Best topsoil in the world comes from Illinois and is 12” deep.
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Fall is an excellent time to plant trees as the temperatures are beginning to fall and the onset of autumn rains. Trees growth is slowing down, and they are putting resources into root growth and storage. This means better establishment for the root system and a head start on protection for next year’s summer heat and drought.

The U.S. averages over 1,200 tornadoes every year, surpassing the total annual twisters of all European countries combined. The country that ranks second, Canada, averages 100 tornadoes per year.

Do not cut perennial seed heads such as coneflower or black-eyed Susans. Native goldfinches need to munch on these delicacies during the fall and winter.
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It’s best to pull tomatoes, peppers and eggplant from the garden in the fall. They are susceptible to disease problems such as blight or bacteria spots. Do not put in the compost pile as they might infect the container.

The best chance to establish new grass is early to mid-September before winter.

September 15, 1939, the movie “The Wizard of Oz” premiered in the theatres.

“Shoulder season” is a term to describe the months of the year sandwiched between the off season and peak (or prime) travel times. The weather is often the determining factor to the start of shoulder season.

During migration, hummingbirds need an enormous amount of energy. These tiny birds may travel hundreds or even thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. Your hummingbird feeder is like a rest stop to these traveling vagabonds so wait at least two weeks after you see your last hummingbird before taking the feeder down.
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According to the Farmers Almanac, 2026, October is the heart of first-frost season for a large portion of the United States. For Indianapolis and surrounding areas that date is about October 21.

Michigan’s most prized natural treasure
By Ann Wolski
On a recent trip to Michigan, I learned about the state’s most prized natural treasures—Petoskey stones. Named after the town of Petoskey on the shores of Lake Michigan, these fascinating stones are only found in Michigan where they originated from a type of coral reef system that thrived in Lake Michigan during prehistoric times.

Petosky stones are fossilized skeletons of colonial rugose corals--Hexgonaria percarinata—that lived roughly 350 million years ago during the Devonian period when Michigan sat near the equator under a warm shallow sea. About two million years ago, glaciers plucked those fossils out of the bedrock, ground off the edges, and scattered them primarily across northern Michigan.  That’s why you find them loose on beaches instead of locked in stone.

Petosky stones aren’t rare, but they’re not easy to spot. Their hexagon patterns are hard to see when dry, but when wet or polished, they almost look manmade. Nature, however, has been crafting them for hundreds of millions of years. Each Petoskey stone is packed with six-sided cells called corallites, and the dark dot at the center of every hexagon was a single coral polyp’s mouth.

Here are seven tips that will help you in your Petoskey search:

1. Early spring—April to June—is the best time to search for Petoskey stones, before the summer beach crowds descend.
2. Carry a spray bottle or work the waterline where the waves keep everything wet. A quick spray will confirm whether you have a Petosky stone or not.
3. Hunt after a storm. Waves churn stones up from the lake bottom and lay down a fresh layer.
4. Petrosky stones hide in mixed gravel not sandy beaches.
5. Look above the waterline too. Around unrooted trees, in disrupted soil, along the base of bluffs.
6. When you find one, stop walking. Petoskey stones cluster, because the glaciers that dropped them dropped them in patches.
7. Bring a small bucket, not just a spray bottle. Scoop lake water and pour it over a whole patch of gravel at once so you clear a section instead of one stone at a time.

Collecting Petosky Stone State rules:

1. You may collect up to 25 pounds per person per year on state-owned land. Collected stones over 25 pounds may be confiscated by the DNR.
2. No collecting from National Lakeshores, National Forests or National Recreation Lands.
3. If it’s private property, you must get permission from the landowner.  

​The hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States was in Greenland Ranch, California. The thermometer soared to 134°F on July 10, 1913. It was hot enough to fry an egg on a rock in a matter of seconds! 

Deadhead flowers to encourage continued bloom.

On July 16th,1969 the crew of the Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four days later, on July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon. The moon landing will forever be known as one of America’s greatest scientific achievements.

The Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War, occurred from July 1st to 3rd in 1863.

