A green roof doghouse to go with the rain barrel

How cute is this? I was checking out some "green roof" doghouses and decided that Madison Square Garden clearly needs one to go with our new rain barrel. Maybe we'll paint them to match after we get the barrel installed and have a mini toolshed on site too.

Let me know if you know of a doghouse to repurpose like this!

There's always creativity in the various gardens, and Mayor Buttigieg will be among those on hand Saturday at the main LaSalle Square garden for its season opening, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The garden at 3701 Prast Blvd. is just under 10 acres, and LaSalle Square is the flagship garden for the Unity network that includes Madison Street and about 50-60 other gardens. Some big, some small, all committed to building community and community health.

The main garden site will show off its new native planting area, planned beehive section and family garden plots. Plenty of free kids activities and light refreshments.

If you're coming, think about making a donation to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. A collection truck for cans and other nonperishable items will be on site, in partnership with the National Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Day. If you've never seen the LaSalle garden, out near Honeywell? It's really pretty amazing.

Another way to help Unity Gardens grow? Take advantage of a 50 percent Indiana state tax credit by making a monetary donation. Unity participates in the state's Neighborhood Assistance Program, which permits any Indiana taxpayer (resident or business) to take that 50 percent credit on their state tax filings.

The credit is still available through May 31 on any monetary or in-kind donation of $100 or more. To donate online, go to the Unity Gardens Inc. Donations Page on the main site.

To learn more about the program, go to the Indiana NAP page for information.