By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan Fall is an excellent time to view interesting insects and one of the most fascinating is the praying mantis. With its bulging eyes, elongated body and front legs that sometimes appear to be crossed in prayer, praying mantises may unnerve some people, but actually are beneficial. Their prey includes flies, grasshoppers, […]
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Author: Cindy
Iowans charged with harvesting valuable ...
Ginseng, considered an endangered plant in many states, is allowed to be harvested in Iowa, but only under certain conditions. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced the following charges today in connection with alleged illegal harvest of the valuable plant. Learn more from the DNR: Three central Iowa men were charged with theft for […]
Back to nature: Cedar Rapids backyard at...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener In a backyard once nearly devoid of nature, dozens of fish zigzag in the water, a frog peeks out near a lily pad and a robin alights on a stone to sip from a pond. The scene is tranquil, with the landscaping intentionally designed to draw in wildlife. Monica Morley […]
In the raw; more options opening for raw...
By Cindy Hadish/for Radish Magazine Raw food proponents, who oftentimes must prepare their own meals, can find a growing number of choices outside of the home. New local catering and online options are being offered, as well as cafes that focus on whole, unrefined, uncooked foods. Raw foods are generally not heated above 115 degrees […]
Photo gallery: Market After Dark and Bru...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan UPDATED Aug. 31, 2016, with new Market After Dark attendance estimates Crowds filled the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids on Aug. 27, for the second annual Market After Dark, while gardeners flocked to the Brucemore Garden & Art Show earlier in the day. Market After Dark, the nighttime version of the […]
Market After Dark and Brucemore Garden &
Two exceptional events are happening this weekend in Cedar Rapids, and fortunately, you won’t have to choose between them. The annual Brucemore Garden & Art Show returns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, followed by Market After Dark, the nighttime version of the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market, from 6:30 […]
Lily Lake looking pretty as a picture
I’ve been hearing how beautiful Lily Lake is looking this year and had the chance to check it out today. Thousands of lotus lilies are in bloom on the 170-acre lake, between Amana and Middle Amana, which serves as year-round wildlife habitat and a stopover for migrating birds. Related: Restaurants continue local tradition in Amana […]
Saving the family farm at the Iowa State...
Keeping the family farm in the family is no easy task and keeping one in the same family for 150 years can take monumental effort. We’ve faced numerous challenges over the past several years with our family farm in Tama County, but spent a good part of Thursday with others who have done the same. […]
DNR: Iowans shot deer, left them to rot
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources this morning announced that two Iowa men were charged in connection with a deer poaching case. Members of the public reported the dead deer, which led to the investigation. Learn more from today’s DNR report: Multiple charges were filed against two southeast Iowa men following an Iowa Department of […]
Lanky milkweed in search of monarch butt...
Milkweed – the sole food source for monarch caterpillars – used to grow freely in my backyard until trees turned the once-sunny yard into a shade garden. What was easy to grow years ago became a challenge, but I persisted, hoping to do my small part to help monarch butterflies, whose populations have dropped considerably […]