Boone County Purdue Extension, 1300 East 100 South, Lebanon, IN 46052[email protected] 765-482-0750
Gardenfest – April 18,2026
Gardenfest is the annual garden extravaganza hosted by the volunteer Boone County Master Gardeners (BCMG). It’s a popular event with over 800 people attending at the Farm Bureau Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Each year the first 400 attendees will receive a free native tree seedling. The Master Gardeners have several tables offering soil testing, native seed packets, information about invasives, rain gardens, ask a Master Gardener gardening questions, community gardens and how to become a Master Gardener. In addition there is the Pansy Patch with kids’ activities and the Potting Shed selling gently used garden items. Over twenty vendors also participate.
Gardenfest 2025 offered a breath of Spring on a Rainy Day!
This is the article written by Tom Ewing that appeared in the Lebanon Reporter on April 8, 2025.
Gardenfest 2025: Finally, Getting to Green by Tom Ewing
Boone County Master Gardeners 37th annual “Gardenfest” event took place last Saturday, April 5, in the Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. Gardenfest celebrates all things garden, from pH in soil to native plants to composting to birds and pollinators to the tools and decor that make gardens wonderful.
As in past years, the first 400 guests received a free tree seedling. This year’s offerings: silky dogwood, chinquapin oak, American plum and hazelnut. Plus, the Boone County Solid Waste Management District (BCSWMD) distributed 500 reusable shopping bags made of recycled plastic. Estimated attendance exceeded 800.
The Boone County Master Gardeners (BCMG) program operates within Purdue University’s Extension Service. The Master Gardeners’ mission is to promote sound gardening practices, provide research information and, of course – “to increase the knowledge and pleasure of gardening for the community and its members.”
As usual, there was a lot of fun at the Pansy Patch, the special area set aside for kids to get their hands dirty, giving Mom and Dad a chance to glance over at the used garden tools available at fire-sale prices. (Yes, one of these days the rain will stop.)
Pansy Patch sponsors this year again included Jones Greenhouse, in Lebanon, and Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown. Twenty-five vendors participated, completely filling the event hall. Master Gardeners sold over 600 packages of native plant seeds, collected and packaged by Gardeners themselves. Proceeds help BCMG support educational, gardening and agricultural projects throughout Boone County.
The Boone County Solid Waste Management District (BCSWMD) was again a sponsor and participant. Amelia Braga is the District’s Education Outreach Coordinator. At the BCSWMD information table, Braga explained that District officials wanted to get their message across in a number of ways. They gave away biodegradable pots, for example, to start seedlings that could be planted directly into the soil, avoiding plastic waste. There was extensive information on composting, both to encourage healthier soils and to reduce organic waste sent to landfills. Braga commented that BCWSMD “seeks to make reduce-reuse-recycle not just a slogan. We see Gardenfest as a way to help people, especially gardeners, put the 3-Rs into practice everyday.”
One important continuing effort among the Master Gardeners is control and eradication of invasives, non-native plants – like honeysuckle – that overwhelm gardens, crowding out more desirable and beneficial plants. This concern extends beyond gardens, invasives threaten the botanical balance and ecosystem across entire landscapes, from parks to prairies to entire forests.
The Boone County Invasives Cooperative is one team focusing just on invasives. Ashley Edwards helps lead that effort and at her information table at Gardenfest she explained that the Coop’s “Garden for Nature” initiative will work with property owners to schedule a “weed wrangle.” Just as it sounds, the weed wranglers work as a team to (1) develop a strategic approach to eradication and (2) show up with volunteers and shovels to do the hard work, to get the project started. The Coop provides all tools and equipment.
Edwards said volunteers are always welcome and they do not need to be in the Master Gardener program to help nor to seek assistance about invasives. One recent Coop project was tearing out honeysuckle at Starkey Park, in Zionsville. Edwards said property owners interested in a weed wrangle can contact the Garden For Nature program at [email protected] for more information.
