A sign at the home of Wilma and Larry Rettig in South Amana reflects the place most gardeners enjoy spending their time. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Linn County Master Gardeners have a full slate of sessions coming up during their Spring Library Talks. The sessions are free and take place at the libraries noted in each town. The number at the beginning of each description denotes the date.

The Master Gardeners also will present nine different gardening topics in Cedar Rapids at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th St. NW, every Thursday, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 5 through March 2, 2017. Find details here.

For yet another option, the Winter Gardening Fair takes place Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at Kirkwood Community College.

Spring Library Talks 2017

Hiawatha Wednesday February 6:30-7:30 p.m.

1 Green with Envy-Devon Dietz LCMG-Everyone loves a beautiful lawn.  How to start one? How to encourage it? How to maintain it? How to deal with invaders (weeds)?

8 Gardening with Color – Mike Anderson -Learn how the use of color can enhance and add pizazz to your overall landscape design.  Mike will cover some basic color theory and describe the principles of using color in creating an inviting and interesting garden design.

15 Steps & Stones -Debbie Main LCMG-  Less mowing and less weeding.  Learn ways to incorporate paths and steps into your existing landscaping. Debbie will cover materials and preparation as well as design elements to enhance your home and garden style

22 New Perennials 2017- Deb Walser LCMG – Garden Catalogs are full of amazing perennials.  Learn how to select the best for your garden. Deb will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in Nurseries near you and talk about her favorite plants that grow in her garden

Coggon Tuesday March 6:30-7:30 p.m.

7 New Perennials 2017 -Deb Walser LCMG – Garden Catalogs are full of amazing perennials.  Learn how to select the best for your garden. Deb will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in Nurseries near you and talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens

14 Growing Vegetables in Containers-Judy Stevens LCMG- Growing vegetables in containers is a great way to have fresh veggies available at your backdoor and know how they are grown.  No need to wish that you had a homegrown tomato or a green pepper when you can grow one on your deck or patio with very little effort. Learn how in this fun class.

21 Gardening on the Wild Side-Sandy Holterhaus LCMG-Join Sandy as she discusses the extreme nutrient density of early, wild vegetables and fruits.  We have bred out much of the nutritional value over time! Sandy will review popular garden varieties and show how to select the “most wild” varieties available today to maximize nutrition. Sandy is a registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

28 Thinking about a Home Greenhouse? – Phil Pfister, LCMG- Listen and learn as Phil demystifies the process of setting up and operating a home greenhouse. Topics include site selection, greenhouse material options, heating and cooling requirements, cost calculations, plant care and integrated pest management.

Marion Wednesday March 6:30-7:30 p.m.

8 Daylilies:  A Most “Mis-Underestimated” Perennial – Zora Ronan, LCMG – This class is for those gardeners who think that all daylilies are yellow or orange, and who want to move beyond ‘Stellas’.  LCMG and American Hemerocallis Garden Judge Zora Ronan will explore the many forms, patterns, and colors in the daylily world and how to incorporate them in your garden.

15  Moonlight Gardens-Debbie Main LCMG-   Love your gardens from warm summer evenings through snowy winter nights by choosing elements and plantings to take advantage of romantic moonlight. Lots of ideas on how to love your gardens every hour of the day.

22 Seed Starting at Home – Zora Ronan, LCMG – This class will give you all the information you need to successfully start garden transplants at home, with a minimum amount of equipment, and vegetable or flower seeds.  Save money and get the special varieties you want to grow.

29 New Perennials 2017   Deb Walser LCMG  Garden Catalogs are full of amazing perennials.  Learn how to select the best for your garden. Deb will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in Nurseries near you and talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens

Ely Tuesday April 6:30-7:30 p.m.

4 Judy’s Yard Art: A New Use for Old Things – Judy Stevens, LCMG – Call it yard art or call it re-purposing: We call it fun.  See real examples of whimsical re-used items to accent your yard and garden. Directions for making these creations will be provided. And please feel free to bring your own ideas to share during this informal seminar.

11 Container Gardens- Deb Walser LCMG- Container gardens do not have to be three geranium, asparagus fern and vinca vines.  Come see what can be done with your containers. Deb Walser’s own containers will be featured along with planting instructions. You will never have a plain container garden again

18  Moonlight Gardens-Debbie Main LCMG-   Love your gardens from warm summer evenings through snowy winter nights by choosing elements and plantings to take advantage of romantic moonlight. Lots of ideas on how to love your gardens every hour of the day.

25 Raised Bed/Square Foot Gardens Get off the ground, save your back and start gardening closer to your hands and eyes. Wil Carew, Linn County master gardener, leads this class to get you started with the benefits of raised beds, covering the principles, examples of beds, construction techniques, trellis/cloche use, and protecting crops from critters. Square foot gardening in a raised bed will increase your season, decrease weeding, and save time.

Cedar Rapids Ladd Wednesday April 6:30-7:30 p.m.

5 Everything Whimsical- Lori Bailey LCMG-Let the fun begin! How about putting a little whimsy in your garden! Lori Bailey, Linn County Master Gardener will share how to put your own personal style and artful fun into your garden.  Learn how to accent your favorite plants with colorful, purposeful and whimsical garden art.  It will turn your garden into a unique, one of a kind backyard retreat!

12 Spring Garden Maintenance – Wil Carew – Waking your  Landscape up:   It’s spring.  Time to get your yard, landscape and gardens ready for another growing season, but how do I start?”  Join Master Gardener Wil Carew as he covers what to do, when to do it, and why!

19 New Perennials 2017 – Deb Walser LCMG  Garden Catalogs are full of amazing perennials.  Learn how to select the best for your garden. Deb will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in Nurseries near you and talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens

26   Daylilies:  A Most “Mis-Underestimated” Perennial – Zora Ronan, LCMG – This class is for those gardeners who think that all daylilies are yellow or orange, and who want to move beyond ‘Stellas’.  LCMG and American Hemerocallis Garden Judge Zora Ronan will explore the many forms, patterns, and colors in the daylily world and how to incorporate them in your gardens

Central City Thursday April 6:30 – 7:00 p.m.

6 Green with Envy-Devon Dietz LCMG-Everyone loves a beautiful lawn.  How to start one? How to encourage it? How to maintain it? How to deal with invaders (weeds)?

13 Arranging Your Own Bouquets-Judy Stevens LCMG- Learn tips to preserve and arrange your bouquets whether from your backyard or gathered from the roadside.  Various devices available on the market to assist in creating professional bouquets will also be demonstrated.

20 Organic  Vegetable  Gardening-Phil Pfister LCMG- In this session, Linn County Master Gardener, Phil Pfister will discuss approved and proven organic gardening techniques and practices to help you achieve a productive vegetable garden without using harmful chemicals and spending a lot of time.

27 Spring Garden Maintenance – Wil Carew – Waking your  Landscape up:   It’s spring.  Time to get your yard, landscape and gardens ready for another growing season, but how do I start?”  Join Master Gardener Wil Carew as he covers what to do, when to do it, and why!