About Our Program

Certified Arborists

These names were on the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Website.

https://www.treesaregood.org/Find-an-Arborist

They are from searching within twenty-five miles of Crown Point, IN. See their statement below.

Please be aware that ISA provides this directory based on information voluntarily submitted by the credential holder and cannot guarantee its accuracy, reliability, or completeness.

The arborists below have passed ISA’s credential testing to confirm knowledge of proper and acceptable tree care practices; however, ISA specifically disclaims any liability or responsibility for any actions or statements made by any individuals listed.

FIRST NAME          LAST NAME           BUSINESS                                              CITY                        STATE CREDENTIALS           PHONE NUMBER

Gus                         Bettenhausen       Precise Tree Care, Inc.                        Frankfort IL           ISA Certified Arborist®        (815) 464-3777

Michael                  Cieply                     Arbor ProCare                                      Valparaiso IN        ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 617-8227

Tim                          Edmonds                Edmonds Tree ServiceValparaiso IN        ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 406-7599

Justin                      Ellenberger                                                                           Hobart IN              ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 945-6037

Scott                       Mattingly               Hartman Landscape                            Peotone IL             ISA Certified Arborist®        (708) 417-6381

Matthew C.           McBain                   Valparaiso Public Works                     Valparaiso IN        ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 286-9437

Geoffrey                McDermott                                                                           Peotone IL             ISA Certified Arborist®        (708) 203-8801

Joseph                    Paffumi                  Precise Tree Care, Inc.                        Frankfort IL           ISA Certified Arborist®        (815) 464-3777

Scott                       Polster                   Forever Green Plant Health Care      St John IN             ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 365-6778

Edbert                    Ritzema                  4 Seasons Arbor Service, Inc.             Posen IL                ISA Certified Arborist®        (708) 522-6530

Robert L.                Spaulding               Spaulding’s Tree Service                     Valparaiso IN       ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 462-6400

Samuel                   Spaulding               Spaulding’s Tree Service                     Valparaiso IN       ISA Certified Arborist®        (219) 462-6400

Austin                     Wood                     Professional Forester                                                                                                          (940) 613-5288

NOTE: A consultation fee may be charged for any of these to come take a look at a situation.  PLEASE inquire before scheduling!

Rev. 6/2026

Edition #2                                                                                                               

July 2026

Purdue Extension-Lake County

The Gardening Gazette

Welcome!

Welcome! If you’re new here, my name is Hayley Kinley, and I’m the Administrative Assistant for Communications & Marketing at Purdue Extension-Lake County. Each edition features upcoming events, a plant of the month, and more. Stay connected and explore ways to get involved with our programs—there’s always something exciting happening!

Stories Inside This Issue:

• Meet The Team
• Horticulture Hotline
• July’s & August’s Events
• Insects in a New Light
• 2026 Flower Show at the Lake County Fair
• Plant of the Month: Zinnias
• Pest of the Month: Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar
• July Garden Task

Meet the Team!

Hayley Kinley

Administrative Assistant – Communications & Marketing

hkinley@purdue.edu

Horticulture Hotline

Summer is here and Purdue Extension, Crown Point hosts a Horticulture Helpline. Horticulture experts will answer questions about your landscape, gardens, tree and more! Experts are here to help you answer questions with the latest research-based information and resources you can trust. Spread the word, if you need advice for your garden, Purdue Extension is the place to ask! 

Call 219-755-3240 for one-to-one expert answers. Walk-ins welcome; bring a plant sample to the extension office for ID of plants or diseases. Our address is 2291 Main Street, Crown Point, IN; and we are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm.

July’s Events

• No events in July

August’s Events

• August 12-December 16 – Lake County 2026 Purdue Master Gardener Basic Training: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster, as she presents this years Master Gardener Basic Training on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-8:30pm at the Extension Office, located at 2291 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN. If you have any questions for Dolly Foster, please feel free to call the office at 219-755-3240 or dolly@purdue.edu. We can start your application process now for the course. Once you complete your application, please drop off your application at the Extension Office Monday-Fridays from 8:30am-4:30pm and be sure to have your government issued form of identification with you so we can proceed with the verification step. The course will include a Purdue Extension Master Gardener manual. The registration link and payment information for this course will be sent to you in a separate email. The registration deadline is August 1st. Please review the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program Policy Guide here at https://ag.purdue.edu/department/hla/extension/extension-publications-library/ext-pubs/mg-5.html.

