2016 Purdue Master Gardener State Conference
Updates (5/5/2016):
Thursday Night Reception Still Open... See Below
ALL PRE-CONFERENCE TOUR REGISTRATIONS NOW CLOSED!
Pre-conference Options -Thursday, June 16, 2016
11:00 am – 5:00 pm (box lunches provided)
Option #1: Purdue Horticulture Tour
Established in 1982 and encompassing over half an acre, the Horticulture Garden at Purdue University is one of the most visually stunning landscapes on campus. Located on Marstellar Street, adjacent to the Horticulture Building, the garden is home to over 200 cultivars of annual flowers and nearly 1000 species of perennial flowers and foliage plants. Collections include herbaceous and tree peonies and ornamental grasses.
The student farm is the first farm at Purdue University managed primarily by students. The farm is being developed for and by the students to increase Purdue’s opportunity to offer real-life farm development, management and marketing skills. The students raise a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Produce is currently sold to restaurant outlets on campus and through farmers markets.
Tippecanoe County Master Gardener Display and Idea, Demonstration and Community Gardens:
Started in 1997, with a 10’ x 10’ plot used for instruction during Master Gardener intern training has grown to just over 0.5 acre demonstration gardens and another 2.5 acres of community gardens. The Demonstration Garden is a great resource of gardening information with hands on activities throughout the spring, summer and fall. A bounty of beautiful vegetables, it continues to provide over 2,700 pounds of produce to local food banks each year. Master Gardener volunteers tend the garden and share information with the public on growing vegetables in our area. The garden is located adjacent to the Extension office on Sagamore Parkway south in Lafayette.
The Community Garden project of the Master Gardener Association now has four sites with a total of 231 plots.
The Display and Idea Gardens are specialty theme gardens, grown and maintained individually by master gardeners with help from area gardeners, scout groups, friends and family. Themes include: American Flag Flower Garden, Butterfly Garden Canna garden, Children's Garden, Colonial Garden, Dahlia Garden, Daisy Garden, Easy Care Sunny Garden, Enabling Garden, Four Seasons Garden, Garden Art, Gigantics Garden, Gourd Trellis, Hail Purdue! Garden, Herb Garden, Iris Walk, Lotus Bog, Medicinal Plants Garden, Meditation Garden, Mickey's Student Garden, No Fuss Rose Garden, Rainbow Garden, Raspberry Garden, Scented Garden, Sunflower Room, Wildflower Garden.
These gardens are open sunrise to sunset, and are located next to the Extension office on Sagamore Parkway South.
Purdue Meigs Farm:
The Purdue Meigs research farm is located just south of Lafayette on over 800 acres of land. The farm is home to 147 research projects conducted by 39 researchers from 8 university departments, Purdue Extension, and the Ag industry. Twenty-eight different crops from apples to watermelons are grown and used for Purdue research projects on the farm.
The research emphasis includes weed management, insect management, soil fertility, agronomic crop production, ornamentals, fruit and vegetable production, and more…
Option #2: Hamstra Estate Tour, Wheatfield, IN (Private garden)
In 1962 Wilbert and Peggy Hamstra built their house on the site of an old farmstead surrounded by flat cornfields. Like most gardens, it started small and has grown through the years. Today much of the garden is gently rolling hills with a pond, two houses, a Japanese-inspired garden, “The Abbey” a ruins garden featuring a grotto fountain, a vine covered log arbor, and more on six-plus acres. Four gardeners tend the garden plus other outer areas. Most of the garden is shady, with only a few areas of sun.
A greenhouse out back shelters and produces most of the tender plants and annuals used in almost 300 containers and the few annual beds. Joyce Thomason, the head gardener is a Purdue grad in horticulture and will lead a tour of the gardens. Although there will not be enough time for a tour, there will be a brief stop at Fair Oaks Farms for a break and refreshments.
Option #3: Art in the Garden Workshop by Gabriela Sincich at the Lilly Nature Center, West Lafayette, IN
Gabriela Sincich (Purdue MG Intern, Tippecanoe County/accomplished artist and instructor)
SURPRISE YOURSELF! Do you ever wish to draw the plants and flowers you love? This is your opportunity to learn the basic steps in an art session specially designed for master gardeners. Gabriela will be leading a hands-on workshop focusing on botanical art with color pencils and paint, mixed with tips from the masters. Whether you are an experienced artist or a beginner, you will be inspired by this workshop. No previous art experience is required. All materials will be provided and participants will leave with a finished piece of original artwork.
Born in Argentina, Sincich grew up mentored by her father Bernardo Sincich (1931-2006), who was a landscape painter and a naturalist by heart. Later, Sincich attended the School of Fine Arts -National University of Córdoba-, Argentina, where she continued her studies of Fine Arts with a strong classical foundation, focusing in Painting and Drawing, Art History, and Visual Arts Education. Throughout her career, she has worked as a multifaceted visual artist, an illustrator, an art educator, and an art program developer for several organizations.
Thursday Night Reception with Vendors, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
(At Four Points by Sheraton)
Take advantage of a reception with the vendors and a visit from a surprise guest - (heavy hors d'ouerves will be served)
Tour the Purdue University Campus on the “Boilermaker Special”
--Thursday Night Reception Registration Required
--Weather Permitting
--Limited Spots Available
On the evening of Thursday, June 16, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, take a tour of the beautiful and nostalgic Purdue University campus on the “Boilermaker Special”. A guide will give an historic informational tour of this Big 10 university campus. You won’t want to miss this! Look for information on the conference registration form. (Limited spots available for Boilermaker Special tours only)
