IOWA CITY – It’s that time of year again. The Project GREEN Second Sunday Garden Forums kick off in January, covering topics of interest to gardeners during free presentations at the Iowa City Public Library. The 2015 sessions include presentations on the art of bonsai; the gardens at Brucemore in Cedar Rapids and low-maintenance perennials […]
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Tag: gardening
Spooky Halloween forecast: hard freeze p...
No more procrastinating. If you’ve been lucky enough to escape the frost so far, you might have delayed those last-minute harvests of tomatoes, peppers and other veggies, but the clock is ticking. According to the National Weather Service, frost is likely in the Cedar Rapids area Thursday night and a hard freeze – with temperatures […]
Frost warning and Czech legend of Three ...
With frost warnings in some parts of Iowa, the Czech legend of the Three Frozen Kings is especially timely. Hopefully, your plants will be safe, but just in case temperatures dip below freezing, you should cover any peppers, tomatoes or other tender plants that you’ve already planted outdoors.
Hands-on gardening classes scheduled at ...
ELY – This small town between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids is doing big things when it comes to gardening. I’ve mentioned that Ely already has its own farmers markets – both outdoor and indoor – as well as community gardens and a seed lending library within its public library. Now the town is tackling […]
Gardening folklore: Planting potatoes on...
Fans of the Old Farmer’s Almanac are aware of the practice of planting by phases of the moon. According to this gardening tradition, flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground should be planted during the light, or waxing, of the moon, from the day the moon is new to the day it is full. […]
Spring is (almost) here: a look at the w...
Temperatures – finally reaching highs the state hasn’t seen since November – are one indication that spring is on its way. Another is the number of gardening and eco-events cropping up in Eastern Iowa. A look at the Homegrown calendar shows something happening every day this week, with some offering more than one option. If […]
My “issue” with hoarding
I shouldn’t be ashamed to admit this. I mean, it could be worse. Some people hoard “stuff.” Others stockpile food or even guns. Every fall, my annual hoarding tradition begins when I get the rake out of the garage. The object of my obsession: leaves.
Weekend Photo Gallery: Koi for a Cause a...
The first weekend in August was a beautiful one for Iowans to enjoy the outdoors. About 100 people walked through the sensational gardens tended by Monica Morley and her mother, Elena Murillo, in northeast Cedar Rapids during Koi for a Cause, a benefit for the HACAP Food Reservoir. Visitors at Abbe Hills Farm near Mount […]
Diatomaceous earth vs. the ants
Fellow journalist, Dave DeWitte, who brought you his review of reel lawnmowers and awesome mushroom photos, now shares his battle strategy with ants, using non-toxic diatomaceous earth. By Dave DeWitte A long time ago when I bought my first house, I was in for a surprise.
Urban chickens could soon roost in North...
UPDATE: The North Liberty City Council will consider the urban chicken ordinance at its Aug. 13 meeting, after the matter was tabled on July 23. Daniela Williams of North Liberty, one of the supporters of the measure, said new information was presented at this week’s meeting from the Cedar Valley Humane Society, which indicated that […]