Upcoming Events

• September 19 – Hydroponic Crop Production Workshop: Join Purdue Extension and the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture for a workshop that is a perfect opportunity to learn about hydroponic crop production for home and commercial-scale operations. This workshop will be at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Greenhouse Complex, located at 625 Agriculture Mall Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette. The workshop is from 8:30am to 3:30pm EST. The registration fee is $60, lunch and snacks will be provided. If you are interested in learning more about hydroponic crop production, please register at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26qi9wNfZNvlo1g. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu.

Insects in a New Light

Join Purdue entomologists for an evening program all about nocturnal insects! You will start with a talk about insect diversity and the fascinating world of insects. Then, you will head outside to a blacklight station and watch the night come alive as insects fly in from the darkness! For more details as to when the Insects in a New Light are and where, please go to https://ag.purdue.edu/department/entm/outreach/events.html.  

2026 Flower Show at the Lake County Fair

Calling all flower growers to consider submitting flowers for the flower show! Now is the time to pick what species to submit. Stop by the Superintendent Office at the Lake County Fairgrounds to pick up a book at the pop-up office next to Family Arts building. The address is 889 South Court Street, Crown Point, IN 46307. For more details, please see Lake County Fair’s website at https://www.lakecofaircp.com/. Go to Exhibitors, then to Departments, and then select Flower Show. If you have questions, contact the Secretary office at 219-663-3617 for assistance or reach out to Superintendent Kat Fogg at lcflowershow@gmail.com.

Plant of the Month: Zinnias

As July arrives and the growing season reaches its peak, it’s the perfect time to spotlight this month’s featured plant in The Gardening Gazette. Each month, we highlight a plant by sharing its botanical and common names, key characteristics, and helpful growing tips to support your gardening success throughout the season.

For July, we are featuring Zinnias (Zinnia elegans), one of the most colorful and reliable warm-season annual flowers. Known for their bold, vibrant blooms and long-lasting performance, zinnias are a favorite for home gardens, pollinator plantings, and cut flower arrangements.

Zinnias thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and perform best when planted after the danger of frost has passed. They are heat-tolerant and bloom continuously throughout the summer when regularly deadheaded, making them an excellent choice for adding long-lasting color to garden beds and containers.

In addition to their visual appeal, zinnias are highly attractive to pollinators such as butterflies and bees, making them a valuable addition to any pollinator-friendly garden space.

Did You Know?
Zinnias are native to Mexico and were once called “everybody’s flower” because of their easy growth habit and wide range of colors and forms.

Resources:
• Cornell University Gardening Resources – http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene7fc4.html
• Cornell University Gardening Resources – http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene7e05.html
• University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS) – https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/109358

Pest of the Month: Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar

Keep an eye out this month for the big green caterpillar that sometimes shows up on tomato plants. They are hornworms, and they are the larva of the hawk month. If this is a frequent problem for you, plant a “trap plant” every year. Plant a tomato away from the rest of the garden and put the hornworms on it. Let them live because oftentimes they are attacked by a beneficial predatory wasp. The white bumps you sometimes see on the backs of the caterpillar are a sign that the eggs have been laid in it. These predatory wasps are useful in the veg garden to help clean up certain pest problems. Please allow them to hatch. If you see a caterpillar with the white bumps, it is close to death.  To keep the tiny wasps fed in-between pest infestations, plant flowers like yarrow, Alyssum, dill and fennel. They like small flowers with copious amounts of pollen to eat. 

July Garden Task

What to do in the garden this month, weed and water. I hope all of your gardens made it through the unusual amount of rain in May-June.

