The Indiana Chapter’s service project is a huge success! As part of National ASLA’s Year of Public Service initiative, YPS2013, the Indiana Chapter answered the call by designing and installing a sensory garden for Indianapolis-based non-profit Outside the Box, OTB. OTB provides day, employment and art services to over 200 adults with developmental disabilities. Earlier this year the Chapter lead a half-day design charette with OTB staff, participants’ family members, and BSU/PU students to develop concepts for transforming an underutilized courtyard at OTB’s headquarters into a sensory garden and outdoor education and programming space. Concepts from the charette were combined into a single site plan. After weeks of additional planning from the YPS2013 Steering Committee (Brian Staresnick, Rachel Johnson, Greg Pierceall, Jon Ruble, Jonathan Mooney) the project culminated in a day-long installation day on Saturday, April 27. Over 75 volunteers made up of OTB staff, family, participants and INASLA members, students and contractors worked hand-in-hand to install a basalt column fountain, seat wall boulders, two pergolas, concrete paths, crushed stone gathering space, wood deck, fencing, and seating.

We are very appreciative of our friend and former Indiana Chapter member Dean Hill who introduced INASLA to OTB and facilitated the project from the very beginning. Now living in Florida, Dean flew to Indianapolis and spent the week, leading up to the installation day, managing material donations and working through details with flat work and pergola contractors. On the topic of sponsorships, we couldn’t have done this without the generous donations, financial support, and donated time from vendors, contractors and local  businesses! Finally, a big thank you to all of our members that volunteered their time to ensure YPS2013 was a success! 

Saturday, May 11 INPAWS Native Plant Sale & Auction  Something for everyone at this popular annual event sponsored by the Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society. On offer will be native plants for shady, sunny, and wetland settings, a different selection every year. The choicest, rarest plants are set aside for the plant auction, an entertaining and informative opportunity to learn about Indiana natives. The pre-sale speaker is garden designer Hilary Cox, who will speak on “Native Alternatives for the Garden." The $10 fee for the talk entitles ticket holders to start shopping 15 minutes before the general public and get a discount off an auction purchase. Alongside the plant sale, INPAWS will sell select books on plant families, naturalistic gardening, conservation, and related topics. Pre-sale talk begins at 9:30 a.m. Plant and book sale open 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Live auction begins at 11:15 and continues until every plant is sold. Park Tudor School, Upper Gymnasium, 7200 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis (use the 71st Street entrance). www.inpaws.org

Saturday, May 18  Hamilton County Master Gardeners 15th Annual Plant Sale (Noblesville)  More than 12,000 plants will be for sale to the public. In addition to the outstanding selection of perennials, annuals, vegetables and trees, bearded iris will be dug to order at the iris/daylily bed. An extensive selection of native plants will be offered. Good-size trees may be purchased on site. Plants are grown with care by Master Gardeners, are acclimated to Indiana’s climate, and are priced well below local garden centers. Proceeds support scholarships for students in Hamilton County interested in horticulture-related careers and community activities supporting sound horticultural practices in Hamilton County. 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Exhibition Hall, Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, Noblesville. www.hcmga.org

Wednesday, June 5  Indianapolis Garden Club 18th Annual Garden Walk and Luncheon  Five fantastic gardens are featured in this annual fundraiser. $35.00 per ticket or $60.00 for the Garden Walk and Luncheon. Tickets purchased in advance will be mailed to participants with a map and garden addresses. Gardens open 9:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. Luncheon at Woodstock Club, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 1301 West 38th Street. Parking available. Please email Julie Shortridge at j.shortridge2@gmail.com for ticket requests and payment instructions. Tickets available at Charles Mayer & Company, 5629 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis; and Kogan Antiques & Lighting, 195 S. Main, Zionsville. We are unable to process charge cards; please bring exact change or checks.  www.igcgardenwalk.com