105 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA 50011

Iowa Master Gardener Program

Topics News Calendar Training Links Clothing Resources Contacts Links Iowa State University Iowa State University College of Agriculture Iowa State University Extension Iowa Master Gardener Homepage Questions? James Romer Master Gardener Coordinator Email: jromer@iastate.edu Phone 515/294-2336 Fax 515/294-4817	News Update March 16, 2007 Announcements and news for ISU Extension staff, Master Gardeners, and faculty IN THIS ISSUE IOWA ARBORETUM PRUNING WORKSHOP WITH PAUL DOMOTO SIOUXLAND FLOWER, LAWN, AND GARDEN SHOW GARDEN GROWERS OFFERS GARDENING WORKSHOP PRUNING & GRAFTING WORKSHOP 6th ANNUAL BACKYARD CONSERVATION CONFERENCE MONDAYS IN MARCH - DELAWARE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS SUBMITTING YOUR NEWS IOWA ARBORETUM PRUNING WORKSHOP WITH PAUL DOMOTO Paul Domoto will be conducting a grafting workshop at the Iowa Arboretum on March 24. Interested participants need to contact the Arboretum by phone (515) 795-3216 or email (info@iowaarboretum.org) to register. SIOUXLAND FLOWER, LAWN, AND GARDEN SHOW Many cases of spring fever are being reported around Siouxland. The cure: the 2007 Siouxland Flower, Lawn and Garden Show. The show will include how-to sessions, 26 educational sessions, children’s activities, plus over 50 exhibitors. The event will be held at the Bluffs Area Family Center in Sergeant Bluff Friday, March 23 from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will host over 50 nurseries, businesses and nonprofit organizations from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakotaall relating to gardening, flowers, and landscaping. Iowa wineries will have samples available for tasting. Garden themed paintings, prints and pottery created by local artists will be available for purchase. Plus, on Saturday only, chainsaw sculptor Blair Smith will be on hand demonstrating his craft. The event will offer demonstrations and educational displays on pond gardening, container gardening, vegetable gardening, transplanting and more. Informative presentations will be running on both Friday and Saturday. Speakers from across the tri-state area will bring their extensive knowledge to the March 2007 show. Topics will include water gardening, outdoor photography, shrubs and trees, rainwater in your landscape, perennials, irises, children and gardening, conserving water in your lawn, composting with worms and others. Featured garden columnist and author Jan Riggenbach will present Confessions of a Compulsive Planter Saturday, March 24 at 10 a.m.. Harlan Hamernik, owner of Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Neb., will be speaking multiple times on Friday, March 23 on topics such as Shrubs for the Midwest and Native Perennials. Harlan is constantly on the lookout for new varieties of plants that are environmentally friendly, requiring less water, and need fewer or no pesticides to survive. Harlan and Jan will be joined by twelve other gardening experts on a variety of topics. For a complete schedule, please go to www.extension.iastate.edu/woodbury or call (712) 276-2157. Another exciting aspect of the show will be exhibitors who will showcase new and innovative products plus traditional items and services that make gardening and lawn care easier and more enjoyable. Tickets at the door will be $4 for one day admission or $7 for both days. Coupons for $1 off day of event entry are available at Fresh Start Property Services in South Sioux City, Midwest Equipment/John Deere in Lawton, and Clear Channel radio in Sioux City. Advance tickets are available for the discounted price of $3 for one day admission or $6 for two day admission at Woodbury County Extension, Mosher’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, and Earl May in Sioux City; at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Dakota County in Dakota City, Neb.; and at Prairie Pedlar in rural Odebolt. Planning this event are Woodbury County Extension staff and volunteers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Mosher’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, Prairie Pedlar, Earl May Nursery, Woodbury County Extension Master Gardeners, and Iowa State University Extension. For more information about the Siouxland Flower, Lawn and Garden Show, please contact Woodbury County Extension at (712) 276-2157 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/woodbury. GARDEN GROWERS OFFERS GARDENING WORKSHOP The Garden Growers: