December Updates

PO Box 187

116 N. Main Street

Culver, IN 46511

www.lakemax.org

Working towards the preservation of an ecologically sound Lake Maxinkuckee and its surrounding watershed

2023 Year End Giving

The lake and the LMEF conservation efforts depend solely on your continued generosity and consideration.

As we near the year’s end, we hope to close our 2023 Fundraising Campaign with a strong finish.

Every dollar matters when it comes to funding important lake improvement projects, educational programs, water monitoring and community-wide engagement.

Please ensure that our efforts can continue by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund. Your gift will help us to reach our goal and maintain a balanced budget.

Donate online or send your check to:

LMEF

PO Box 187

Culver, IN 46511

Donate Today!

New USDA Hardiness Zone Map

Plant Hardiness Zone Maps are used to show gardeners and growers which plants are most likely to thrive in your area, by highlighting which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures at certain locations.

Recently released new Plant Hardiness Zone maps, updated by the US Department of Agriculture, show a drastically reduced Zone 5 throughout Indiana, while Zone 7 makes an appearance in other parts of southern Indiana for the first time.

The map is available online at https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Invasive Plants Have No Place in Your Landscape

The problem with invasive plants is that they do so well that they outcompete and take over native plants. This can happen slowly or within a year; it depends on how many are initially planted and how quickly the plants can reproduce. This ultimately decimates biodiversity.

Plants that can produce an abundance of seeds are particularly hazardous. This is why it is important to identify and spread awareness about these plants.

Partial List of Commonly Found Invasive Plants:

Asian Bush Honeysuckle
Callery Pear
Burning Bush
Poison Hemlock
Autumn Olive
Japanese Barberry

Official Indiana Invasive Species Council

Invasive Plant List

Catch Up on Your Reading

Spotted Lanternfly

My Facebook feed has been filled in recent days with confirmed reports of Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in Elkhart, Porter and St. Joseph counties.

Sadly, it is only a matter of time before it is confirmed in Marshall County.

This is the third region of the state in which this invasive pest has been found, joining the 2021 find in Switzerland County (southeast) and the 2022 find in Huntington County (northeast).

Clear Choices

Clean Water

Have you heard about the Clear Choices Clean Water® campaign? It is a program designed to increase awareness about the choices we make and the impacts they have on our streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

LMEF will begin a no-phosphorous fertilizer campaign in 2024. Let’s see how many homeowners we can get to take the fertilizer pledge and see what a difference individuals, working collectively, can make.

More information about how to participate in the campaign will follow.

Teamwork!

LMEF President, Debbie Palmer (left) and Liz Symon (right), Moon Tree Studios Program and Marketing Coordinator,

co-presenting at the recent Environmental Educators Association of Indiana (EEAI) Annual Conference.

A Journey to Implement Algae Monitoring on Lake Maxinkuckee

Text Link

Cute Santa Bananas

You just need a few simple ingredients and a little imagination to make these fun treats.

Bananas
Strawberries
Chocolate jimmies
red candy
marshmallows (mini and regular)
skewers

Articles Concerning the Lake and Watershed

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