105 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA 50011
Iowa Master Gardener Program
Questions?James
Romer |
News Update May 25, 2007
Announcements and news for ISU Extension staff, Master Gardeners, and faculty IN THIS ISSUE
NATIVE PLANTS WORKSHOP JUNE 15 Come one come all June 15 to the native plants workshop located at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy programs in the morning from Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge Research Biologist Pauline Drobney and Urban Conservationist Jennifer Welch. There will also be a guided tour of the Refuge in the afternoon. Lunch will be catered by BT-BAR-B-QUE. Pauline will give an overview of the botany of plants that are native to Iowa with a focus on learning how to identify plants used in tallgrass prairie and savanna sites. As a research biologist at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Pauline Drobney directs and develops programs showcasing tallgrass prairie and savanna research and management. She has a master's degree in biology and bachelor's degrees in biology and art from the University of Northern Iowa. Jennifer will show the importance of incorporating native plants into the urban landscape in ways that help protect water quality and beautify our communities. Native plants will be shown in gardens, landscaping, rain gardens, and as turfgrass to highlight the ways they can work to improve urban areas. Jennifer Welch is an urban conservationist with Urban Resources & Borderland Alliance Network (URBAN), serving four Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). The mission of URBAN is to improve water quality and natural resource conservation in urban and developing areas by providing education, information and technical assistance to governmental units, the development community and citizens in central Iowa. She also is co-founder of the Iowa Storm Water Education Program (ISWEP) a membership organization that provides storm water educational resources and leadership to cities across Iowa. Jennifer is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control (CPESC). She has an undergraduate degree in agronomy and a graduate degree in water resources from Iowa State University. To access the registration form, visit the link below. Forms will also be coming to county offices early next week. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/MG71.pdf LANDSCAPE PUBLICATION WINS HORTICULTURE AWARD An ISU Extension publication, "Home Landscape: Understanding the Basics of Landscape Design," won a 2007 American Society for Horticultural Science Award. Ann Marie VanDerZanden, horticulture, wrote the publication. It previously won a Bronze Award from the Association for Communications Excellence. Way to go Ann Marie!! Explore a world of color for your landscape with Noel Duffy, Tama County Master Gardener, as she presents “Blooms for all Seasons”. Noel will present ideas how to use bulbs, annuals and perennials to create colorful blooms for all seasons. The presentation will explain the importance and how to divide, transplant and remove old blooms from perennials to maintain a colorful landscape. “Blooms for All Seasons” will be presented June 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Tama County Extension Office in Toledo. For more information call (641) 484-2703 Central Gardens of North Iowa presents its annual BULB TO BLOSSOM SALE on Saturday, June 2 from 9 - 12 (or until sold out). Choose from a variety of perennials and pre-order fantastic bulbs for fall delivery. "Ask the Gardener" Q&A Booth featuring area gardeners such as Master Gardener, Stan Fitz of Fitz-Reading Gardens, Rockford and Rita Barth, Under the Spell Herb Shop, Charles City. In addition, Master Gardeners, Bob Bartlett, Chuck Hall and others will participate at the "Ask the Gardener" table. Get those long-held gardening questions answered! 8-9 am Early Bird members only sale. TO DONATE PLANTS, DROP OFF Thur., May 31 or Fri., June 1 from 5-7 pm. CENTRAL GARDENS is located at 800 Second Ave N., Clear Lake, IA. For additional information, call 641-357-0700. IOWA MASTER CONSERVATIONIST PROGRAM Interested in attracting wildlife to your backyard? Want to learn more about the plants of the Loess Hills, prairie management, or our local water quality? The Iowa Master Conservationist program, founded by Iowa State University Extension, is designed to do just that. Persons ages 18 and older who have an interest in conservation and environmental issues can attend hands-on sessions to become trained Master Conservationists. The course will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in June and July beginning June 21 and ending July 26 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Additionally, one Saturday session will be held on July 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a total of nine sessions. Once the course work is complete, each participant is required to provide 32 hours of volunteer service in a conservation-related area. Sessions will meet at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and other conservation areas throughout the county. Woodbury County has sponsored two Master Conservationist classes in the past, both with great success. State sponsors include The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension, and ISU Department of Animal Ecology. Local partners sponsoring the program include Iowa State University ExtensionWoodbury County, Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and Woodbury County Conservation Board. The class is limited to the first 30 paid registrants. Cost for the course is $80, which includes all materials and two meals. For a registration form, contact Chris Anderson of Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center at (712) 258-0838 or Mimi Shanahan of ISU ExtensionWoodbury County at (712) 276-2157. Additional information can be found at www.extension.iastate.edu/wooodbury. Deadline for registrations is May 31, 2007. University offices will be closed and summer classes in recess Monday, May 28, to observe the national Memorial Day holiday. A Memorial Day ceremony organized by the ISU Retirees Assn. begins at 9 a.m. in the Molecular Biology auditorium. All are welcome. See INSIDE UPDATE . . . May 24, 2007 Master Gardener Update is excitedly published Friday by the Iowa Master Gardener Coordinator. Please send your news via email to James Romer. For questions, call (515) 294-2336.
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Iowa Master Gardener Program, 105 Horticulture Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.
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