I first visited Wanda Lunn’s garden back in 2008, when she invited me to see her iris in bloom in one of only two display gardens in Iowa for the Historic Iris Preservation Society. Anyone in this area who enjoys viewing beautiful gardens is in luck. Wanda hosts periodical open gardens at her home in […]
Monthly archives for May, 2013
Iowa sets record with rainfall; most ...
Just a month ago, we worried about another drought in Iowa. Now the concern is too much water. Earlier today, I traveled to Tama County and saw the flooding up close, a reminder of what we experienced in Cedar Rapids in 2008. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources noted in its water summary of May […]
Under water, again; flooding and stor...
CHELSEA – It was odd seeing ducks and geese today, next to Highway 30, swimming in farm fields. I traveled to my uncle’s farm near Chelsea, in Tama County. I’m grateful that the past generations of my family chose to settle on high grounds in the rolling hills of East-central Iowa, but even that land […]
Downtown Farmers Market kicks off 201...
With more than 220 vendors, the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids is one of the largest markets in Iowa. The season kicks off Saturday, June 1, 2013, with markets following on June 15 and every first and third Saturday of the month, through Sept. 21. Find details on more than 40 Eastern Iowa farmers […]
New farmers market seeks vendors
Cody Zoss, of the Iowa Food Systems Council, passed along the following about an innovative concept under way at the Farm Bureau office in West Des Moines: Farm Bureau is planning to launch a weekly farmers market and is looking for farmers and vendors to supply vegetables, fruits, baked goods and other items for sale […]
Flash flood warning in effect in East...
The National Weather Service issued the following on Sunday, May 26, 2013: A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 1:45 am CDT for Southwestern Cedar, Southern Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Southwestern Linn and Northwestern Muscatine counties. At 7:57 pm CDT, National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated that the heavy rain producing
Rain or shine, mulch offers multiple ...
When rain is forecast for days on end, it might seem that having mulch on a garden bed is of little importance. It’s true that mulching lessens the need for watering by retaining moisture in the ground, but mulch also can prevent soil-borne diseases that might otherwise splash up on un-mulched plants from bare soil.