Northeast Chapter Events & Activities 2020
Coming Soon
Saturday, April 25
Spring Hike at Dustin Preserve
Joint event with ACRES Land Trust centered on the book Wake Up, Woods. Meet at 10 am at ACRES office, 1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, Indiana for a brief reading/overview of the book followed by a hike in the spring woods at the Dustin Preserve. Books will be available to purchase at the event. Judith will arrange for books to be purchased at the event. Members of ACRES and the NE Chapter of INPS only. Limit of 50 people.
On the Horizon
Mark your calendar for the rest of the year
The Program and Stewardship Committees are still working out the details for some of the events. Watch for updates here and in future emails.
Pop-Up May: Help plant an all native Sacred Grounds garden at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne. The planting is weather dependent so that is the reason it is a pop-up. This garden was made possible through an INPS Biodiversity Grant.
June 13: Plant swap and discussion at Eagle Marsh barn starting at 9 am. For NE INPS members and LRWP volunteers only.
June 27: Walking tour of native gardens in downtown Auburn starting with pollinator garden at Eckhart Teen Library (705 S. Jackson St), native shrubs and plants in landscaping at main Library (Jackson Street), monarch mural at 6th and Main, Auburn Brewing Company and ending at a downtown residential garden. The Eckhart Library is co-sponsoring.
Mid-Summer: Invasive plant identification and what to do at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne.
Mid-Summer: Native garden tour of a what a recently retired man wrought with a vision of being surrounded by butterflies and birds.
Aug 1: Picnic for members and guests at Tony and Victoria Fleming’s home in Noble County. We will start at 11 am and after lunch will explore the Crooked Lake fen. Guests bring dish to share and their own table service.
Sept. 26: Seed Collection and Hike with Blue Heron Ministries from noon to 4pm. Meet at Chapel of the Lakes Presbyterian Church, 2955 W. Orland Rd., Angola. Co-Sponsor is Nate Simons, director, and staff of Blue Heron Ministries (BHM). We will help with the collection of native seed stock on property owned or managed by BHM. RSVP: Sign up deadline is September 21, 2020. RSVP to janel6709@gmail.com. Ride sharing a definite possibility!
Fall: Annual meeting at Merry Lea
Early Nov.: Invasive plant removal workday.
Join the Indiana Native Plant Society today and don’t miss the opportunity for the member-only events!
Past Events
Pop-Up March: Part 2 of the January talk, weather permitting, we will watch Blue Heron Ministries burn Dennis and Sandy Lamp’s prairie near Avilla. There will be little advanced notice. Members only.
Saturday, February 15
2020 Winter Hike at Little River Wetlands
Winter is a wonderful season to experience these wetlands! Dress for the weather–waterproof boots are recommended. From West Jefferson Blvd., turn south on Olde Canal Place across from the entrance to Lutheran Hospital. The Boy Scout Office is at the end of Olde Canal Place past the Extended Stay American. The hike will be led by Beth Ricketts, an Indiana Master Naturalist, INPS program committee member, LRWP trail guide and long time LRWP Rambler. 2 PM, West end of Eagle Marsh (meet at Boy Scout Office parking lot at 8315 W. Jefferson Blvd.). Hosted by Little River Wetlands Project and the Northeast Chapter of INPS.
Saturday, February 1
Wetland Seed Propagation Class
Celebrate World Wetlands Day by attending a full day of activities in Allen County sponsored by ACRES Land Trust, Allen County Parks, Allen County Partnership for Water Quality, Allen County Public Library, City of Fort Wayne,and the Environmental Resources Center at Purdue Fort Wayne. Do not miss out on the seed propagation class sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project and our Chapter of INPS. Space is limited. Please email Betsy Yankowiak at b.yankowiak@lrwp.org to secure your spot or for more information. 1:30 PM, Little River Wetlands Office, 5000 Smith Road, Fort Wayne.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
The Insider’s Guide to Burning Prairies
Nate Simons is the Executive Director of Blue Heron Ministries, Inc. He will be sharing his extensive knowledge of prairies with us, focusing on the why and how of prescribed prairie burning. These prescribed burns mimic the lightening strikes and native American burns in the past and are critical to sustaining healthy prairie ecosystems.
Come on out to Rieke Park Lodge (just south of Rieke Park) to hear all the things you need to know to keep a vibrant prairie that will be bursting with pollinators and blooms.
This presentation is open to all so bring friends! A short-notice prairie burn on another date in Avilla, however, will only be available to INPS members. Join today so you don’t miss out on all the fiery excitement! 6 PM – 8 PM, Reike Park, 1600 N Indiana Ave, Auburn, IN(Google lists it as 4280-4238 Co Rd 27 )
November 8-9, 2019
INPS Annual Conference
Northeast Chapter topped the year off by hosting the statewide Indiana Native Plant Society’s Annual Conference at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne. Compliments were abundant and those INPS members who traveled to Fort Wayne for the first time were impressed. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and illustrated that our region not only is a showcase for excellent natural areas but also has the commitment from many experts and talented individuals who support our native plant mission.