate with dry peat moss or wood shavings and keep the tubers moist but not wet or they will rot.  Store them in a cool, dark place at 35 to 45 degrees F.

Keep your trees and shrubs well watered, including evergreens, especially those that were newly planted this season until the ground freezes.  Woody plants may look like they have gone dormant, but their roots are still active until late in the season.  The foliage of evergreens can be damaged by the drying effects of winter wind and sun, especially if they are planted in a southern or western exposure.  The use of burlap screens can help protect them.

If you have had your soil tested, now is the time to add any needed amendments.  Doing so will have your garden ready for spring planting.

When cleaning your flower garden this fall remember to leave some of the seed heads for the birds.  The seed heads of plants like purple coneflower (Echinacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), coreopsis and cosmos will provide tasty treats for birds such as goldfinches.

My favorite fall chore is to pot up some spring bulbs for forcing.  Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, grape hyacinths and any other spring bulbs that need a cold treatment will work.  It is not recommended to mix up different kinds of bulbs in the same pot unless you know they will all bloom at the same time.  Place the well-watered pots in cold storage (35 to 45 degrees) for 12 to 16 weeks.  Check on them now and then and water when the soil is dry.  After they have had a sufficient cold treatment, bring them into a warm, sunny location to enjoy their pre-spring beauty.

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

Leave a comment

  • Oct 10

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener

Chives are a member of the lily family and are grown for the many uses of their leaves and flowers.  Both onion and garlic chives are grown and used much alike.  The hollow, round leaves of onion chives, as the name implies, gives an onion flavor when added to foods.  The leaves of garlic chives differ in that they are flat and add a garlic flavor to foods.  Garlic chives are sometimes also called Chinese chives.

Plant chives in rich, well- drained soil and a sunny location.  They like plenty of compost or a good slow-release fertilizer at planting time.  They will not need much care other than water until their roots have established.  If you harvest often, apply a liquid fertilize every three to four weeks.  Onion chives produce purple globe flowers and the garlic chives will have many small white flowers.  By keeping the flowers snipped the plant will produce more leaves.  Cut the plants back to the ground after a few freezes have occurred in late fall.  Chives grow in clumps and can be divided in the spring.  Garlic chives will reseed themselves generously, and I mean generously!  They produce such pretty flowers, but in those flowers are many seeds.  If you are going to grow them, place them in an area so they can take off without them obtaining a weed status.  That happened to me.  I had to dig up all the “stray” plants.  Of course if you snip the flowers off you will not have that problem.

Neem or insecticidal soap can be used to rid the plant of aphids.  Spray thoroughly, getting down into the crown of the clump.  Watch for aphids during the growing season, but especially in the spring.

Avoid harvesting the leaves on a newly planted chive until the second year.  This gives the roots a chance to become well established.  After the leaves are about 6” tall they may be harvested by cutting them off about 1” above the soil line.  Although fresh is preferred, you can store some for winter use by chopping them into ½” lengths and placing them into ice cube molds with some water.  Freeze them, then defrost an ice cube or two when you need them.  You can also preserve them in herb butters, oils and vinegars.

Add the chopped leaves to food at the very end of the cooking process as their mild flavor is destroyed by heat.  The purple flowers of onion chives are also edible and look pretty floating in soup.  I find the flavor of garlic chives to be a bit stronger than onion chives.

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information 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 County

Leave a comment

  • Sep 26

You’re a simple guy or gal, right? All  you need is a place to lay your head at night. A comfortable, clean bed. A bit of television to watch until you get sleepy.

The rest of the time, we’ll find you exploring the area. Enjoying parks, lakes, or the Amish backroads.

Enter two budget hotels: Patriot Inn in Howe, and Budget Motel in LaGrange.

Both motels offer the basics when the basics are all you want to pay for so you can go about your business everywhere else.

The Patriot Inn is located near the I 80-90 Toll Road, perfect for visiting the Michiana Event Center, downtown Howe, or Howe Military School. You’ll definitely want to start your day at the Howe Restaurant where you can get homemade, fresh, huge cinnamon rolls.

Budget Motel in LaGrange is right downtown near the intersection of US 20 and SR 9. You’ll have easy access to all the lakes, downtown shopping, and many LaGrange County parks. Start your day from this hotel by visiting the ever-popular Foltz Bakery.

