Seed-starting is among the topics covered by Linn County Master Gardeners during their Spring Library Talks in 2015. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Linn County Master Gardeners are expanding their reach.
Their spring talks will be held at seven area libraries this year, so you’re sure to find one just a short distance away and they’re free!
Topics range from container gardening and rain barrels to seed-starting and more. See the following schedule, with the month/day/town and miles listed from Cedar Rapids. The date is to the left of each session’s title and all are scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Master Gardener Spring Library Talks – 2015
February Wednesday Hiawatha 5 miles
4 Feed the Birds- Deb Walser LCMG
This power point presentation features the most common birds that summer and winter in Iowa. We will look at the many types of feed we can put out for the birds plus trees and shrubs that provide cover and food. Come see beautiful pictures and lots of birding tips.
11 Orna-edibles-Pretty enough to eat – Sylvia Kelly LCMG
Simple ideas to grow food and flowers in combinations that are front yard beautiful and healthy to eat. Take Steps towards sustainable living for every life style -apartments, condos, houses big and small from a single container to the whole front yard.
18 Starting Seeds and Transplants –Phil Pfister LCMG
Starting flower and vegetables from seed is not only fun and satisfying, but it can also be a cost effective way of expanding your garden varieties. LCMG Phil Pfister will provide tips and techniques on seeding, transplanting, and setting plants out in the garden, and extending the growing season. This presentation concentrates mainly on vegetable production, but the techniques also apply to flowers.
25 The Zen Garden – Japanese Gardening Principles in Midwest Gardens – Jean Murray LCMG
Zen gardens are a spiritual celebration of nature. Jean and Vicki will discuss how to incorporate the principles of Japanese gardening into your home garden and will take you (electronically) to some upper Midwest Japanese gardens. Finally, they will show you how to start on your own Zen garden with an easy Lotus Pond.
February Thursday Central City Library 25 miles
5 Rain Barrels – Wil Carew, LCMG – Are they an old-timey water collection method? A new fad? Or a time-tested way to conserve and protect one of our precious natural resources? Wil Carew will share the why’s and how’s of rain barrels, including examples of commercial products and how to construct your own.
12 Gardening Green Gardening Green – Judy Stevens, LCMG – Environmentally-friendly gardening is good for our planet, AND good for you. Learn some techniques that will save you time, money, and still give you the results you want whether it be vegetable or flower gardening. Judy also invites you to share your own green gardening tips.
19 Container Gardens – Deb Walser LCGM
Container gardens do not have to be three geranium, asparagus fern and vinca vines. You don’t need to grow only one tomato in a container; you can grow a whole salsa garden in a container. Come see what can be done with your containers. Deb Walser’s own containers will be featured along with planting instructions. You will never have a plain container garden again.
26 Daylilies: A Most “Mis-Underestimated” Perennial – Zora Ronan, LCMG – This class is for those gardeners who think that all daylilies are yellow or orange, and who want to move beyond ‘Stellas’. LCMG and American Hemerocallis Garden Judge Zora Ronan will explore the many forms, patterns, and colors in the daylily world and how to incorporate them in your garden.
March Monday North Liberty 18 miles
2 Outstanding Shrubs for the Midwest Home Garden- Mike Anderson, LCMG
Discover the many uses of shrubs in the home landscape. Mike will review several species of shrubs that do well in the Midwest, including some that may be unfamiliar to you as well as many recognizable and long-time favorites.
9 Fabulous Foliage- Lori Bailey, LCMG
Caladium, Coleus and Heuchera are just a few of the “must have” foliage plants in a flower garden. Become inspired as Lori shares growing tips, care advice and creative ways to use these and other showy plants. The foliage shape, texture and long lasting color will transform your flower garden giving it the WOW factor you long for!
16 Growing in a Hoop House- Phil Pfister LCMG
Are you looking for a way to extend the growing season? One option may be a hoop house. A hoop house can be a relatively inexpensive way to get an early start on vegetables and to extend the growing season well into fall and winter. In this discussion, LCMG Phil Pfister will provide ideas for materials used to construct a hoop house, plants that work well, and growing and insect management tips.
30 Container Gardens – Deb Walser LCMG
Container gardens do not have to be three geranium, asparagus fern and vinca vines. You don’t need to grow only one tomato in a container; you can grow a whole salsa garden in a container. Come see what can be done with your containers. Deb Walser’s own containers will be featured along with planting instructions. You will never have a plain container garden again.
March Tuesday Coggon 26 miles
3 Blooms for the Birds- Sylvia Kelly LCMG
Basics of attracting birds to your yard; what to plant, where to plant and what birds you can expect to visit you and what else you might need to do to create the perfect habitat for the feathered among us.
