Attendees pose in the photo booth during the Winter Gardening Fair on Feb. 21, 2026, in Hiawatha, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
HIAWATHA, Iowa — After record-high temperatures earlier this week, Mother Nature put the “winter” back in Iowa, in time for the annual Winter Gardening Fair.
Fortunately, with below-freezing temperatures and a new layer of snow on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, the popular event, hosted by the Linn County Master Gardeners, is held indoors.
Succulent cuttings are seen during a presentation led by Josh Spece, of In the Country Garden & Gifts during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Hundreds of gardeners learned about modern homesteading, invasive plants, succulents, micro-prairies, Iowa bumblebees, monarch butterflies and more during nearly 80 sessions and hands-on workshops, led by Master Gardeners, local professionals and ISU Extension Specialists at the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center, 1770 Boyson Road, Hiawatha.
Local gardening organizations and vendors also joined the event, with hand-crafted items, books, houseplants, succulents and more for sale.
Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, pauses as he makes his way between presentations at the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Winter Gardening Fair attendees learn about houseplants during a session led by Master Gardener Deb Walser. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Midwest Garden Gal Lisa Hinzman Howard shows photos of her own yard during a presentation on micro-prairie gardening. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Participants create chicken wire suncatchers during the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Plants are sold at the ISU Extension Linn County Master Gardener’s booth at the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)The Eastern Iowa Orchid Societywas among local gardening organizations represented at the Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Participants in the kokedama workshop look at their finished plants. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Artist Nancy Carlson was among the vendors at the 2026 Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Gina Buelow, Natural Resources Field Specialist for Iowa State Extension Outreach, points to the parts of a mushroom during her presentation on mushroom foraging. (photo/Cindy Hadish)The Prairie States Mushroom Club was among organizations at the Feb. 21, 2026, Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Participants work on their artwork during a workshop on nature art. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Attendees at the Winter Gardening Fair look at succulents and other plants from In the Country Garden & Gifts, from Independence, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)Sue Spece demonstrates how to take a cutting during a presentation on succulents by her son, Josh Spece, of In the Country Garden & Gifts. (photo/Cindy Hadish) Handcrafted gifts were among items sold during the 2026 Winter Gardening Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)The 2026 Winter Gardening Fair lived up to its name, with below-freezing temperatures and a fresh layer of snow on Feb. 21, 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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