Now that spring is finally here, many of us are thinking about gardening. Is this the year you put in a water garden? Or do you already have a water garden, and plan to add new plants? Well, before you head out to the garden center, you should know that water gardening is one way that invasive aquatic plants can spread into new waterways. When introduced into local waters, these plants can displace native ones, which are sources of food and shelter for native wildlife. Because they grow so prolifically, invasive plants can also clog drainage pipes, impede navigation, and make fishing difficult.

Does this make water gardening a bad idea? Not at all. It means you should be careful to choose plants that are native or non-invasive. It also means you should be careful how you get rid of plants you no longer want or need. For instance, do not release them into natural waterways.

IISG has a 4-page brochure, Invasive Aquatic Plants: What every Plant Enthusiast needs to Know, that provides tips on how best to situate your water garden and how to choose plants carefully. You might want to take the “Most Wanted List,” included in the brochure, with you to the garden center. These are the baddest of the bad invasive plants.

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Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension‌When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM ESTWhere: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944Registration Link in bio.‌Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:-Hear Research Findings-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session-Learn Real World Application-Tour a Shrimp Farm-Network at the “After Hour Social”‌This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.‌For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)
This Halloween, we’re diving into the eerie depths of the Great Lakes.Each lake has its own spooky story:🕯️ Lake Superior hides ghost ships beneath its icy waves...🦴 Lake Michigan whispers tales of vanishing beaches…🌉Lake Huron hides prehistoric hunting camps on a lake bottom ridge...🧪 Lake Erie bubbles with algal blooms that glow like potions...🦠 Lake Ontario was first to host strange creatures like the blood sucking sea lamprey. Never fear, we have resources to help you make these fascinating topics less frightening at iiseagrant.org/education.
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