UPDATE: March 8, 2022:
The final in a series of three Second Sunday Garden Forums will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Iowa City.
Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library will present the free event at the library, with COVID-19 precautions in place.
Learn more from Project GREEN:
Andrew “Andy” Dahl, the University of Iowa Urban Forestry Supervisor and Campus Arborist will provide a visual survey and commentary on the most notable of the 8,000 trees on the University of Iowa campus.
The UI campus has over 320 species and countless cultivars in its maintained areas. Of particular note are two Conifer Reference Gardens as recognized by the American Conifer Society and a Literary Grove featuring trees with connections to famous Writers Workshop authors.
In addition, the campus boasts a Querceretum (oak collection), and extensive collections of ginkgoes and several Iowa State Champion Trees. Andrew has been the campus arborist at the UI for 22 years. During that time, the University achieved a Tree Campus USA designation and most recently became an accredited arboretum through ArbNet.
Andy was named Urban Forestry Professional of the Year by both the Iowa Urban Forestry Council and the International Society of Arboriculture, and an Award of Merit by the Midwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
When he isn’t busy working at the University, Andy says he drags his family to other arboretums. He loves “neat trees” and talking trees to like-minded enthusiasts. As a special bonus and an added incentive to attend, Andrew is donating a very special burr oak seedling (an offspring of THAT TREE (thattree.net) to be given away as a door prize.
Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library 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 CEUs.
Since Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) was launched in 1968, the nonprofit has funded nearly $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 beautifying private property as well. The organization celebrated 50 years of service to the community in 2018.
UPDATE Jan. 8, 2022 — For those interested in a virtual option, the Iowa City Public Library livestreams the presentation and records it to replay on its YouTube channel.
IOWA CITY — Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library will offer a series of garden forums in 2022.
The first is set for 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. The garden forums are free and open to the public.
Related: Winter Gardening Fair plans in-person return in 2022
Read on for more about the Iowa City garden forums from Project GREEN:
During the Jan. 9 garden forum, Natasha Sottos, Director of The Friends of Vander Veer Botanical Park, will share The History and Highlights of Vander Veer Botanical Park. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of this Iowa gem. Ms. Sottos works successfully with the City of Davenport in support of this public-private partnership to provide the Vander Veer Botanical Park’s horticultural and education initiatives.
This 33-acre Iowa gem features a conservatory, outdoor gardens, decorative fountains, a nationally-recognized rose garden and hosta glade and an extensive collection of trees, some dating to the 1890s. Vander Veer includes The Grand Allee leading to the Stone Fountain. The conservatory is famous for its tradition of providing gardens under glass and seasonal displays.
The Vander Veer Botanical Park was built on the old Scott County Fairgrounds land and modeled after New York City’s Central Park. In 1912, the park was renamed for the first secretary of the Davenport Park Board of Commissioners, A.W. Vander Veer. The park is maintained by the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation Department, with floral displays and other initiatives funded by The Friends of Vander Veer.
Additional Garden Forums will be held Sunday, Feb. 13, with author and garden designer Dr. Benjamin Vogt (virtual); and Sunday, March 13, with University of Iowa Urban Forestry Supervisor and campus arborist Andy Dahl (in-person).
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 education CEUs.
Since Project GREEN was launched in 1968, the nonprofit has funded nearly $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 beautifying private property as well. The organization celebrated 50 years of service to the community in 2018.
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