10 Conifers for the Garden – Devon Dietz, LCMG –
It is said that evergreens are the “bones” of garden design. Devon will share his love of conifers in general, and dwarf conifers in particular. He will include information on the planting and care of conifers, conifer sources, and public places to view them.
17. New Perennials for 2015 – Deb Walser, LCMG
Every year the garden catalogs are full of NEW amazing perennials. How do we select the right perennials for our garden? Which perennials are the best for Iowa gardens? Even if you have been growing perennials for years, Deb Walser will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in nurseries near you. Deb will also talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens.
24 Heavenly Hydrangeas- Wil Carew, LCMG
Hydrangeas bloom in a variety of colors including white, blue, pink, green and red too. Join Wil as he discusses the how-to’s of planting and pruning. He also shares those varieties which are his personal ‘celestial’ favorites and are locally available.
31 Ash Tree Alternatives – Mike Anderson, LCMG
With the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer and the resulting demise of the Ash tree in Iowa, this talk will present a list of other species of trees to consider in the home landscape as an alternative to the Ash.
March Wednesday Ladd
4 Ash Tree Alternatives – Mike Anderson, LCMG
With the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer and the resulting demise of the Ash tree in Iowa, this talk will present a list of other species of trees to consider in the home landscape as an alternative to the Ash.
11 Container Vegetable Gardening- Phil Pfister LCMG
Nothing compares to vegetables fresh from the garden. Not everyone has a place to garden, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own vegetables. Growing vegetables in containers is easy, and fun, and can be done almost anywhere. This presentation will discuss container options, growing media, growing conditions, tips and techniques, and insect and disease controls, which will help you have a bountiful crop of almost any vegetable.
18 Daylilies: A Most “Mis-Underestimated” Perennial – Zora Ronan, LCMG
This class is for those gardeners who think that all daylilies are yellow or orange, and who want to move beyond ‘Stellas’. LCMG and American Hemerocallis Garden Judge Zora Ronan will explore the many forms, patterns, and colors in the daylily world and how to incorporate them in your garden
25 Wonderful Weigelas – Wil Carew LCMG
-Join Wil Carew for something new. Weigelas come in a variety of sizes and a myriad of colors that are available locally. Wil will cover the care of this flowering shrub, including planting and pruning. Discover his favorites and you’ll say “Wonderful Weigela, I gotta get me a few!”
April Tuesday Ely 10 miles
7 Flowers Hummingbirds Love— LCMG Jean Murray
LCMG Jean Murray will bust some myths about hummingbirds and she will share her experiences in attracting hummingbirds to a garden. Attracting hummingbirds is easier than you might think; you don’t need a large garden, many plants, or expensive feeders. Learn how to set up a feeder and some flowers that hummingbirds love.
14 Ring my bells for Coral Bells! —Wil Carew LCMG
If you thought coral bells were just green plants with tiny pink flowers that your grandmother grew, think again. This class will cover what they are, where and how to plant, and the rainbow of colors available.
21 Pretty Poisons Lurking in Your Garden – Jean Wilson, LCMG
Learn which plants in your garden are deadly and which are merely harmful. It’s not always the obvious culprits- even some helpful plants can be harmful if misused or overused. Understanding what you are growing promotes safer gardening.
28 Container Gardens – Deb Walser LCMG
Container gardens do not have to be three geranium, asparagus fern and vinca vines. You don’t need to grow only one tomato in a container; you can grow a whole salsa garden in a container. Come see what can be done with your containers. Deb Walser’s own containers will be featured along with planting instructions. You will never have a plain container garden again.
April Marion
1 Wednesday – New Perennials for 2015 – Deb Walser, LCMG
Every year the garden catalogs are full of NEW amazing perennials. How do we select the right perennials for our garden? Which perennials are the best for Iowa gardens? Even if you have been growing perennials for years, Deb Walser will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in nurseries near you. Deb will also talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens
15 Wednesday – The Lazy Gardener – Gardening in Comfort and Ease – Jean Murray, LCMG
Face it – we’re all getting older, and have limits on our bodies and our time. Jean shares tips for making gardening a little less stressful. She will discuss ergonomic gardening, low maintenance plants, and ways to make those garden chores easier, so that you have more time to relax and enjoy your garden.
23 Thursday – Pretty Poisons Lurking in Your Garden – Jean Wilson, LCMG
Learn which plants in your garden are deadly and which are merely harmful. It’s not always the obvious culprits- even some helpful plants can be harmful if misused or overused. Understanding what you are growing promotes safer gardening.
29 Wednesday – Verticals, Vines, and Variants – Debbie Main, LCMG Great ideas on how to pack more plants into your home landscape! Debbie will cover flowers and food crops which can be grown vertically, how to train them, where to locate them within your landscape, growing tips, and some unusual ideas on what to use to keep them vertical.
No Comments Yet