Best of all, Shipshewana is a quick 10 minute drive from both places. Along the way, explore the backroads cottage businesses, or download a map for the LaGrange County Barn Quilt Trail.

Then in the evening, come back, get some great shut-eye, and have another great day tomorrow.

Just think of all the money you’ll save….

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.

Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

  • Sep 22

No need to fear spending October in Shipshewana and LaGrange County. We have no ghosts, goblins, or other spooky items. What we do have are family-friendly events that will leave you a-howling for more. Read on to see what we have planned just for you:

October 1-31: “The Confession: The Musical,” Blue Gate Theater
This musical, revised from the books by Christian fiction writer Beverly Lewis, will have you both laughing and crying. You’ll also enjoy the beautiful songs, written exclusively for the musical.”

10/3-10/5 Fall Crafters Fair, downtown Shipshewana
This very popular annual event always packs the town with crafters, lovers of crafts, and entertainers. Food vendors are set up along with craft tents, a farm animal petting area, and four tents of beautiful, handmade arts and crafts.

10/10-10/11 Gold City,  7 pm, Blue Gate Theater
Since the group’s formation some 30 years ago in the historical gold rush town of Dahlonega, GA, this Southern Gospel quartet has consistently remained at the top of their field with songs like “In My Robe of White” and “I’ll Think I’ll Read it Again.”

10/12 Lonesome Meadow Band, 6:30 pm, Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury
Enjoy a mixture of classic and progressive bluegrass from a group known from Canada to Florida; you’ll especially enjoy their version of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”

10/15 LaGrange County Council on Aging Senior Expo, Michiana Event Center, Howe
This event is free and open to the public of all ages. This is a great opportunity to gather information about local businesses, health care, and senior service providers. Several health screenings will be available as well.

10/16 Toy Auction, Shipshewana Antique Auction Building, 9 am-1 pm
In Conjunction with our regular Wednesday Miscellaneous and Antique Auction, this exciting auction also specializes in vintage toys. Remember Rock’em Sock’em Robot or that special Barbie case? They might just be there!

10/17 The Hoppers, Blue Gate Theater
This family of gospel singers has had six number one releases, beginning with “Here I Am” in 1990, then “Milk and Honey,” “Mention My Name,” “Anchor to the Power of the Cross,” “Yes I am, and “Jerusalem.”

10/23-10/25 Home, Holiday & Fashion Show Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury
Registration is open for this event, now in its 14th year that includes a fashion show, delicious Essenhaus meal, gift ideas, show specials, holiday decorating tips, door prizes, and gift ideas.

10/24-10/26 Dailey & Vincent, Blue Gate Theater
In 2008, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent became the most heralded new act in 2008. Today they are widely known for their unique sound and blend, but never straying from their core bluegrass sound.

10/26 Newbury Square Swap Meet & Flea Market, Daylight-1 pm, Shipshewana
Enjoy a smaller flea market experience at this monthly event located just west of the SR 5 and US 20 intersection. Parking Fee: $2.00.

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.

Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

  • Sep 15

Of all the articles I have written on lodging in Shipshewana & LaGrange County, almost all the places featured provide access to the local culture.

Hollow Ridge Lodging is the most unique for numerous reasons, and one of the eight reasons listed below might just be why you choose to stay here.

Reason One: Hollow Ridge Lodging is owned by an Amish family.
While most bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts are owned by very friendly, hospitable owners, and are great places to stay, Hollow Ridge is located right on the property of an Amish family, the Fermen Hostetler family.

Reason Two: The Hostetler family will show you around.
LeWayne, the fifteen year old son, is one of eight siblings. Not all the siblings still live at home, but LeWayne works nearby and also was my guide. LeWayne was interactive and friendly with me. He knew numerous aspects about the property, the log cabins, and his own family heritage. Had I visited only to get to know LeWayne, the time and effort would have been rewarded greatly by his friendly demeanor and local “Dutch” accent.

I asked LeWayne if guests would want to spend time with his family in order to be immersed in the culture, he affirmed that yes, they would. Learning about the area is the reason why most people visit here.

