There's a lot of news in the Ripple:

Norma Wallman, who leads flower walks in Holliday Park and has spent the last 19 years preparing a list of all the flowers in the park (and when they bloom), has published "Wildflowers of Holliday Park: A Pictorial Field Guide Organized by Blooming Season".

Norma's new book is available for $20 at the Holliday Park Nature Center.

The book features over 300 flowers.

"We are so grateful to Norma for producing such a wonderful resource for Holliday Park," said Holliday Park Office Park Coordinator Katie Nell.

Her wildflower hike on July 13 featured summer wildflowers and the wildflowers of the park's wetlands. (The park also has a prairie area which is now in full bloom as well)

This book is a must for any nature lover or would be naturalist.

On August 16 and 30, 2013, the Dig and Discuss group will meet from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to work in the rock garden and have a briefing by local landscaper Chris Turner. Contact the Park for other volunteer opportunities.

Thanks to Indy Parks and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for coming to the park. The July 18 ISO outdoor concert was a hit with over 1,000 people braving the heat to see the symphony. Thanks again to the ISO, an anonymous donor who funded it, and Indy Parks!

Artsparkle, the Indianapolis Art Center summer fundraiser, is scheduled for August 18, 2013. It's a fun event where folks enjoy the warm summer night with food and music. According to Ashley Graves, over 20 food vendors are coming with great chefs. The Impalas will provide the music. Tickets are $75 for art center members and support the Art Center's Activities. Tickets are available at indplsArtCenter.org or by calling 255 2464.

Also, registration for fall classes is now open. Visit their website at www.indplsartcenter.org for details.

A few more great films are scheduled for Friday nights at the Indianapolis Museum of Art's summer nights outdoor film series including Hoosiers on August 9, 2013. Then on August 16 is the classic, The Big Sleep, a great film in black and white from the 1940s with Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart and features the famous whistling line to Humphrey Bogart ("you just put your lips together and blow").

Also airing is Rushmore, a 1998 film on August 23, 2013.

The last film is on August 30. The title has not yet been announced as movie-goers get to select one of 3 options.

On July 15, 2013, BRVA had a picnic at the Broad Ripple Tavern. According to Kristina Mazza of Lux Restaurants (who is the operations manager of the tavern), the event was a fundraiser for money to improve safety and security in the Village including new street lights. The event featured a best bartender contest and other fun events.

August 9 and 23, 2013, are the 2 last summer outdoor concerts featuring local Indy rock bands. The fun starts at 7 p.m. with food trucks and micro brews. Get tickets at www.indy.gov/concerts.

The concerts are pay what you want and they have great independent bands.

Parlez-vous Francais? Vous aimez a pratique votre Francais avec les autres? Did you know the Meet Up French group meets in the Ripple? The next get together (for dinner, drinks, and some parlez vousing) will be August 8 and 22 at Cornerstone Coffee at Moe and Johnny's, 54th and College. All French speakers welcome. (There is another French group that meets the other 2 Thursdays and the restaurant is different each time.) French speakers at the Meet Ups include Americans who speak French but many Indy residents from France, Quebec, Africa, Lebanon and other countries where French is widely spoken. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m...