Wild bergamot, prairie coneflower and other native plants grow in the Prairie Pollinator Zone in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before it was destroyed to create Cargill’s industrial railyard. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Project GREEN’s Garden Forums are underway this winter, with the February forum highlighting micro-prairie landscapes.

The free presentation will be 2-4 p.m. Feb. 9, 2025, at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. The presentation will also stream live on Iowa City Public Library’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel.

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There’s no better time than Iowa’s winter months for gardeners to continue growing their interest in plant knowledge. Books, YouTube videos, Pinterest, and blog posts can get you excited about the upcoming months. Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library offer gardeners another option — a series of garden forums. The next presentation will be held Feb. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.

Linn County Master Gardener Karelyn “Kari” Pohl will highlight “Creating a Pollinator MicroPrairie in Your Landscape.” 93% of Iowa’s land is dedicated solely to mono-crops to feed livestock making the state of of the most altered landscapes on earth. Pohl will give gardeners information and the confidence to create a native sanctuary in their backyard to help pollinators that are in decline.

She has been involved in gardening for many years, starting with small containers and raised beds, and became a Linn County Master Gardener in 2018. Kari is passionate about sustainable agriculture and supporting pollinators and is working to develop her acre of land into a homestead. She holds a B.A. in biology from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.A. from Montana State University-Bozeman. She regularly attends classes and workshops to expand her knowledge and expertise.

Co-President Diane Allen notes, “Project GREEN the garden forums provide gardeners with useful information to guide their gardening efforts when spring arrives.”

Co-President Cindy Parsons added, “Our knowledgeable presenters provide great programs. The trend is going to native gardens to improve soil health and protect biodiversity by avoiding invasive species.”

A monarch alights on an aster in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2024. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The final Garden Forum 2025 will be held on Sunday, March 9, with Nick McGrath, Trees Forever, “Protecting Biodiversity: Avoid Invasive Species.”

Garden Forums are free and open to the public. The presentation will also stream live on Iowa City Public Library’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel.

Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) and ICPL have partnered to offer the Garden Forums for many years. The forums are free and open to the public. Attendance at forums qualifies Iowa State University Extension Master Gardeners for continuing education credit hours.

Since Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) was launched in 1968, the nonprofit has funded $2.2 million in projects, including Project GREEN Garden, a public garden at the city-owned Ned Ashton House at 820 Park Road, parks, roadsides, riverfronts and median parkways and public school grounds. Project GREEN also supports efforts to educate citizens about the importance of environmental conservation and beautifying public and private property. The organization celebrated 55 years of service to the community in 2023.

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