With Spring officially here, tree and plant experts at The Morton Arboretum say the Chicago region is currently on track for an average arrival time of spring blooms despite recent weather fluctuations and temperature swings. The arboretum says historical records indicate that, on average, peak spring blooms in the Chi...

In La Porte, the La Porte County Master Gardener Association is hosting a special event featuring a nationally-known author of several books, including "Bringing Nature Home" and "The Nature of Oaks. "A Morning with Doug Tallamy - Saving Nature in Your Yard" is March 28, 2026, at the La Porte C...

In northwest Indiana, Save the Dunes says the thousands of sandhill cranes stopping at the Great Marsh at Indiana Dunes National Park this month are "an incredible reminder of what habitat restoration can achieve". The nonprofit says during the 20th century much of the 4,000 acres of the Great Marsh wetland c...

West Lafayette -- Purdue Extension is now accepting registrations for the Grass to Garden Virtual Program, a course designed to help participants start and manage community-based gardens. It will be held on four consecutive Thursdays on April 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2026, 10am to noon Eastern, 9 to 11am Central. The curricul...

The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County has announced the Boone Grove and Portage Compost sites reopen for the 2026 season on Monday, March 16, 2026, with regular hours of 8am-4pm. The Valparaiso Compost Site will extend operating hours to 8am-5pm beginning March 16, 2026. Residents can pick up nutr...

In northwest Indiana, Gabis Arboretum says its 4th annual online Native Plant Sale is now underway. The arboretum says native plants attract native pollinators and are adapted to thrive in our region, and its staff carefully selected native plants that are also growing at Gabis. Pre-orders are being taken through May 1...

In Indianapolis, Audubon members and conservation experts gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday February 17, 2026, to hear from Indiana Governor Mike Braun and meet with lawmakers raising awareness about the threats facing Indiana's birds - like habitat loss - and highlighting opportunities to protect natural reso...

In northwest Indiana, Save the Dunes has released the third installment in its Living in the Dunes native landscaping guide series. "Living in the Dunes: A Homeowner's Landscaping Guide for Bird Conservation in Indiana's Coastal Communities" focuses on birds and Northwest Indiana's role in supporting them. Lo...

UPDATE: Humane Indiana Wildlife says their special Groundhog Day event originally set for Saturday January 31, 2026, at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond is being postponed due to inclement weather. The nonprofit says the event will instead be held on Saturday February 7, 2026, and all other event details will rema...

The 20th Annual Porter County Master Gardeners Association Gardening Show is Saturday, January 31, 2026, 8am - 4 pm Central Time at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. The Porter County Master Gardeners Association says the event includes a variety of presentations by local and regional gardening speakers, mor...