Public invited to tour recognized native plant garden in Munster

Event Information

The public is invited to tour a native plant garden in Munster on Saturday, July 20, from 11am until 4pm. Located at 8743 Linden Avenue in Munster, the garden has been landscaped with over 100 species of native flowers, grasses and shrubs by homeowner Karl Ackermann.  

Ackermann’s garden received a Bringing Nature Home award from Shirley Heinze Land Trust in 2018. The program recognizes home gardeners and organizational landscapers who use plant species that are native to this region in their plantings. “Home gardeners and landscapers have a role to play in supporting our mission to protect natural land and support wildlife habitat in northwestern Indiana” says Sarah Barnes, Programs Manager for Shirley Heinze Land Trust.  “Using native plants in gardens and landscapes can help create corridors of habitat for birds and pollinators such as bees, butterflies and other wildlife, enabling these species to migrate through highly developed urban areas.”

Ackermann, a member of the Wild Ones, Gibson Woods Chapter 38, an organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to encourage biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities, will be on hand to answer questions about using native plants in the home landscape, and why these plants are beneficial for the environment.

Representatives from Shirley Heinze Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy will also be present to share information about their respective missions, local nature preserves, programs, and events.

 For more information about the event, call Ackermann at (708) 790-1322 or email acks123@sbcglobal.net.