Soil pH testing is another Gardenfest service. pH, of course, measures acid and base levels, chemical indicators critical for plants to grow and thrive. This year, in addition to testing soil brought to Gardenfest, the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District offered a complementary service: for a nominal fee ($5.00) people could arrange for District personnel to visit their home or property and proceed with a complete soil analysis. Keegan Cougill, the District’s Natural Resource Conservationist, said 34 people signed up to take advantage of this opportunity.
On the program side, Gardenfest again presented three speakers on gardening and related, natural topics:
“Birds of Prey” – presented by Mark Booth, former Head Bird Trainer at the Indianapolis Zoo, a Master Falconer and the Director of Take Flight Wildlife Education (website: Takeflight.org.) He was accompanied by his friends – hawks and falcons who stood on his wrist, their stern countenance making sure the audience stayed very focused. When finished, Booth pulled out a dead mouse from his shirt pocket. (I’m not making this up.) Ruthie, the red-tailed hawk helping him at that point, spotted it instantly and was just as instantly compensated for her help at Gardenfest.
“Indiana Invaders: What to Watch For” – presented by Bob Bruner, a Purdue Extension entomologist for the last 13 years and who now is leading research and applied research as an exotic forest pest specialist within Purdue’s Department of Entomolgy.
“The Medicinal Garden: Plants with Superpowers” – presented by Kathleen Warfel Hull, MD. Hull described the recreation of gardens within the grounds of the old Central State Hospital in Indianapolis. The gardens, established in 2004, only contain plants that historically had reputed powers to heal or assuage pain, from Foxglove linked to digitalis, to Yarrow to stop bleeding, to opium, viewed a century ago as break-through chance to safely control pain. Visitors are welcome at the garden and Dr. Hull said a visit can include a tour of the Hospital’s original lab and pathology building, preserved, inside and out, appearing just as it was 120 years ago. Hull said the garden is at its peak in June.
Andrea Hatfield is Extension Educator for Purdue, leading the programs at the Fairground site. As Gardenfest concluded Hatfield was asked for her view of the day. She noted two important initial measures: the repeated high attendance, close to last year, when she said all local events benefited from visitors in town for the eclipse. Second, she referenced the number of vendors, again, this year. She said there is a waiting list for vendors and the vendors participating this year want to return.
She also gave a shout out to the Boone County Master Gardeners and their dedicated team of volunteers, who literally set up the tables and equipment for Gardenfest and then eight hours later take it all down, leaving the field house swept, cleaned and empty. “Gardenfest wouldn’t happen without all of them,” Hatfield emphasized, “they are amazing people.”
These indicators are important for Hatfield’s reports to Purdue. The University is interested in those measures that show engagement and activity on education and training, and, in particular, that people in various communities are taking advantage and benefiting from the support the extension services are meant to provide.
Get ready: Gardenfest next year is April 18, 2026. See you there.
Photos from Gardenfest 2025
Mark Booth and his Red-Tailed Hawk. Photo by Ron BurkhardtBob Bruner speaking about the Asian Jumping Worm Photo by Ron BurkhardtKathleen Hull discussing “Medicinal Plants with Superpowers” Photo by Ron BurkhardtNeed your Soil Tested for pH? This is the place. Photo by Cheryl Pleak CopelandThese Master Gardeners can recommend native plants for your gardens Photo by Cheryl Pleak CopelandWonderful plants were available for sale! Photo by Ron Burkhardt400 Native tree seedlings (Silky Dogwood, Chinquapin Oak, American Plum and Hazelnut) were packaged for Gardenfest Photo by Cheryl Pleak CopelandLots of great plants for sale! Photo by Ron Burkhardt
Gardenfest 2024 was a huge success! Here’s the review that appeared in the Lebanon Reporter
Gardenfest 2024. Planting for a Cause.
By Tom Ewing
On a freezing morning, after a cold and rainy week, a beautiful, colorful day finally burst open: the 36th Annual Gardenfest, on Saturday, April 6 at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
Boone County businesses Jones Greenhouse, Four Branches Outdoor Solutions, GreenCycle and Dull’s Tree Farm sponsored the “Pansy Patch,” an always popular place because kids can literally dig into some garden work, getting their hands nice and dirty working with soil, plants and planters. Four Branches and Dull’s were new sponsors this year.
