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Horticultural Services

The Horticulture division of the Valparaiso Parks Department is committed to environmentally responsible land management. This is accomplished by designing landscapes with native species as the primary plant materials and where monocultures of single species are disallowed thus avoiding environmental tragedies such as the Emerald Ash Borer, American Chestnut Blight or Dutch Elm Disease.

Ornamental plants and flowers are selected to not be invasive as well as to demonstrate a wider variety of plants than are typically seen in local landscapes. Plants which require pesticides are avoided.
Resources
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Ogden Gardens
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Going Native
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A 4 acre botanical garden at Harrison and Campbell streets. Exhibits include perennial beds, seasonal flowers, trees, gazebo, and a Japanese garden with a 22,000 gallon koi pond.

The Ogden Gardens Gazebo may be rented for weddings.

Phone 219-462-5144 for information.

Ogden Gardens is a donor supported facility. Phone 219-531-4678 to contact the horticulture staff and contribute.

Landscaping with native plants...

  • Provides year round interest
  • Requires less irrigation
  • Requires less pesticides
  • Requires little or no pruning
  • Saves time and money
  • Provides wildlife food and habitat
  • Attracts song birds
  • Is drought tolerant
  • Is fully winter hardy
  • Is sustainable for generations without requiring frequent replacement common in non-native marginally hardy plants
  • Does not grow out of control and become a problem like many non-native landscape plants

 
Horticultural Contact
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Common Plants Which Harm our Environment
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If you would like to contact someone directly with horticultural questions, contact Steve Martinson via phone at (219) 531-4678 or e-mail by clicking below.

Contact Steve

 

If you would like to peruse available job opportunities, click below.

Job Opportunities

Click on the popup dialogue below to see a listing of the common plants that may be harmful to our environment.

Common Harmful Plants:

 

Go to the HortiPlex Plant Database to get more information

 
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