Jean Starr

Purdue Master Gardeners of Porter County raised $3,000 from the garden show last month. The show, which featured a photography contest, was well-attended by garden lovers throughout the region.

Chesterton resident Ryan Kwiecinski won Best in Show out of nearly 300 entries for his photo of a butterfly that he had taken last year at Brookfield Zoo.

Other area residents whose photos stood out and warmed up those who saw them displayed at the show were Mary Simon, Laura Whitaker, Lisa Teel, Alice Harrington, Bonnie Newett, Judith Cieslak, Tracy Huyvaert and Eric Krupowicz of Valparaiso; Maryellen Pritchard, Sheryl R. Kiszkan, Brian Gerike and Mary Thorne of Portage; James C. Biddle of North Judson, Teri Griffin of Michigan City, Dorothy B. Hageman of Chesterton, Rosemary Badanish of Gary and V. Jostes of Hobart.

The mission of Master Gardeners throughout North America is "Helping Others Grow," which the Porter County Master Gardeners hope to do through scholarship and community donation programs. Each year, the organization awards two community grants for an individual or group that improves the community through a horticultural endeavor. They also offer a college scholarship to students who are pursuing a degree in horticulture or a related field.

The Porter County Master Gardeners Association will award up to three annual non-renewable scholarships of $500 each to a college sophomore, junior, or senior who is majoring in the field of landscape design, horticulture, botany, or a closely-related field. The scholarship deadline is March 1. The application is available online at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/Porter/mgwebpage/pcmga.htm.

For groups or individuals who would like some help with community volunteer projects that are gardening/horticultural-related, the group will award up to four annual community grants that will not exceed $250 each.

According to Master Gardener LuAnn Troxel, the awards given last year affected many people.

"There was a lot of interest last year," she said. "Anybody can apply; they don't have to be a non-profit (organization)."

There is also the community service donation of $500 to a nonprofit organization. Last year, it was awarded to Northwest Indiana Cerebral Palsy. The previous year, Taltree Arboretum & Gardens was the recipient.

Troxel said that the request can come from a non-profit organization, parks departments, or even a municipality in Porter and surrounding counties.

The deadline for community grants is April 1 and must be made in writing on a form that is available either online or at the Porter County Extension Office, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 301, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

For more information, call (219) 465-3555.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.