The Boone County Solid Waste District was another new sponsor and participant, providing recycling and composting information and giving away items – from pencils to shopping bags – to show a wide range of everyday products made from recycled materials (mostly plastic).
Gardenfest is an early chance to buy plants, tools, books, and all kinds of hand-crafted garden must-haves, from flowerpots to T-shirts to birdhouses (one, believe it or not, with a Sylvester the Cat theme!). Seeds for native plants are popular. This year the Master Gardeners’ seed-team sold 778 seed packets (all seed revenue goes to BCMG grant programs). The event also offers soil testing – people can bring samples to check for pH balance.
Revenue from Gardenfest is critical for BCMG’s activities, which include community education, efforts to eradicate invasive species and raising and donating food from community gardens. BCMG and Habitat for Humanity in Boone County have a ten year partnership.
Master Gardeners complete an intensive 14-week Purdue University program, earning certified status in topics ranging from pesticides to insect control to fruit and vegetable gardening. Each year, Gardeners are required to complete at least six hours of training and help with local community projects.
Gardenfest includes educational sessions. The topics this year covered –
“Pollinator Plants” led by Jared Spokowsky, apiary specialist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
“The Laws of Attraction – Birds, Butterflies and Bees” led by Jennifer Davies & Karen Smith, specialists in environmental education and raptors and native birds.
“So You Bought an Orchid, Now What?” led by Rachel Walker, an officer with the Central Indiana Orchid Society.
One ongoing BCMG focus is eradicating invasive species, e.g., honeysuckle and garlic mustard. This year it was announced that a new Boone County Invasives Cooperative was established, an office that will operate as a local agent, but still be part of Indiana’s statewide program. The new effort has four goals:
Helping people start eradication efforts.
Developing partnerships to leverage and expand programs.
Education and training.
Finally – elimination, or at least keeping invasives under control.
Leslie Cain is a Zionsville Master Gardener with a focus on controlling invasives. She explained the upgraded, local program status will help Boone County home and property owners because local expertise, plus state level resources, can operate more extensively and efficiently. She added that Master Gardeners can help homeowners identify invasives and help with planning best approaches for removal and then recovery or replanting.
Andrea Hatfield is Purdue’s Boone County Extension Director at Lebanon. Purdue is Indiana’s land grant university. As such, its mission includes educational efforts beyond a central campus, hence the extension offices. Programs like Gardenfest align with Purdue’s mission. “Gardenfest’s role,” she commented, “is to help share horticulture education with the community. People interested in gardening issues will find what they are looking for here today.” (For information contact Hatfield at 765-482-0750 or [email protected].)
For vendors, Gardenfest offers a chance to sell their goods, of course, but it also helps with marketing and expanding their customer base, both locally and regionally. Benedicts Nursery could be the most distant vendor. Benedicts is based in Nappanee, IN, 20 miles south of South Bend.
Mark Davidson operates Davidson Greenhouse & Nursery in Crawfordsville. This is his 20th year as a Gardenfest vendor. Saturday’s sales were brisk. And he added that visibility at Gardenfest provides a “win-win kind of marketing,” which is expensive for a small business. “I meet people here,” he said, “who otherwise wouldn’t know about us in Crawfordsville. Today we’re able to sell and market at the same time. This expands our customer base. People from Gardenfest visit our nursery.”
Tom Ewing is a freelance writer in Zionsville.
Enjoy these photos from Gardenfest 2024. Thank you to Ron Burkhardt, our Gardenfest photographer.
Thank you to Head Gardenfest chair- Linda Trips and Vendor chair- Cheryl Pleak Copeland
Kids (and their parents!) had great fun decorating and planting their Pansy pots at the Pansy Patch
Our “Pollinator Plant” speaker, Jared Spolowsky, apiary specialist
Rachel Walker shared her expertise on Orchids and how to take care of them in your home
Karen Smith and Jennifer Davies gave their presentation “The Laws of Attraction – Birds, Butterflies and Bees”.
