Drawings were held for door prizes Feb. 15, 2014, at the Winter Gardening Fair at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Drawings were held for door prizes Feb. 15, 2014, at the Winter Gardening Fair at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The name of the Winter Gardening Fair was especially fitting today.

Looking out the windows of Kirkwood Community College, we could see the snow accumulating as, indoors, master gardeners and other experts discussed perennial plant combinations, straw bale gardening, mushroom hunting and more.

This is one event that I return to year after year because the presentations always change and I always come away learning something new. The Linn County Master Gardeners invest an incredible amount of time and effort in this annual event. If you have the opportunity, it’s definitely worth attending next year.

Here are some of the scenes from the 2014 Winter Gardening Fair:

Linn County ISU Extension showcased a portable container to grow lettuce and other plants during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Linn County ISU Extension showcased a portable container to grow lettuce and other plants during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Wanda Lunn of Cedar Rapids provided information on growing iris at the Winter Gardening Fair at Kirkwood. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Wanda Lunn of Cedar Rapids provided information on growing iris at the Winter Gardening Fair at Kirkwood. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Roy Diblik describes the "know maintenance" approach to perennials. He noted that plants such as purple coneflower grow better in "communities" rather than being separated by wood mulch chips. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Roy Diblik describes the “know maintenance” approach to perennials. He noted that plants such as purple coneflower grow better in “communities” rather than being separated by wood mulch chips. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students in the agroforestry class had the chance to sample chestnuts brought by Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm in Wapello. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students in the agroforestry class had the chance to sample chestnuts brought by Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm in Wapello. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students in the Food Preservation 101 class learned which foods should be used with boiling water bath vs. pressure canning. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students in the Food Preservation 101 class learned which foods should be used with boiling water bath vs. pressure canning. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Marty Augustine of the Prairie States Mushroom Club shared insights into morels and other mushrooms. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Marty Augustine of the Prairie States Mushroom Club shared insights into morels and other mushrooms. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Participants at the 2014 Winter Gardening Fair shared some of what they learned over lunch at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Participants at the 2014 Winter Gardening Fair shared some of what they learned over lunch at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Master Gardener Melanie Brown uses a mini bale to demonstrate the process of straw bale gardening Feb. 15, 2014, during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Master Gardener Melanie Brown uses a mini bale to demonstrate the process of straw bale gardening Feb. 15, 2014, during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)