Want to know the secret of establishing an amazing flower garden and keeping it looking its best all season long? Even through drought and flood? Now, you can … and it won’t cost you a cent. In fact, it may save you money in the long run in terms of your water bill and what you spend on annual plants.These secrets are being revealed at a free workshop presented on Wednesday evening, July 9th at the Geist Clubhouse from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. In just two short hours, you can learn a variety of simple techniques that will make your yard the envy of your whole neighborhood. An ecological expert from JFNew will be discussing how to design your landscape to maximize your yard’s features and water resources so that you can have a healthy, colorful garden during both rainy and dry periods.

Also on hand will be Shaena Smith, our friendly urban conservationist from the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), who will be showing us simple tools and tips for beautifying the landscape while preventing the runoff of harmful chemicals or sediment into the lake or storm sewer system. Perhaps best of all, she will also be teaching us how to keep those pesky Canada geese out of our yards.

Busy homeowners, do-it-yourselfers and gardening enthusiasts will be delighted by the short presentations and the opportunity to collect information about contractors, suppliers and resources available for residents who take pride in their property’s appearance.

Some of the topics being covered will include: rain gardens, fertilizers, rain barrels and water edge enhancements. You can also learn what to plant in those difficult-to-grow-anything areas that might be affected by shade or standing water.

The folks most interested in attending this workshop will most certainly be the officers of homeowners associations who will be pleased to know they can get information about how their neighborhood can participate in a cost-share program that will not only enhance its scenic qualities, but also aid in reducing its contribution on the reservoir’s dangerously high nutrient levels. HOA representatives attending will want to make a special effort to connect with Shaena Smith in order to discuss how they can take advantage of this unique program – one which is not offered anywhere else in this state.

The Geist community is blessed to have such a workshop available free of charge. Residents elsewhere usually pay substantial sums of money to attend such events. However, because the reservoir is considered ‘at-risk’ due to last year’s toxic algae bloom, special favors are being given to the caretakers of the lake … ie. you and me! On behalf of the Geist Watershed Alliance, the Hamilton County SWCD has kindly organized this event in order to demonstrate that protecting the lake’s water quality doesn’t have to mean taking drastic measures or sacrificing a beautiful landscape.

Although the workshop is intended for Hamilton County residents, it’s unlikely that anyone from the Geist area (including Marion and Hancock counties, McCordsville, Fortville, etc.) would be turned away. The Hamilton County SWCD understands that we all have an impact on Geist Reservoir.

You can get a printable flyer describing the workshop by visiting the atGeist Newsletter’s website where this article is posted. More information is also available at www.hamiltonswcd.org or when you register for the workshop at: 773-2181 ext. 101 (or) tina.moon@in.nacdnet.net.

Click the link for the Hamilton SWCD July 9th workshop Flyer

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