Reason Three: The cabins are situated on a remote hilltop.
The terrain tends to be pretty flat around here with a few rolling hills, but the hill upon which the cabins are located is exceptional for this area. The views are stunning, and you truly are surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

Reason Four: The cabins are fully furnished.
They are simply adorable. You will have electricity and personal facilities. The beds and rockers are locally handmade. The beds are adorned with beautiful quilts, although they don’t look to be homemade quilts. Outside, the porches are nap-worthy, and there is also a fire ring for your evening campfires. In other words, you’ll be surrounded by nature without really roughing it.

Reason Five: You can visit with the deer.
The Hostetlers own several deer, with two of them so tame, they came right up to me and sniffed my camera. My squeal of delight scared them off.

Reason Six: You can shop their small on-site store.
Back down the hill is another small cabin, but it contains rows of Grandma’s Country Kitchen jams and jellies, a few woven rugs, and some other cute items the family makes.

Reason Seven: You are one mile away from Rise-N-Roll Deli & Bakery.
Hollow Ridge Lodging is located on the same road as Rise-N-Roll. If LeWayne’s mom’s morning cinnamon rolls aren’t filling enough for you, you can literally walk to the deli and bakery for more treats.

Reason Eight: You can rent bikes.
You’re on a country road: Why wouldn’t you want to rent a bike and ride freely on the Amish backroads?

Reason Nine: You are 1.3 miles from the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.
If you can make it that far on your bike, then you can enjoy a wonderful ride (or stroll) on this paved path that connects Middlebury and Shipshewana. Or, you can always drive, as there is a graveled small lot.

Reason Ten: The cabins are centrally located between Middlebury and Shipshewana.
Your accommodations will have you feeling as if you really got away from the hustle and bustle, but you’re only five miles from Shipshewana and four miles from Middlebury.

What would interest you about staying at Hollow Ridge Lodging?

Hollow Ridge Lodging is located at 1695 N 1150 West, Middlebury, Indiana.

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.

Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

  • Sep 13

Karen Weiland, Purdue Master Gardener

The Basics of Tomato Flavor

There are plenty of fresh tomatoes to be had this time of year.  What makes the best tasting tomato?  Well, that all depends on what your taste buds prefer and a blend of plant chemistry and garden variables such as temperature, soil, rain and sun.

Tomato flavor is a balance of sugar and acidity and the mix of other compounds within the tomato.  Sugars and acids are more fully understood, but the mix of the other compounds are still a bit elusive.  The tomatoes that have a more sour or acidic taste have higher levels of acids combined with low levels of sugars.  A tomato high in sugars and low in acids is going to have a sweeter taste.  If a tomato is low in both sugar and acid, it will have a bland taste.  According to the University of Florida tomato breeder Dr. Jay Scott “an interaction of a plants’ genetics with the environment is the key to tomato flavor.”

Choose certain varieties for flavor.  Size of fruit- higher sugar concentrations are reached in cherry and grape tomatoes as opposed to the full size tomatoes.  Color of fruit-different pigments tend to produce different balances of sugars and acids.  Orange or yellow fruits often taste milder and less acidic than their red counterparts.  Some black tomatoes, which are created from the mixture of red and green pigments, have a tendency to have a more complex flavor.  A yellow tomato is not necessarily less acidic than a red or black tomato, it’s that the combination of sugar and acid levels and the other elusive compounds I mentioned earlier, makes for a milder taste.  Have yourself a tomato tasting, try some of each color and decide for yourself.  Foliage-an abundance of leaves can catch a greater amount of sunlight, therefore a plant with a lot of healthy foliage can convert more sunlight into sugars and other flavor enhancing components.  Do you prefer heirloom varieties?  Their abundance of leaves may partially explain why some folks think they are so packed with flavor.

Tweaking your gardening practices can also help make a difference in flavor.  Soil-don’t forget that all important soil test.  Amend the soil with lots of organic matter and include plenty of potassium and sulfur.  Water sparingly as the fruit matures as dry soil concentrates flavor compounds.  Temperature-the ideal temps for growing tomatoes is 80’s during the day and 50 to 60 during the night.  This does not mean that you cannot grow great tasting tomatoes if you have less than ideal temps, it helps to choose varieties that are suited to your growing zone.  Sun-tomatoes prefer 8 hours of full sun daily.  Sunlight maximizes photosynthesis in tomatoes, allowing the plants to make carbohydrates that are turned into sugars, acids and other compounds in them.

