GALLERY

These are photos taken at Wildergarden:

Leaf debris and drying stick interspersed with green leaves and small violet flowers.
Bunch of purple unopened Virginia bluebells with green leaves behind them.
Small tree with leaves turned yellow and orange for fall, seen from above.
Miriam Murphy wears a bright red winter coat and warm black hat as she uses a tape measure to determine the circumference of a tree during the tree inventory.
A dead branch with small brown and white clumps of fungus
A single white mushroom grows out of a layer of leaf litter.
A firefly sits on a green leaf.
Closeup of a Fox Squirrel
Squirrel perched in the crook of a small tree

Visitors and Events at Wildergarden:

Join us for events at Wildergarden!

Dr. Sean Berthong, a biology professor at Butler University, took soil samples at Wildergarden on April 5, 2024, as a part of grant research. The test results show that we have a healthy cycle of natural nutrition for our native plants and trees. We don’t need to add NPK fertilizer.

Dr. Sean Berthong, a biology professor at Butler University, took soil samples at Wildergarden on April 5, 2024, as a part of grant research. His research assistant is helping him collect soil for testing!

Some members of the Indiana Native Plant Society visited us during Spring 2024. We were so excited to have them!

events

Some members of the Indiana Native Plant Society visited us during Spring 2024. We had a lovely time visiting with like-minded friends!

A Forest and Foraging Walk was held at Wildergarden in April 2024, organized by Tom Corson-Knowles. Julia is speaking to the group.

A Forest and Foraging Walk was held at Wildergarden in April 2024, organized by Tom Corson-Knowles. Tom identified a new plant volunteering here: Clustered black snakeroot.

We held our first annual block party on October 6, 2024! Here was the program invitation.

Signage at Wildergarden:

We like people to know what they are looking at when they walk or drive past Wildergarden!

Ecosystem! Wooden Wildergarden sign in foreground with brown leaves and snow covering the ground. There are several small trees and a large and house in the background behind the sign.

The original Wildergarden sign

A bright green National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Sign leans against brick wall. This property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. nwf.org

We are proud to display our Certified Wildlife Habitat Sign

In 2024 we became a Registered Native Planting site with the City of Indianapolis Land Stewardship office.

In October 2023 we got new signage.

In August 2024 we had our website sign made at the Indiana State Fair.

A small card table with a tan plaid tablecloth sits at the curb on the edge of Wildergarden property. A small path leads back into the property, which is filled with vibrant green trees, shrubs, and plants. There are two orange buckets along the path. The table is in the street slightly, so there are two orange safety cones on either side. On the table is a poster that says Wildlife Habitat, a brown photo album, and an informational page. Standing up on the table is a tri-fold poster board with photos taken of plants and animals at Wildergarden. The mission statement is listed as To empower homeowners to provide more ecologically sound land in their yards.

In September 2023 we set up an information table on 60th Street alongside Wildergarden. It’s perfect for pedestrians walking to the Monon Trail and for dog walkers.

signage

In December 2024 our signage at the corner of Winthrop Ave. and 60th Street was completed. Wildergarden is located at a busy residential intersection.

Wildergarden Through the Year:

Join us in photographing the same trees and plants through the years in our Phenology Trails program!

January 24, 2022

February 21, 2022

March 21, 2022

April 18, 2022

May 1, 2022

May 16, 2022

May 29, 2022

June 27, 2022

July 9, 2022

August 13, 2022

September 5, 2022

October 9, 2022

October 23, 2022

November 6, 2022

December 12, 2022

Ring Camera Videos

We have several Ring cameras in strategic locations around Wildergarden so we can see our resident and visiting wildlife without disturbing them. Here are some of the visits!

Google Street View & 360

We wanted to share Wildergarden in the context of the surrounding neighborhood! These images were copied from Google Street View with all references to the actual address redacted for privacy. Enjoy!