By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener Patti and Rich Hannan turned a problem area of their backyard into a plus. “This really wasn’t a garden seven years ago,” Patti said of the landscaped shade garden, ascending behind the couple’s home in a historic Council Bluffs neighborhood. “Since it’s so shady, we couldn’t get the grass to […]
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Category: gardening
Prepare for first frost of fall this wee...
If your Iowa garden hasn’t already been hit by frost this season, it more than likely will this week. Late October is already past the average first frost date for fall in most parts of Iowa, so it should come as no surprise. The National Weather Service is forecasting much colder temperatures this Tuesday, Oct. […]
Longtime garden center closing in Cedar ...
By Cindy Hadish CEDAR RAPIDS – A garden shop and nursery that marked 60 years in business last year will close its doors near the end of this month. Related: Read about the store’s history While the landscaping side of the business will continue elsewhere, Peck’s Green Thumb Nursery, 3990 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, will […]
Daylily gardens in Central City, Iowa, b...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener As their name suggests, each blossom of a daylily lasts only one day, but Zora Ronan’s daylily gardens provide a kaleidoscope of color from early June through frost. Zora and her husband, Paul, moved to 32 acres of farmland in rural Central City about 20 years ago, where they quickly […]
Longtime Brucemore garden tradition come...
CEDAR RAPIDS – Earlier this year, Brucemore ended its annual plant sales and now, the long tradition of the Brucemore Garden and Art Show has ended, as well. Typically held in late August, the event featured presentations by Master Gardeners and other guest speakers, food demonstrations using in-season produce, guided tours of the historic Brucemore […]
Watch for Naked Ladies begins in Iowa
If you haven’t seen them already, be on the lookout in the next several days for Naked Ladies, also known as surprise lilies. They’re a bit ahead of last year in our neck of the woods in Cedar Rapids, but generally make their annual appearance in late July or early August. The “surprise” comes, as […]
Return of the Japanese beetles and how t...
It’s like clockwork: my raspberries finally ripen and the Japanese beetles return. The beetles are known to devour hundreds of varieties of plants, turning leaves into skeletal “lace,” and raspberries – including the actual berries – appear to be among their favorites. Related: Japanese beetle watch begins I’ve tried picking the beetles off individually and […]
New and old grow in harmony in Cedar Rap...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener New plant introductions grow in harmony alongside historic varieties throughout Wanda Lunn’s lush gardens in Cedar Rapids. Lunn stays on top of the latest eye-catching plant releases, while maintaining a Historic Iris Preservation Society display garden, rich in iris varieties 30 years or older. Related: “Awesome” lily is a winner […]
View spectacular gardens during tours in...
Garden walks coming up in Eastern Iowa will showcase some of the most spectacular gardens in the area, both big and small. The 2017 Project GREEN Garden Tour will be Sunday, June 25, 2017, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lucas Farms Neighborhood of Iowa City, while the 2017 Linn […]
Mother’s Day at Noelridge Greenhouse cel
This is a special year for the Mother’s Day Showcase at the Noelridge Park Greenhouse in Cedar Rapids. The annual event takes place this Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council St. NE. Admission is free. Related: Noelridge Park wins landscape contest This year’s date is exactly […]