Your tomatoes may be showing some signs of overwatering, specifically the top new growth. They should grow out of it. Now that we are heading into July, typically the hottest part of the summer, gardens will need watering. Plants need about an inch to 1.5” of water a week to maintain healthy leaves, flowers and to produce fruit. Speaking of tomatoes, blossom end rot (BER) usually shows up at this time of the season. It appears as a black spot on the bottom of your tomatoes.  It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the fruit but not because there is a deficiency in the soil. It's very important to remember that. What does cause BER is uneven watering. Allowing your plants to dry out, wilt and then drowning them with water disrupts the calcium uptake of the plant. To solve the problem, stay on a schedule to water your tomatoes and don't forget to fertilize. 

A deep watering a few times a week rather than daily will benefit any plants in the ground. Planters, hanging baskets and raised beds may need more frequent watering. Some will need daily watering. When watering a vegetable garden, it is important get the water to the rootzone of the plants rather than overhead watering. Using a soaker hose or drip tape type of watering set up with achieve this. Why is this important? For a few reasons, overhead watering leaves moisture on the leaves of your plants and in this hot humid weather that can allow fungal infections to start. Once a fungal outbreak happens, it is difficult to control and can slow down production in a vegetable garden. Allow the top layer of soil to fry out a bit in between waterings; this allows oxygen to move through the soil. It is important for soils to not be saturated for long periods of time. Leaves take in carbon dioxide, but roots need oxygen.

Planning for later: Plants love rainwater. If you have never considered installing a rain barrel, now would be a good time. They are available at the Lake County Soil and Water District office in the same building as the county extension office.

Weeding in hot weather, with our extra rain comes bigger, faster weeds. The more often you weed, the less you will have to fight them. Especially weeding when they are tiny. In hot weather, pace yourself, work early in the day and keep hydrated.

Thank You

Thank you for reading Gardening Gazette! If you have an upcoming gardening event, workshop, community project, or seasonal gardening tip to share, we’d love to include it in a future edition. Email us at hkinley@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu.

Stay tuned for more gardening tips, updates, and inspiration in the next issue of Gardening Gazette!

Happy Gardening!

Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.

If you are in need of accommodations to attend events, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

For special dietary needs, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Edition #24                                                                                                                 

July 2026

Purdue Extension-Lake County

Urban Ag Chronicles

Welcome!

Welcome! If you’re new here, my name is Hayley Kinley, and I’m the Administrative Assistant for Communications & Marketing at Purdue Extension-Lake County. Each edition features upcoming events, a cover crop of the month, and more. Stay connected and explore ways to get involved with our programs—there is always something exciting happening!

Stories Inside This Issue:

• Meet The Team
• July’s & August’s Events
• Upcoming Events
• Insects in a New Light
• Participants Needed - Focus Group
• 2026 Flower Show at the Lake County Fair
• Urban Farming
• Horticulture Hotline
• Crop of the Month: Sunn Hemp
• Local Resources

Meet the Team!

July’s Events

• July 16 – 2026 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day: Join the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Purdue Extension for this year’s Fruit and Vegetable Field Day. The field day will be from 9:00am to 1:00pm EST at the Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, located at 9101 S. 100 East, Lafayette, IN and the cost to attend is $48 and will include lunch from Great Harvest Bread Co. This field day will feature educational sessions on cutting-edge research, which will include high tunnel production systems, pollinator management, soil health strategies, and innovative weed and pest control methods. This event will offer fruit and vegetable growers a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest in research that Purdue is doing, network with fellow producers, and discover practical solutions to enhance your operations. A full agenda for this event will be out after May 1st at org/purdue-fruit-and-vegetable-field-day. If you would like to register for this event, you can register at https://web.cvent.com/event/2da43e55-9a79-4e57-bc91-5594e09ae63b/summary. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu.
• July 23 – Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day: Join Purdue Extension for a Small Farm Education Field Day at the Purdue Student Farm in West Lafayette. You will learn from Purdue experts through hands-on demonstrations and presentations on topics that will include flower production, high tunnel production and management, food safety, integrated pest management, and vertical container farming. To learn more about Small Farm Education Field Day and to register, go to https://web.cvent.com/event/db0f565e-4ce5-429b-b46c-033d4ec5d5bb/summary. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu.
• July 26-28 – 2026 National Walnut Council Meeting: Join Purdue Extension to explore forest management in Warsaw, IN to explore forest management in a region known for its glacial lakes and one of the largest Amish communities in the United States. This program will offer hands-on learning, expert insights, and valuable networking opportunities. To learn more about the National Walnut Council Meeting, go to https://walnutcouncil.org/events/annual-meeting/?_ga=2.61646446.374386615.1779380281-1327596469.1779216080. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-national-walnut-council-meeting-tickets-1988414640717?aff=oddtdtcreator.

