The Santa Claus Museum & Village got a head start on Earth Day celebrations last Thursday morning, welcoming visitors from near and far for several educational events. The sun was shining and the cold front had not yet moved in as various local organizations stopped by to share the occasion.
Spencer County Soil and Water District invited kids to learn about pollination with a series of games, demonstrating how pollen grains float from one plant to another by tossing balls back and forth. They even got to take some seeds home to get ready for gardening season.
Meanwhile, Lincoln State Park and Vallonia Nursery were on hand to demonstrate the importance of bees to the local ecosystem, as well as how to properly care for a sapling. Michael Crews of Lincoln State Park offered a first-hand look at how pecan trees are cared for prior to planting, applying damp cloth to the roots of several specimens to keep them healthy. He also demonstrated the proper depth at which to plant these trees, as several visitors got to take one home.
Southern Indiana is at the northern edge of the pecan tree’s normal range, but in moist, well-drained soil they can still thrive in this region. Aspirant pecan cultivators should keep watch for weeds, however, as they will compete for nutrients and will quickly outpace a pecan tree if left unhindered. The saplings handed out Thursday could produce nuts in about eight years, with care and a little luck.
Photos by Don Steen
