Purdue Extension - Marion County Demonstration Garden

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Purdue Extension - Marion County Demonstration Garden This garden displays award-winning All-America Selections (AAS) plants & demonstrates how to garden.

This page is about what happens in the Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis, IN. The garden demonstrates how to grow food and ornamental plants. Gardeners can see and learn about plants adapted to Indiana and how to care for them. Gardeners can see award-winning All-America Selections flowers and vegetables as well as vegetable gardening techniques such as raised beds. Many garden visitors have commented that the garden gives them a lot of great ideas. A new demonstration garden was created on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2012 by Purdue Extension-Marion County staff and Master Gardener volunteers. The demonstration garden primarily features annual flowers and vegetables. In 2013 the Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden became an official All-America Selections (AAS) Flower and Vegetable Display Garden. It is the only AAS Display Garden in Indianapolis and one of only a half-dozen in Indiana. An AAS Display Garden provides the public an opportunity to view the newest AAS winners in an attractive well-maintained setting. The demonstration garden is located 350 feet east of Discovery Hall where the Purdue Extension-Marion County office is located. This is in the northwest corner of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205. There is no charge to view the garden or for parking for garden entrance (except during the State Fair when normal fees apply). For directions or more information on the garden, call Steve Mayer at 317-275-9290, or e-mail: [email protected].

Today, October 17, there were a lot of flowers on our two Purple Passionflower vines (Passiflora incarnata) in the Purdu...
10/18/2026

Today, October 17, there were a lot of flowers on our two Purple Passionflower vines (Passiflora incarnata) in the Purdue Extension Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis.

On October 13, 2026, we broke our all-time vegetable donation record in the Purdue Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis:...
10/18/2026

On October 13, 2026, we broke our all-time vegetable donation record in the Purdue Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis: 2,122 pounds for the food pantry.
2022 - 2,090 lbs. 12 oz. (previous record)
2026 - 2,122 lbs. 4 oz. (as of October 13)
Now, as of October 15, it is 2,160 lbs. 1 oz. with a little more harvesting to come.

This past weekend, all three of our impatiens plantings were still looking good in the Purdue Demonstration Garden. Here...
10/13/2026

This past weekend, all three of our impatiens plantings were still looking good in the Purdue Demonstration Garden. Here are two photos of each that were taken on October 10, 2026:
-Impatiens Solarscape XL Pink Jewel (2024 AAS Winner) (growing along the west fence)
https://all-americaselections.org/product/impatiens-interspecific-solarscape-xl-pink-jewel/
-Impatiens Solarscape Magenta Bliss & Orange Burst (planted a mix of these two in full sun)
https://info.ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=119909505049271
-Impatiens Beacon Sanibel Mixture (growing underneath the shingle oak trees)
https://ballseed.com/Products/034701686049272/impatiens-beacon-sanibel-mixture

Thank you to Purdue Extension Marion County () for their coordination, support and work with Extension Master Gardener v...
10/10/2026

Thank you to Purdue Extension Marion County () for their coordination, support and work with Extension Master Gardener volunteers in the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden on the Indiana State Fairgrounds!

In addition, thank you to the following organizations and businesses who contributed to the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden in some way: All-America Selections, Court’sYard & Greenhouse, Garfield Park Master Gardener Association, Indiana State Fair, Marion County Master Gardener Association, and Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Many thanks to all of the Marion County () Master Gardener volunteers who planned, planted, and maintained the demonst...
10/10/2026

Many thanks to all of the Marion County () Master Gardener volunteers who planned, planted, and maintained the demonstration garden on the Indiana State Fairgrounds this year! They also harvested the vegetables and delivered the produce to the food pantry. The garden would not be possible without all of their volunteer work.

The total harvest from the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden for the food pantry is now 2,082 pounds, ...
10/10/2026

The total harvest from the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden for the food pantry is now 2,082 pounds, as of October 8.

The harvest season is winding down, but we are still harvesting in the Purdue Extension Demonstration Garden. As of Octo...
10/08/2026

The harvest season is winding down, but we are still harvesting in the Purdue Extension Demonstration Garden. As of October 6, our harvest donations to the food pantry are now 2,064 pounds. Here are three All-America Selections (AAS) Winners that were part of the harvest:
Okra Candle Fire (2017 AAS Winner)
https://all-americaselections.org/product/okra-candle-fire/
Cucumber Green Light (2020 AAS Winner)
https://all-americaselections.org/product/cucumber-green-light/
Carrot Purple Haze (2006 AAS Winner)
https://all-americaselections.org/product/carrot-purple-haze-f1/

Another vine in the Purdue Extension Demonstration Garden is Purple Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata (aka Maypop). Th...
10/06/2026

Another vine in the Purdue Extension Demonstration Garden is Purple Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata (aka Maypop). This herbaceous Indiana-native perennial vine has white and purple flowers in summer and fall. It dies to the ground in cold climates and comes back from the roots the following year. Purple Passionflower is a strong vigorous vine that can increase the maintenance in your garden. It can spread aggressively by root suckers, sometimes far from the crown of the plant. Two vines are shown in the photos climbing an electrical conduit pipe along a wood fence. One photo shows root suckers growing on the ground.
Purple Passionflower:
https://plantfinder.mobot.org/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=q280

Address

1202 E 38th Street Discovery Hall
Indianapolis, IN
46205

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13172759305

Website

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