August’s Events

• August 12-December 16 – Lake County 2026 Purdue Master Gardener Basic Training: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster, as she presents this year’s Master Gardener Basic Training on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-8:30pm at the Extension Office, located at 2291 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN. If you have any questions for Dolly Foster, please feel free to call the office 219-755-3240 or dolly@purdue.edu. We can start your application process now for the course. Once you complete your application, please drop off your application at the Extension Office Monday-Fridays from 8:30am-4:30pm and be sure to have your government issued form of identification with you so we can proceed with the verification step. The course will include a Purdue Extension Master Gardener manual. The registration link and payment information for this course will be sent to you in a separate email. Registration deadline is August 1st. Please review the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program Policy Guide here at https://ag.purdue.edu/department/hla/extension-publications-library/ext-pubs/mg-5.html.
• August 27 – Indiana Land Use Summit: Agrivoltaics and Renewable Energy: Purdue Extension and the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future invite you to the Indiana Land Use Summit. The summit will be from 9:00am to 4:00pm EST at the Beck Agricultural Center, located at 4550 U.S. 52 W., West Lafayette, IN. This summit will highlight Purdue University’s applied research and extension efforts in advancing data-driven, community engaged approaches to land use planning across Indiana. The cost is $50 to attend and will include lunch, to view details and register, please visit https://cvent.me/d7rYb3.

Upcoming Events

• September 19 – Hydroponic Crop Production Workshop: Join Purdue Extension and the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture for a workshop that is a perfect opportunity to learn about hydroponic crop production for home and commercial-scale operations. This workshop will be at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Greenhouse Complex, located at 625 Agriculture Mall Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette. The workshop is from 8:30am to 3:30pm EST. The registration fee is $60, lunch and snacks will be provided. If you are interested in learning more about hydroponic crop production, please register at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26qi9wNfZNvlo1g. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu.
• January 26-28 – 2027 Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference: Purdue Extension is pleased to announce that they will be hosting 2027’s Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference in Danville, Indiana at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Their planning committee is currently developing the program and would like input from growers and partners. They are seeking suggestions for speakers, topics, and sessions to ensure the conference meets the needs of Indiana’s diverse agricultural community. If you would like to share your ideas and feedback for the conference, you can go to https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5uT2Y1RWounYBGm.

Insects in a New Light

Join Purdue entomologists for an evening program all about nocturnal insects! You will start with a talk about insect diversity and the fascinating world of insects. Then, you will head outside to a blacklight station and watch the night come alive as insects fly in from the darkness! For more details as to when the Insects in a New Light are and where, please go to https://ag.purdue.edu/department/entm/outreach/events.html.  

Participants Needed – Focus Group

Purdue University is currently recruiting produce growers, packers, processors, distributors, food hubs, and other stakeholders involved in produce supply chains for their research study on food traceability practices and training needs among the produce supply chain stakeholders. This study is seeking to better understand the current traceability practices, and challenges that are occurring, and any training that is needed among produce supply chain stakeholders, particularly in light of the FDA Food Traceability Rule (FSMA Section 204). The study will include multiple phases, some of the phases will be focus group discussions, a needs assessment survey, and a training workshop. If you are interested in joining this focus group, please go to https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3XmS3KftxRYDmrc?Q_CHL=qr and fill out the form so the research team can contact you about relevant study activities. If you have questions about this study, please contact Hema Lingireddy (Student Investigator) at hlingire@purdue.edu or Dr. Rama Radhakrishna (Principal Investigator) at rbradhak@purdue.edu.

2026 Flower Show at the Lake County Fair

Calling all flower growers to consider submitting flowers for the flower show! Now is the time to pick what species to submit. Stop by the Superintendent Office at the Lake County Fairgrounds to pick up a book at the pop-up office next to Family Arts building. The address is 889 South Court Street, Crown Point, IN 46307. For more details, please see Lake County Fair’s website at https://www.lakecofaircp.com/. Go to Exhibitors, then to Departments, and then select Flower Show. If you have questions, contact the Secretary office at 219-663-3617 for assistance or reach out to Superintendent Kat Fogg at lcflowershow@gmail.com.