Quad Cities Community Gardening is offering a workshop for beginning and advanced vegetable gardeners. The workshop will be held on April 14, 2007, from 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m., at the ISU Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf. It will cover the following topics: garden layout and edible landscaping; composting and vermicomposting; organic gardening; vegetable and fruit varieties and how to grow them in an urban setting; pests and diseases; and benefits of fresh produce, food preservation and safety. Classes will be taught by Iowa State University professors, ISU Scott County Extension staff, Davenport Park and Recreation Department staff, The Garden Growers staff, and ISU Scott County Extension Master Gardeners. Fee for the workshop is $35 for entire day with lunch included, or $20 for afternoon only. To register, send check or money order to: The Garden Growers, 214 West Central Park Avenue, Davenport, IA 52803, or for more information contact Julia Blazevic at (563) 322-2012 or at gardengrowers@netexpress.net. The Garden Growers is also currently registering gardeners for plots at its community gardens in Davenport. Anyone interested in participating in a community garden can contact The Garden Growers for more information. PRUNING & GRAFTING WORKSHOP ISU Extension Allamakee County will have a Pruning and Grafting Workshop on Saturday March 31st at Peake Orchards near Waukon. From 10 AM until noon, Extension horticulturist, Bob Hauer, will demonstrate pruning and training trees. At 1PM, Dr. Patrick O’Malley ISU Extension field specialist, will demonstrate and help participants graft two trees to take home. The registration fee is $5 for the morning session and $30 for the grafting session in the afternoon. People who sign up for grafting may attend the morning program for free. Additional rootstocks will be available. For more information, call Allamakee Co. Extension at 563-568-6345 or e-mail bhauer@iastate.edu. 6th ANNUAL BACKYARD CONSERVATION CONFERENCE March 31, 2007 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Corning High School 904 8th Street & Loomis Ave Corning, Iowa A conference for everyone interested in gardening,the environment, and conservation. 9:00 Registration, Exhibits, Refreshments 10:00 Welcome by Sheila O’Riley, Coordinator, Adams County Backyard Conservation Team The Backyard Conservation Campaign 10:15 Breakout Sessions 11:10 Breakout Sessions Noon Lunch, Exhibits, Door Prizes Exhibits Close at 1:00 1:00 Butterflies of the Heartland by Kathleen Ziemer, The Butterfly Lady, ButterfliZ of Iowa, Des Moines. An entertaining discussion on the life cycle of butterflies, common species we may see in our backyards, and up-to-date scientific studies currently in progress. Includes LIVE butterflies and pass around specimens. 2:00 Breakout Sessions 3:00 Dirt Therapy by Sindra Jensen, USDA Earth Team Volunteer, Bridgewater. Sindra shares the dirty little secrets that keeps her sane. 3:20 Closing Remarks and Door Prizes Sponsored by: - Adams County Backyard Conservation Team - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Corning - Southwestern Community College, Creston - Adams County Extension Service - Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District MONDAYS IN MARCH - DELAWARE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS Having the winter blues? Ready for spring? So are we! Come spend your Monday evenings in March with the Delaware County Master Gardeners. Have some fun listening to great speakers, sign up for a chance to win a door prize, and just spend time with fellow gardeners to help you prepare for spring. March 19 - Something Different for Your Garden March 26 - Tree Selection, Planting, Establishment, & Pruning Our Savior Lutheran Church 114 Guetzko Court Manchester 7:00 p.m. $2.00 Cost For more information, contact the Delaware County Extension office at (563) 927-4201. SUBMITTING YOUR NEWS Master Gardener Update is arduously published Friday by the Iowa Master Gardener Coordinator. Please send your news via email to James Romer. For questions, call (515) 294-2336. Comments on our new web site? Please email us.	News & Updates Training Sites and Schedule Find out about 2007 training sites and schedule. Upcoming Events Check out our calendar of events page. Garden Column Click here for the newest ISUE yard and garden column news releases. 2006 Upper Midwest Gardener Conference View photos from this conference.
		Web site questions: Liisa Järvinen