In the end it’s all a matter of taste – yours!

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 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 County

Tags: | Leave a comment

  • Sep 10

By Karen Weiland, Master Gardener

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a very popular flowering shrub that likes consistently moist, well-drained soil in a partially shaded area. There are some plants that can take full sun, however, the bigleaf Hydrangea needs to be well shaded from the hot afternoon sun as its leaves will wilt in full sun even if the soil is moist. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for many Hydrangea. These plants will need to be watered very well during dry spells. You can expect most of them to flower from early summer through the fall and can be used as a specimen plant or a shrub border.

The name Hydrangea comes from the Greek “hydra” (water) and “angeon” (vessel). There are 5 major groups: climbing, smooth, panicle, oakleaf and bigleaf. Some Hydrangea bloom on what is known as “old wood” or the wood produced during the previous year. These Hydrangea should be pruned after they are finished flowering. Hydrangeas that flower on “new wood” (current seasons growth), such as “Endless Summer” Blushing Bride, should be pruned in the winter or early spring before growth starts. To encourage reblooming, remove spent flowers. There are also some plants that will bloom on both old and new wood, such as the “Endless Summer” Twist and Shout.

The flower color of some cultivars of the Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is affected by the soil pH. Blue shades are obtained in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. The change in color depends on the concentration of aluminum in the soil. This quick growing plant will reach a height of 3 to 6 feet. The Hydrangea on the north side of my house is called “Endless Summer” Twist and Shout, a reblooming lacecap that enjoys the protected spot.

One of the most cold-hardy Hydrangea species is Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). The flowers are set on new wood and therefore should be pruned in winter or early spring. It is also a fast grower reaching a height of 10 to 20 feet. Mine is currently blooming with the flowers measuring a good 8 inches long. I like to dry the blooms and use them in arrangements.

Unfortunately, Hydrangea are not without pest or disease problems. Spider mites, aphids, scale and rose chafer are some pest problems and rust, powdery mildew and leaf spot are some disease problems. Knock on wood, I have not had any problems with any of these.

More extensive information about the Hydrangea can be found online at www.extension.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/growing-hydrangeas

As always, Happy Gardening!

More information about gardening and related subjects is available online at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs.html 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 County

Tags: | Leave a comment

  • Aug 30
  • Posted on Friday, August 30th, 2013
  • by Tammy Tilley in
  • Accommodations

Waiting in line at a Shipshewana ice cream stand recently, I struck up conversation with a couple from New York who meet up with a group of other couples annually, and they RV camp in nearby Goshen.

“Staying in Goshen,” I thought to myself, “I wonder how many Shipshewana visitors do that?”

Turns out, quite a few, and one of the places they enjoy staying is at Goshen’s Super 8 Hotel.

This value hotel is located on the southeastern tip of the town of Goshen, close to shops and also to the Amish community in that area (If you enjoy exploring the backroads in search of cottage industries, this is a nice location.).

Something very important to travelers is a clean room, and this Super 8 fits the bill in that area. The hotel also offers what we assume are standard amenities such as Wi-Fi, hair dryer, suites, and laundry facilities. However, never “assume” these amenities are free; I recently stayed at a higher-end hotel near Chicago, and Wi-Fi there was a $10.00 per day charge. Yeah, I didn’t use it.

Super 8 also has a free breakfast waiting for you each morning, along with the all-important fresh, hot coffee.

Take the Amish backroads from Goshen's Super 8, and you'll enter Topeka, home of Yoder Popcorn.

And of course, Shipshewana is never too far away. As a matter of fact, from here, you can travel east through Millersburg on into LaGrange County into the little towns of Topeka and Emma, then up into Shipshewana. You’ll really enjoy the drive, and you’ll see tons of places to stop and visit.

All in all, Super 8 is a pretty “super” place to hang your hat for awhile.

When you come to Shipshewana, where do you like to stay?

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.

Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

« Older posts
  • Subscribe by RSS

    Or, subscribe by email...