Farmers Needed

The Farmers Market at Fox Pointe in Lansing, IL runs Tuesdays from June 9 through September 22, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, with a special evening market on August 4 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in partnership with National Night Out. They are currently seeking farmers that offer fresh produce. Booth options include the following: 

Full Season (16 markets) $275

Half Season (8 markets) $175

Weekly $25

They do have a limited number of discounted spots available for produce-focused farms to help strengthen the market's fresh offerings. Vendors can view details and apply by visiting foxpointe.org, or applying directly here: FARMERS MARKET - Eventeny. For questions or to connect directly, contact Michelle Henderson at mhenderson@villageoflansing.org or 708-832-4583.

Urban Farming

Urban farming continues to make a meaningful impact across Indiana by increasing access to fresh food, creating educational opportunities, and strengthening communities. Purdue Extension recently highlighted how urban agriculture programs are expanding throughout the state and the positive difference they are making in local communities. We are proud to see Faith Farms, West Side Leadership Academy in Gary Community School Corporation, and Harrison Elementary School in East Chicago recognized for their involvement in urban agriculture, youth engagement, and community partnerships. You can read more about how Urban Farming is impacting Lake County here: https://extension.purdue.edu/news/2026/05/more-than-community-gardens-how-urban-farming-is-expanding-in-indiana.html.

Horticulture Hotline

Summer is here and Purdue Extension, Crown Point hosts a Horticulture Helpline. Horticulture experts will answer questions about your landscape, gardens, tree and more! Experts are here to help you answer questions with the latest research-based information and resources you can trust. Spread the word, if you need advice for your garden, Purdue Extension is the place to ask! 

Call 219-755-3240 for one-to-one expert answers. Walk-ins welcome; bring a plant sample to the extension office for ID of plants or diseases. Our address is 2291 Main Street, Crown Point, IN; and we are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Crop of the Month: Sunn Hemp

As July arrives and the growing season reaches its peak, it's the perfect time to spotlight this month's featured cover crop in Urban Ag Chronicles. Each month, we highlight a cover crop by sharing its scientific and common names, crop type, key benefits, and helpful growing information to support healthy soild and productive growing systems.

For July, we are featuring Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea), a fast-growing warm-season legume cover crop known for its impressive biomass production and soil-building benefits.

Sunn Hemp thrives in full sun and warm temperatures, making it an excellent choice for mid-summer planting when garden space may be available between production cycles. As a legume, it improves soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, helping to naturally enrich the soil for future crops.

In addition to improving fertility, Sunn Hemp provides rapid ground cover that helps suppress weeds, reduce erosion, and increase organic matter when incorporated back into the soil. Its quick growth habit makes it especially useful in short planting windows, allowing growers to maximize soil health improvements within a single season.

When allowed to flower, Sunn Hemp can also provide resources for beneficial insects, supporting pollinator and natural enemy populations in agricultural and garden systems. However, it is important to note that Sunn Hemp is sensitive to frost and is typically used as a warm-season annual cover crop.

Did You Know?
Sunn Hemp is widely recognized for its ability to produce large amounts of biomass in a short period of time, making it one of the most efficient warm-season cover crops for building soil organic matter.

Resources:
• Agronomy Journal (Wiley) – https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agg2.70338

Local Resources

The Times of Northwest Indiana is collecting information on local food resources throughout the Region to build a public directory of food pantries, meal programs, and assistance services. If you know anyone who would like to be apart, please share the link  https://www.nwitimes.com/forms/nwi_food_resources/.

Thank You

Thank you for reading! If you have an upcoming event, educational opportunity, community program, or urban agriculture news to share, we’d love to feature it in a future newsletter. Email us at hkinley@purdue.edu or busser@purdue.edu.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Urban Ag Chronicles—there’s always something new to discover!

Happy Growing!

Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.

If you are in need of accommodations to attend events, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

For special dietary needs, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.