Happy Shoppers Where are you, Tweety Bird?
Native seed packets and meadow mix were for sale at the Master Gardeners Education area
Soil was tested for pH and information about soils was available here
Who can resist these homemade pies and cakes and sandwiches at our Garden Cafe?
Lots of great plants were for sale at the vendors’ booths.
Lots of information about pollinators, native plants suitable for growing in Boone County, controlling invasive plants, community gardens, Purdue horticulture publications and how to become a Master Gardener were available at our Education area
So many unique garden “must haves” were available for purchase at our Potting Shed
We look forward to seeing you at Gardenfest 2026 on April 18, 2026!
Find Us
Address
Boone County Purdue Extension
1300 East 100 South
Lebanon, IN 46052
Hours
Monday—Friday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Search
About This Site
Boone County Master Gardener Association founded in 1987
Gardenfest – April 18,2026
Gardenfest is the annual garden extravaganza hosted by the volunteer Boone County Master Gardeners (BCMG). It’s a popular event with over 800 people attending at the Farm Bureau Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Each year the first 400 attendees will receive a free native tree seedling. The Master Gardeners have several tables offering soil testing, native seed packets, information about invasives, rain gardens, ask a Master Gardener gardening questions, community gardens and how to become a Master Gardener. In addition there is the Pansy Patch with kids’ activities and the Potting Shed selling gently used garden items. Over twenty vendors also participate.
Gardenfest 2025 offered a breath of Spring on a Rainy Day!
This is the article written by Tom Ewing that appeared in the Lebanon Reporter on April 8, 2025.
Gardenfest 2025: Finally, Getting to Green by Tom Ewing
Boone County Master Gardeners 37th annual “Gardenfest” event took place last Saturday, April 5, in the Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. Gardenfest celebrates all things garden, from pH in soil to native plants to composting to birds and pollinators to the tools and decor that make gardens wonderful.
As in past years, the first 400 guests received a free tree seedling. This year’s offerings: silky dogwood, chinquapin oak, American plum and hazelnut. Plus, the Boone County Solid Waste Management District (BCSWMD) distributed 500 reusable shopping bags made of recycled plastic. Estimated attendance exceeded 800.
The Boone County Master Gardeners (BCMG) program operates within Purdue University’s Extension Service. The Master Gardeners’ mission is to promote sound gardening practices, provide research information and, of course – “to increase the knowledge and pleasure of gardening for the community and its members.”
As usual, there was a lot of fun at the Pansy Patch, the special area set aside for kids to get their hands dirty, giving Mom and Dad a chance to glance over at the used garden tools available at fire-sale prices. (Yes, one of these days the rain will stop.)
Pansy Patch sponsors this year again included Jones Greenhouse, in Lebanon, and Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown. Twenty-five vendors participated, completely filling the event hall. Master Gardeners sold over 600 packages of native plant seeds, collected and packaged by Gardeners themselves. Proceeds help BCMG support educational, gardening and agricultural projects throughout Boone County.
The Boone County Solid Waste Management District (BCSWMD) was again a sponsor and participant. Amelia Braga is the District’s Education Outreach Coordinator. At the BCSWMD information table, Braga explained that District officials wanted to get their message across in a number of ways. They gave away biodegradable pots, for example, to start seedlings that could be planted directly into the soil, avoiding plastic waste. There was extensive information on composting, both to encourage healthier soils and to reduce organic waste sent to landfills. Braga commented that BCWSMD “seeks to make reduce-reuse-recycle not just a slogan. We see Gardenfest as a way to help people, especially gardeners, put the 3-Rs into practice everyday.”
One important continuing effort among the Master Gardeners is control and eradication of invasives, non-native plants – like honeysuckle – that overwhelm gardens, crowding out more desirable and beneficial plants. This concern extends beyond gardens, invasives threaten the botanical balance and ecosystem across entire landscapes, from parks to prairies to entire forests.
