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 […]
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Category: gardening
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 […]
Czech legend offers Three Kings frost wa...
It’s easy to become complacent during springtime in Iowa, when temperatures are moderate and the last frost seems to be long gone. Forecasts in the coming days, however, show that Iowa’s weather is never a sure thing, as some parts of the state could see overnight lows in the 30s. The Three Kings frost warning, […]
Spring plant sales offer taste of Iowa s...
It’s the time of year Iowa gardeners eagerly anticipate. Spring plant sales provide a taste of what’s to come and a promise of the potential offered in the coming growing season. Following are upcoming plant sales in Eastern Iowa. Leave a message if your group has a plant sale to add to the list. Edible […]
Easter Showcase happening this weekend a...
CEDAR RAPIDS – An annual tradition returns this weekend, with an open house at the Noelridge Greenhouse, known as the Easter Showcase. The event will be Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council Street NE. Admission is free. The first 500 children age 12 […]
Growing history in South Amana, Iowa
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener SOUTH AMANA – Visitors to Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens can take a step back in time. A 1900 brick house anchors the site in South Amana, one of the seven Amana villages in Eastern Iowa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cottage-in-the-Meadow in itself is a rarity, with a listing […]
Preparing for the big freeze in Iowa
Much of Iowa is under a frost or freeze warning tonight – Oct. 12, 2016 – into tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service notes that temperatures will drop to between 26 and 32 degrees over most of the state, including Linn, Johnson and Winneshiek counties, while frost is expected in southeastern counties, such as Scott, […]
Nature watch: the praying mantis
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, […]