Garden photos/Linn County ISU Extension
CEDAR RAPIDS – Get ready for garden envy.
Several garden walks are happening in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area in July, including the Linn County Master Gardeners tour on Saturday, July 12.
The walks are a great way to learn about what grows well in this part of Iowa, find ideas for what and how to plant and understand what it takes to have abundant and luxurious gardens. Master Gardeners are wonderful about sharing their expertise, so this is the perfect learning opportunity for both new and experienced gardeners.
Here is more from Linn County ISU Extension about the 2014 Garden Walk:
Explore five diverse urban and acreage gardens at Linn County Master Gardener homes in the SE quadrant of Cedar Rapids. You will be inspired by demonstrations of vertical vegetable cultivation, raised beds, perennials, annuals, container arrangements, ornamental grasses, garden art and more.
Master Gardeners will be at all of the gardens to answer your horticulture-related questions.
Garden Walk
Saturday, July 12, 2014
10:00am-4:00pm
Admission: $5 per Adult; $10 per Family
Start at any of the 5 gardens.
Download the 2014 Garden Walk Brochure and Map
Hardt Garden 
2321 Meadowbrook Drive SE • Cedar Rapids
This 1927 Dutch Colonial Home is nestled in a peaceful quiet location surrounded by a variety of trees and shrubs providing many opportunities for shade-loving perennials. To provide a variety of environments and relaxation, the lot has been landscaped into four “Rooms”: the relaxing front yard with window boxes, the background fronted by a diverse selection of Hostas, the driveway/walkway bordered by Hostas and Hydrangeas, the backyard patio with sun loving annuals, perennials, grasses, and a small raised garden, and a Monet Arch Entrance to a Bird Sanctuary with a woodland atmosphere.
From the North:Take 380 to Hwy 100 Collins Road and travel East to East Post Road. Or Take Hwy 13 to Hwy 100 and travel west to East Post Road. Turn South to Cottage Road Ave, turn left on 34th St, turn right on Bever Ave, turn left on Forrest Drive, turn right on Meadowbrook Dr, to 3rd house on left.
From the East, West, or South: Take Hwy 30 and turn north on Hwy 13, turn left on Mt Vernon Road, turn Right on Forrest Drive, turn left on Meadowbrook Dr. to 3rd house on left.
Brown Garden
2403 5th Ave. SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
When describing these gardens, thoughts of family immediately come to mind. The generous space was the scene of a daughter’s wedding, play area and trees to climb for grandchildren, respite for healing, and joyous family reunions. The space has a large center garden, hosta garden, and many other landscapes to enjoy. The gardens are enhanced by artwork welded by a son-in-law, a mural painted by grandchildren in the potting area, and special stepping stones created as gifts for Mother’s day. It has been a wonderful palette for expressions of love and family.
From the west: Mt. Vernon Rd. east to Forest Dr. north on Forest to 5th Ave. corner brick house at intersection of Forest and 5th Ave.
From the east: Mt. Vernon Rd. West to Forest Dr. Turn north on Forest to 5th Ave., corner brick house at intersection of Forest and 5th Ave.
Nassif Garden 
294 Lamplite Lane SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
This unique vegetable garden utilizes every inch of space to grow a wide variety of crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, rhubarb, onions, peas, beans, and herbs. The raised beds skirt the house and a neighbor’s fence and feature vertical growing techniques. Extensive trellising and terraced beds help achieve an impressive yield, demonstrating creative strategies for growing attractive, edible gardens in small spaces. The garden bounty helps feed four families across three generations.
From downtown, turn right from First Ave. SE onto Cottage Grove Ave. SE. Take Cottage Grove Ave. to 34th St. SE and turn right. Go up to the top of the hill to Lamplite Lane SE. Pass the first entrance to Lamplite and take the second entrance. We are the second house on the right.
From Bever Ave., going away from downtown, turn left onto 34th St. SE. Go to the top of the hill and turn right onto Lamplite Lane SE. We are the second house on the left.
From Mt. Vernon Rd. SE, going away from downtown, turn left onto 34th St. SE. Stay on 34th St., crossing Bever Ave. to the top of the hill. Turn right on Lamplite Lane SE. We are the second house on the right.
Harn Garden 
4722 Savannah CT SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Visit a mostly sunny country-like garden in the city with lots of open spaces of manicured lawn. The garden features a large variety of mostly perennial plants and bushes that are made deer-resistant by using some creative plants and ideas. See several whimsical garden rooms filled with friendly critters for fun and enjoyment along with some original garden art. There is also a small vegetable garden surrounded by a high fence to deter the hungry deer and rabbits.
From East Post Road and Mt. Vernon Road SE go East .80 mile to Wilder Drive. Turn North (left) at the West Bertram Fire Station. Go .20 mile to Broadway Drive and turn West (left) .20 mile. Cross Valley View – street name changes to Savannah Ct. – 3rd house on the right.
From Highway 13 and Mt. Vernon Road SE go West 1.9 mile to Wilder Drive. Turn North (right) at the West Bertram Fire Station. Go .20 mile to Broadway Drive and turn West (left) .20 mile. Cross Valley View – street name changes to Savannah Ct. – 3rd house on the right.
Wing Garden 
980 Squaw Creek Rd. SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
A casual country garden will greet visitors to the Wing gardens which are spread throughout two acres. A large perennial garden and potted annuals on the patio behind the house are the centerpiece. Other perennial beds with natives, daylilies, and hostas, including a “girls” hosta garden are scattered around the grounds. Garden art adds more interest. Lots of mature trees provide shade for a number of plantings. A second-year experimental straw bale garden will be featured as well as an exhibit of a working garden railway.
Going east out of Cedar Rapids on Mt. Vernon Rd. turn right on the first road after the Lighthouse Restaurant, Squaw Creek Rd. 980 Squaw Creek Rd. is the second house on the left.
From Highway 13 turn west on Mt Vernon Rd. and then left on the next road, Squaw Creek Rd. 980 Squaw Creek Rd. is the second house on the left.
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