Customers look at hellebores from In the Country Garden & Gifts on Feb. 15, 2025, during the 2025 Winter Gardening Fair in Hiawatha, Iowa. Co-owner Josh Spece was among presenters during the annual event. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

HIAWATHA, Iowa — Hundreds of gardeners dreamed of spring as the Linn County Master Gardeners hosted the 2025 Winter Gardening Fair.

The annual event, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center in Hiawatha, featured more than 80 sessions and hands-on workshops, led by Master Gardeners, local professionals and ISU Extension Specialists.

See photos from the 2024 Winter Gardening Fair

Heirloom tomato expert, Dennis Schlicht, was among presenters at the 2025 Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Local gardening organizations and vendors were also part of the event, with succulents, African violets and other plants for sale.

Participants could choose from topics such as Midwest mushrooms, adding native plants to your landscape, monarchs and milkweed, heirloom tomatoes, invasive plants, raised beds, moss gardening and more.

Making a bee house, beaded chicken wire suncatchers, wine bottle wind chimes and creating cosmos in watercolor were among the hands-on activities during the day.

See photos from the 2023 Winter Gardening Fair and more from the 2025 Winter Gardening Fair, below: