Local Stories From Local People

The holidays come early in Shipshewana, and we love that. At the end of October, the elves are out hanging lights and decorating all over town. It’s a nice mix of fall and Christmas decor for a period of time, but once November arrives, it’s an all-out Christmas mood. The Lighting of Shipshewana Parade & …

LaGrange County and Shipshewana are home to the third-largest Amish community in the nation. This community’s simple way of life is the reason many people visit our area — to observe, learn about, pay tribute to, and purchase items from the Amish. Here are a few things to remember as you travel to our area …

Typically when you roll into Shipshewana, you’re greeted by endless farms and open fields. It might be surprising to hear of the beautiful fall foliage that can be seen this time of year. The natural beauty here in LaGrange County can often be underappreciated, many people not knowing about hidden gems like the Pigeon River …

The Christmas Cactus is a popular holiday gift and also a subject of discussion amongst gardeners as to how to care for it and what it takes to make it bloom.  It always helps to know the origin of a plant to understand what makes it tick. This plant is a succulent, tropical type of …

When giving some thought recently about fall-blooming, perennial flowers the ever-popular chrysanthemum or mums as they are usually called, was the first to come to mind. However, there is another flower that is a fall bloomer called Aster. There are many different kinds with varying heights and flower colors. They are easy to grow and …

Is Something Bugging You?                           Gardeners, farmers and orchardists consider lady beetles to be a beneficial insect because they feed on plant pests.  While there is no doubt that the Asian lady beetle is helping to control aphid and scale infestations outdoors, home owners are not as enchanted by the little pest finding their way indoors.  …

Succulents are very popular plants with their wonderful shapes and colors and they are drought tolerant to boot. I have found that not just any soil will make them happy. Ordinary potting soil holds too much moisture for these plants so I have taken to making my own mix. It is cheaper than purchasing commercially …

Applying fertilizer is one of the most important procedures done as far as lawn care goes, as it influences grass color, helps it deal with stress and prevents weed invasion and disease.  Two important factors to consider when applying a fertilizer are when and how much.  Use Labor Day and Halloween as a guideline for …

I consider August as the last month of summer. A time when the gardens are overflowing with produce and almost everything is lush and beautiful.    Late July and early August can be a bit dry due to little, if any, rainfall. There are some perennials in my gardens that tend to look a bit ragged …