2024 Grant Program Awardees
A committee appointed by the president of MCMGA, reviewed grant applications submitted by non-profit organizations. This year seven projects were selected that are educational in nature and promote and involve the community in horticultural activities as outlined in the criteria for selection. Here are the 2024 Grant Program Awardees. (To date, we have are presenting the three reports we have received from awardees; the remaining will be added as we receive them.) We’re glad to share the news about these successful gardening projects, enjoy!
Read a summary of the original grant proposals to compare with the finishsed product.
Bloomington Animal Shelter Garden
A group of various volunteers decided to beautify the entrance of the Animal Shelter on South Walnut Street in Bloomington with the intention of supporting the mission of the shelter, bringing positive vibes and colors. Volunteers converted 1500 square feett of mostly turf into a pollinator friendly and diverse garden with dense naturalistic planting, lower maintenance, and a long flowering season. “Dog toilets” (dog urinals) and metal edging with simple rope fence were installed around the main bed to protect the planting from damage. Work started on 1st March 2024, and the last bed was planted in early June 2024.
In fall 2024 spring bulbs will be planted to prolong the flowering season, the shade overgrown corner will be restored and new info panel will be installed in early 2025. For more information go to www. animalsheltergardens.com
GardenQuest Youth Programming
Students will use the kneeling pads, trowels and soil knives for their lessons both indoors and outdoors as they learn garden design and the see-to-plant germinations process in October through December and throughout the spring semester. Sunbelt Rentals partnered with Garden Quest to dig the four beds needed for this project.
Monroe County Courthouse Native Plant Garden
The Monroe County Master Gardeners received a grant of $300. To replace signs, purchase native plants and to replace an elderberry tree in 2024.
The group works on a bi-weekly basis to maintain the garden and has done so for >12 years. The group regularly answers visitor’s questions concerning native plants. This year the group used the grant money to purchase:
Metal signs from Gemplers
$116.00
Native plants from MCIRIS, Mays and Hinkle-Garton $168.00
Color printing and lamination
$20.00
Total
$304.40
The group printed and laminated new information signs for all native plants. They purchased native hepatica, shooting stars, mayflowers (donated!), jack in the pulpits, queen of the prairie, native petunias, blue mist flower and other native plants. The elderberry tree ended up coming back from the stump and so was not replaced.
In addition, the group was asked to design a plant to replace a wintercreeper area the courthouse currently has. The group designed two plans for the City and County; a blue theme based garden and a second that featured yellow and orange. Both gardens featured native plants and a couple of non-native species that deer and rabbits would not eat.
Our photos highlight our volunteers working in the garden during the summer months.
Food Bearing Tree Distribution
Location: The Overlook, 611 W 12th St., Bloomington, IN, 47404
Time: 3/23/2024 11-3PM
The Neighborhood Planting Project (NPP) held its annual tree giveaway on Saturday, March 23rd at the Overlook. Prior to the event interest was gathered by having a sign up form where one could request up to six trees of each of the nine species offered. As the day of the event grew near, there were over 200 responses and it was decided to close the form early to avoid overwhelming the capacity of the space and the supply of trees. Over half of the species had to have their limits reduced below six because of the high number of trees requested!
The day of the event started cool which was good for the dormant trees. Besides the trees from the Vallonia tree nursery, local author Ross Gay had brought a few elderberry plants from his own garden. Amendments, mulch, and information sheets for some species were also available for those interested. The homeschool group of parents and kids with cute matching t-shirts arrived to volunteer as people started showing up to get trees. Over the course of the day there were about 25 volunteers that helped make the event run smoothly.
First, people checked in and were given a receipt showing the number of each species they were allotted which included a key of species and their assigned color along with basic planting instructions. Volunteers at each tree station bundled the correct number of trees with the corresponding color tape. At the end people wrapped the roots of their trees with newspaper and dunked them in water to keep the roots moist until planting.
Nearly all trees were handed by the end of the event with a few walkins that hadn’t had a chance to fill out the request form. Some people did not come and were given a chance to pick up their order on Monday evening. The remaining trees were handed out over the course of a few afternoons outside Redbud Books.
Overall the tree giveaway was a success and energized the NPP volunteers to host a seed and plant swap later in the spring. As of writing this report the tree order for next year has already been placed and NPP volunteers are looking forward to another successful tree distribution in the spring. The NPP wishes to thank the Monroe County Master Gardener’s Association for helping make this event possible and accessible to all!
