Hopes for a late appearance of the Japanese beetle were dashed when I saw the first cluster of the voracious pests on June 22, a few days to more than a week earlier than I’ve spotted them in the past. The excruciatingly late winter weather in Iowa, which dragged well into April, was followed by […]
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Category: gardening
Community gardens grow neighborhood conn...
CEDAR RAPIDS – Dotted throughout the city, community gardens have been helping bring neighbors together, while providing fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables at the same time. The Mound View Neighborhood Community Garden held a planting day on Monday, May 7, led by Carol Sindelar, the neighborhood association’s president, who goes above and beyond to find […]
Three Kings Czech legend warns of late-s...
Don’t let Iowa’s picture-perfect weather fool you. Even in May, we could still experience a night or two of frost, as noted in a Czech tale brought to the United States by immigrants. According to the Three Kings legend, the three kings or saints – Pankrac on May 12, Servac on May 13 and Bonifac […]
Eastern Iowa plant sales usher in spring
With snowfall still fresh on Iowans’ minds, it’s hard to believe that gardening season is finally here. Local plant sales offer a great way to jump-start your efforts, with plants grown by master gardeners and others with gardening expertise for Iowa’s conditions. One major change for plant sale enthusiasts: given the unpredictable weather in May, […]
Iowa woman grows paradise for pollinator...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener Becki Lynch’s approach to gardening has changed over time, ultimately benefiting bees, butterflies and birds. “It started as a very formal garden,” Becki said of the early years at her Cedar Rapids home, where she and her husband have lived since 1987. With about 3 acres of land, half of […]
Gardening during Iowa’s endless winter
As winter drags on in Iowa, some gardeners might be concerned about plants that already have foliage up out of the ground. Tulips, daffodils and other bulb plants that typically bloom in the spring should be OK, even with the unseasonably cold April temperatures we’ve been experiencing. Unless they have blossoms on them already, which […]
Good Friday not always good for potato p...
Gardening tradition calls for planting potatoes on Good Friday, but this year, at least in Iowa, that might not be a good idea. With muddy grounds and temperatures still falling below freezing, this Friday, March 30, won’t be ideal for planting potatoes or much of anything else. Iowa State University Extension advises gardeners to plant […]
Inner-city haven grows in Cedar Rapids, ...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener Dreams of an acreage were put on hold when Doug and Gale Koch moved to a home in a core neighborhood of Cedar Rapids, but that didn’t stop the couple from growing their own inner-city haven. The two have lived in their 1920’s house for more than 22 years and […]
Rain garden giveaway offered in Cedar Ra...
Cedar Rapids residents can apply for free design and installation of a rain garden, a landscaping feature that captures rain water runoff on your property and can help improve water quality downstream. Rain gardens not only provide a functional value, but can add beauty to your yard, as well. AmeriCorps is partnering with the city […]
Historic stagecoach stop part of rustic ...
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener FRANKLIN, Iowa – A pre-Civil War limestone house, historic stagecoach stop and various outbuildings provide a rustic backdrop for perennials, reseeding annuals and other plants tended by Lori Jarvis. An artist, Lori adds creative touches throughout the acreage where she and husband Mike Jarvis live in the tiny town of […]