The Boone County Invasives Cooperative is one team focusing just on invasives. Ashley Edwards helps lead that effort and at her information table at Gardenfest she explained that the Coop’s “Garden for Nature” initiative will work with property owners to schedule a “weed wrangle.” Just as it sounds, the weed wranglers work as a team to (1) develop a strategic approach to eradication and (2) show up with volunteers and shovels to do the hard work, to get the project started. The Coop provides all tools and equipment.
Edwards said volunteers are always welcome and they do not need to be in the Master Gardener program to help nor to seek assistance about invasives. One recent Coop project was tearing out honeysuckle at Starkey Park, in Zionsville. Edwards said property owners interested in a weed wrangle can contact the Garden For Nature program at [email protected] for more information.
Soil pH testing is another Gardenfest service. pH, of course, measures acid and base levels, chemical indicators critical for plants to grow and thrive. This year, in addition to testing soil brought to Gardenfest, the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District offered a complementary service: for a nominal fee ($5.00) people could arrange for District personnel to visit their home or property and proceed with a complete soil analysis. Keegan Cougill, the District’s Natural Resource Conservationist, said 34 people signed up to take advantage of this opportunity.
On the program side, Gardenfest again presented three speakers on gardening and related, natural topics:
Andrea Hatfield is Extension Educator for Purdue, leading the programs at the Fairground site. As Gardenfest concluded Hatfield was asked for her view of the day. She noted two important initial measures: the repeated high attendance, close to last year, when she said all local events benefited from visitors in town for the eclipse. Second, she referenced the number of vendors, again, this year. She said there is a waiting list for vendors and the vendors participating this year want to return.
She also gave a shout out to the Boone County Master Gardeners and their dedicated team of volunteers, who literally set up the tables and equipment for Gardenfest and then eight hours later take it all down, leaving the field house swept, cleaned and empty. “Gardenfest wouldn’t happen without all of them,” Hatfield emphasized, “they are amazing people.”
These indicators are important for Hatfield’s reports to Purdue. The University is interested in those measures that show engagement and activity on education and training, and, in particular, that people in various communities are taking advantage and benefiting from the support the extension services are meant to provide.
Get ready: Gardenfest next year is April 18, 2026. See you there.
Photos from Gardenfest 2025
Gardenfest 2024 was a huge success! Here’s the review that appeared in the Lebanon Reporter
Gardenfest 2024. Planting for a Cause.
By Tom Ewing
On a freezing morning, after a cold and rainy week, a beautiful, colorful day finally burst open: the 36th Annual Gardenfest, on Saturday, April 6 at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
Boone County businesses Jones Greenhouse, Four Branches Outdoor Solutions, GreenCycle and Dull’s Tree Farm sponsored the “Pansy Patch,” an always popular place because kids can literally dig into some garden work, getting their hands nice and dirty working with soil, plants and planters. Four Branches and Dull’s were new sponsors this year.
The Boone County Solid Waste District was another new sponsor and participant, providing recycling and composting information and giving away items – from pencils to shopping bags – to show a wide range of everyday products made from recycled materials (mostly plastic).
Gardenfest is an early chance to buy plants, tools, books, and all kinds of hand-crafted garden must-haves, from flowerpots to T-shirts to birdhouses (one, believe it or not, with a Sylvester the Cat theme!). Seeds for native plants are popular. This year the Master Gardeners’ seed-team sold 778 seed packets (all seed revenue goes to BCMG grant programs). The event also offers soil testing – people can bring samples to check for pH balance.
Revenue from Gardenfest is critical for BCMG’s activities, which include community education, efforts to eradicate invasive species and raising and donating food from community gardens. BCMG and Habitat for Humanity in Boone County have a ten year partnership.
Master Gardeners complete an intensive 14-week Purdue University program, earning certified status in topics ranging from pesticides to insect control to fruit and vegetable gardening. Each year, Gardeners are required to complete at least six hours of training and help with local community projects.
