Wanda Lunn spent last week in Chicago at the North American Lily Society Show & Convention, where more than 200 of the best lily stems in the United States and Canada competed. Several of the lilies she brought to the show from her Cedar Rapids garden won ribbons, but one, she said, brought “a staggering […]
What is that blue flower on Iowa’s roads
If you drive on nearly any Iowa county road and many main highways, too, you’ve undoubtedly seen light blue flowers brightening the roadside. Although not native to North America, chicory (Cichorium intybus) has become ubiquitous in the state, and many others, as well. According to Polk County Conservation, Chicory was introduced to North America from […]
Pond tours, garden walks blooming in Eas...
With abundant rain this season, gardens in Eastern Iowa are particularly lush this year and opportunities to enjoy the area’s beauty are coming up this month. The Linn County Master Gardeners 2016 Garden Walk will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9, followed by the Eastern Iowa Pond Society’s Pond and Garden Tour […]
Tree removals planned to make way for tr...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS – More than a dozen trees will be removed in Daniels Park, as plans move ahead for the CEMAR Trail project. The 24-acre park, bordered by Oakland Road, J Avenue, H Avenue and Maplewood Drive NE, is known for towering oaks and other trees that provide abundant shade for […]
Iowa “Corn Bear” believed to be killed i
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported today that a black bear, believed to be the “corn bear” seen recently on social media, was killed in a traffic collision. Learn about bear sightings in Iowa and read on for more about the traffic accident from the DNR: A young black bear was struck and killed […]
Japanese beetle watch begins
UPDATE (June 25, 2016) One day after posting this, I’ve seen the first Japanese beetles of the season. And of course, they’re after my raspberries! June 24, 2016 – It seems to be an especially bountiful season for raspberries, perhaps because of plentiful and timely rains in Iowa. But for the past decade or so, […]
Iowa couple grow “hosta heaven”
By Cindy Hadish/for Iowa Gardener Starting with one plant division from a friend, the gardens of Nancy and Jay McWherter have grown to include an impressive collection of more than 1,000 varieties of hosta, along with tropical plants and more. Variegated hosta, such as ‘Sagae,’ blues like ‘Blue Mammoth,’ and large-leaf cultivars including ‘Sum and […]
Plans set for open gardens in Cedar Rapi...
If you’re in the Cedar Rapids or Iowa City areas on Sunday, June 26, you have great opportunities during two free events to see lovely gardens and learn more about the project at the historic Johnson County Poor Farm. In Cedar Rapids, Wanda Lunn, 526 Bezdek Drive NW, is opening her gardens to the public […]
What do lightning bugs eat?
Summer is still, officially, several days away, but summer insects already have been active. Lightning bugs, also known as fireflies, are among the insects that fascinate young and old alike. Several years ago, I attended a Winter Gardening Fair in which entomologist Donald Lewis answered some of my burning questions regarding this beneficial beetle. Lewis […]
Market and brews debut at Lion Bridge in...
CEDAR RAPIDS – Local vendors sold mushrooms and more Thursday, June 9, 2016, during the first night farmers market at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Czech Village. Customers enjoyed Lion Bridge brews while shopping from Ebert Honey, Full Moon Cafe, Local Crumb, Mushroom Mills, Bass Farms and Z Barn of Monticello, which offered antibiotic-free chicken. The […]