Check plants for watering during the hot, dry summer month of July by sticking your finger at least six inches deep in the soil to check the moisture. The ideal consistency is like a wrung-out sponge. Some gardeners may need to water every day in the heat of July. Others can water every two to three days depending on conditions. It’s best to water in early morning or evening. Water at the base of plants to avoid wetting the leaves.

Summer heat spoils hummingbird nectar quickly. Clean and refill feeders regularly, maybe as often as every two to three days. If the solution is cloudy, it needs to be replaced. A simple recipe for hummingbird nectar is four parts water to one part sugar, or 1 cup water to 1/4 cup sugar.

Amazing Indiana inventions include rear-view mirrors, breathalyzers, Wonder Bread and sliced bacon.

Mosquitoes hate even a slight breeze. So, for outdoor living spaces like a porch or patio, install a small, quiet, outdoor fan (especially made for gardens) to keep air moving.

Most of Indiana’s rivers flow south and west.
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Americans spend $2.8 billion on fireworks each year.

June has both the longest and the shortest days of the year, depending on where you’re standing! If you live in the northern hemisphere, the June 21 is the longest day of the year. If you live in the southern hemisphere, then the 21st is the shortest day of the year.

Alternate mowing directions each time you mow to help keep grass growing upright and to prevent soil compaction. Mow at a 45- or 90-degree angle to your last pattern.

During a summer drought, let the grass grow longer between mowings, and reduce fertilizer use.

To lower the risk of overuse of a muscle group when gardening, don’t spend more than 30 minutes on any single task.
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June was called sera monath by the Anglo-Saxons, which translated into “dry month”.

A single tumbleweed can carry as many as a quarter million fertile seeds, ready to be implanted. That is why a large part of the American west is facing an avalanche of hard and spiky bouncing beach-balls of the noxious, unpleasant weed.

Known for their vibrant colors, fragrant flowers and winter hardiness, peonies have been grown in China, Siberia, and Japan for more than 2,500 years. They were first brought to Europe and then the United States around 1800.

When lightning is in the area and you are indoors, stay away from showers, sinks, bathtubs, plumbing pipes, electrical equipment such as radios, corded telephones, and computers.

Carry a small bottle of baby powder with you to the beach this summer. It’ll help everyone get sand-free before they climb back into the car.

Keep the messy spills and drips from ice cream or popsicles contained by threading a cupcake liner or plastic lid onto the stick.

It’s almost time for the “greatest spectacle in racing”, the Indianapolis 500. During 110 years of this amazing annual event, many things have changed, many traditions have stayed the same but the race itself is always entertaining.  Here are a few fun facts to share with your racing buddies.

• The first Indy 500 took place in 1911 but actually the track’s first event was on June 5, 1909. The track served as a launch pad for a balloon race. The event drew 40,000 spectators, with the winner landing 382 miles away in Alabama.
• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway spans 253 acres. IMS could contain Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum, Vatican City, the White House, the Taj Mahal and Liberty Island with an acre to spare.
• The track was once paved with 3.2 million bricks, giving it the name “The Brickyard”. Today, a 36-inch wide strip of bricks cuts across the front stretch of the 2.5-mile oval.
• The tradition of "kissing the bricks" was started by NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett after his Brickyard 400 victory in 1996.
• Originally Gasoline Alley referred only to the one corner where the fuel depot was located.
• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world with seating up to 250,000 fans. It also means that it is one of the hardest sports facilities to exit taking up to 3 hours to leave once the race is over.
• The first race was won by Ray Harroun who was also known as the first person to use a rear-view mirror on a motor vehicle. His take home pay was $14,250. He also started the tradition of drinking a pint of milk in the winner’s circle. His preferred drink was buttermilk.
• In 1977, Janet Guthrie became the first female driver to qualify for and compete in the Indy 500. That same year, she also became the first woman to compete in NASCAR's Daytona 500.
• The Borg-Warner Trophy was first awarded in 1935 when it was valued at $10,000. Today, that same trophy is worth more than $1,000,000. 
• 8 miles of hot dogs and bratwursts are consumed by racing spectators. That means up to 475 gallons of ketchup are also consumed. To drink, how about 16,000 gallons of Coca-Cola products and more than 14,000 gallons of Miller Lite and other beer products.