Gardenfest includes educational sessions. The topics this year covered –
“Pollinator Plants” led by Jared Spokowsky, apiary specialist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
“The Laws of Attraction – Birds, Butterflies and Bees” led by Jennifer Davies & Karen Smith, specialists in environmental education and raptors and native birds.
“So You Bought an Orchid, Now What?” led by Rachel Walker, an officer with the Central Indiana Orchid Society.
One ongoing BCMG focus is eradicating invasive species, e.g., honeysuckle and garlic mustard. This year it was announced that a new Boone County Invasives Cooperative was established, an office that will operate as a local agent, but still be part of Indiana’s statewide program. The new effort has four goals:
Helping people start eradication efforts.
Developing partnerships to leverage and expand programs.
Education and training.
Finally – elimination, or at least keeping invasives under control.
Leslie Cain is a Zionsville Master Gardener with a focus on controlling invasives. She explained the upgraded, local program status will help Boone County home and property owners because local expertise, plus state level resources, can operate more extensively and efficiently. She added that Master Gardeners can help homeowners identify invasives and help with planning best approaches for removal and then recovery or replanting.
Andrea Hatfield is Purdue’s Boone County Extension Director at Lebanon. Purdue is Indiana’s land grant university. As such, its mission includes educational efforts beyond a central campus, hence the extension offices. Programs like Gardenfest align with Purdue’s mission. “Gardenfest’s role,” she commented, “is to help share horticulture education with the community. People interested in gardening issues will find what they are looking for here today.” (For information contact Hatfield at 765-482-0750 or [email protected].)
For vendors, Gardenfest offers a chance to sell their goods, of course, but it also helps with marketing and expanding their customer base, both locally and regionally. Benedicts Nursery could be the most distant vendor. Benedicts is based in Nappanee, IN, 20 miles south of South Bend.
Mark Davidson operates Davidson Greenhouse & Nursery in Crawfordsville. This is his 20th year as a Gardenfest vendor. Saturday’s sales were brisk. And he added that visibility at Gardenfest provides a “win-win kind of marketing,” which is expensive for a small business. “I meet people here,” he said, “who otherwise wouldn’t know about us in Crawfordsville. Today we’re able to sell and market at the same time. This expands our customer base. People from Gardenfest visit our nursery.”
Tom Ewing is a freelance writer in Zionsville.
Enjoy these photos from Gardenfest 2024. Thank you to Ron Burkhardt, our Gardenfest photographer.
Thank you to Head Gardenfest chair- Linda Trips and Vendor chair- Cheryl Pleak Copeland
Kids (and their parents!) had great fun decorating and planting their Pansy pots at the Pansy Patch
Our “Pollinator Plant” speaker, Jared Spolowsky, apiary specialist
Rachel Walker shared her expertise on Orchids and how to take care of them in your home
Karen Smith and Jennifer Davies gave their presentation “The Laws of Attraction – Birds, Butterflies and Bees”.
Happy Shoppers Where are you, Tweety Bird?
Native seed packets and meadow mix were for sale at the Master Gardeners Education area
Soil was tested for pH and information about soils was available here
Who can resist these homemade pies and cakes and sandwiches at our Garden Cafe?
Lots of great plants were for sale at the vendors’ booths.
Lots of information about pollinators, native plants suitable for growing in Boone County, controlling invasive plants, community gardens, Purdue horticulture publications and how to become a Master Gardener were available at our Education area
So many unique garden “must haves” were available for purchase at our Potting Shed
We look forward to seeing you at Gardenfest 2026 on April 18, 2026!
Find Us
Address
Boone County Purdue Extension
1300 East 100 South
Lebanon, IN 46052
Hours
Monday—Friday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Search
About This Site
Boone County Master Gardener Association founded in 1987
Purdue Master Gardener Program Website
Master Gardener Volunteer & Education Hours
Purdue Extension Boone County
Purdue Consumer Horticulture Website