Gardening in February

Despite the cold, or maybe because of it, there are a good number of gardening activities happening this month. Escape to the Noelridge Park greenhouse or take a gardening class presented by the Linn County Master Gardeners and get ready for spring! Here are some of the events happening in Eastern Iowa in February 2010:

Wed., Feb. 3, 6-7 p.m., Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St., Hiawatha Library Master Gardeners Series presented by Linn County Master Gardeners; Gardening 101 with Zora Ronan. This class will look at some of those mysteries of gardening: such as what do the numbers on fertilizer bags mean and what is a climate zone? Zora will answer the questions that all gardeners had wished they'd asked!

 Feb. 4-5, Isle of Capri Hotel & Casino in Bettendorf. Overall Women is a conference for women involved in or affected by agriculture, whether it is managing your own farm operation, as a business partner, impacted by the farm economy, or just wanting to learn more about today's agriculture. Gather with other rural women to network and learn. More than 15 different workshop sessions will be offered and casual conversation and relaxation will once again be on the program. Many new speakers will be featured at this year's event along with some favorite people who have presented at the conference in past years.

Come for both days, or register for a single day. Register Online or by mail, print a registration form and mail to Iowa State University, Registration Services, 102 Scheman Building, Ames, IA 50011.

 Sat., Feb. 6, 1 p.m., Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE, GREEN & SIMPLE: RAIN BARREL BUILDING WORKSHOP. Member,$40-Nonmember,$50-COST INCLUDES A MATERIALS FEE-EVERY GALLON COUNTS! Capture your home roof runoff and keep it from entering the local creek by converting a recycled, blue 55-gallon drum into a rain barrel. The resulting free water supply can be used for gardening and other yard projects. Master Gardener Deb Walser will lead this workshop. CALL 362-0664 BY 4 PM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 TO REGISTER.

 Sunday, Feb. 7, 1 to 3 p.m., Noelridge Park Greenhouse open house, corner of Collins Road and Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids. Escape the cold for an hour or two and see the orchids and tropical plants as well as cuttings that will be ready for outdoor planting in May.

 Sun., Feb. 7, 2-4 p.m., Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., Free Book Reading: Gaia's Garden. The Taproot Nature Experience Book Club, in partnership with Backyard Abundance, hosts a book reading of the ecological gardening book “Gaia's Garden,” by Toby Hemenway. In the book, Mr. Hemenway describes how to design and implement beautiful, self-maintaining gardens that benefit both people and wildlife. Ecological designers from Backyard Abundance will be available to discuss the book, show examples of landscape designs that are based upon the book, and answer questions. Reading the book is not required to attend.

Learn more about Taproot: http://www.TaprootNatureExperience.org

and Backyard Abundance: http://www.BackyardAbundance.org

 Wed., Feb. 10, 6-7 p.m., Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St., Hiawatha Library Master Gardeners Series presented by Linn County Master Gardeners; Blueberries with Deb Walser. You can grow blueberries too! Learn how to adjust your soil, how and where to plant, how to water and prune your blueberries. Deb will present different types of blueberries for the best crop in Iowa. She has grown blueberries for a family of four in Iowa for more than 10 years.

 Sat., Feb. 13, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Winter Gardening Fair, sponsored by Linn County Master Gardeners, (Weather cancellation make-up date: February 27, 2010) Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids. Tuition: $49 for all day and includes a boxed lunch. Register in advance for classes: · complete & mail Registration Form · or call (319) 398-1022 or 1-800-332-8833. Questions? Call the Linn County Master Gardeners at (319) 447-0647 or Linn County Extension at (319) 377-9839. Download Winter Gardening Fair class schedule & map 

 Sat., Feb. 13, 2 p.m., Echoes of Iowa's Sloths, Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE. Ground sloths may be extinct but they aren't dead. The footsteps of these recently departed elephant-sized Ice Age giants continue to echo through Iowa's woodlands with important implications for today and the future. David Brenzel, former curator at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and co-principle investigator on the Tarkio Valley Sloth Project – www.slothcentral.com - will discuss the excavation to recover the only Jefferson's sloth family ever discovered, including the most complete adult and second-most complete juvenile of the species ever found, and research to-date. Members, $3. Non-members, $4.

 Registration deadline for the following event is Monday, Feb. 15: Sandhill crane bus tour - Each spring up to 500,000 sandhill cranes can be found along the Platte River between Kearney and Grand Island, Nebraska. Seeing this large group of cranes and hearing their rattling calls is a spectacular experience. The cranes stage at this area to refuel on their northward trip to their breeding grounds. The Linn and Buchanan County Conservation Departments are cosponsoring a bus trip to Kearney from March 20 - 22 to view this spectacular migration. We will spend one night and part of a day in Omaha visiting the Durham Museum. We will also visit the Nebraska Natural History Museum in Lincoln. The trip will culminate with an evening observation of the cranes as they return to roost in the Platte River. There will also make stops at the Iowa Botanical Center in Des Moines.  Please contact Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center at 892-6485 for details or to receive a copy of the registration brochure. A PDF of the brochure can also be downloaded from http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill-Outdoor-Learning-Center.aspx

 Wed., Feb. 17,  6-7 p.m., Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St., Hiawatha Library Master Gardeners Series presented by Linn County Master Gardeners; Know Your Mushrooms-What's Good To Eat? with Dick Faas. Dick will show 25 Iowa mushrooms ranging from edible and choice, to those that are deadly poisonous. Identification characteristics, collection times and techniques, and safe eating habits will be discussed.

Thurs., Feb. 18, 7 p.m., The Linn County Conservation Departments invites everyone to a Native Storytelling evening at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center near Toddville.   Winter is the storytelling time for many Native Tribes in North America. Join us as we hear stories and songs from the Cree Tribe told to us by Wha'la. Learn how his culture views the animals, plants and nature from its homeland. Cost is $2.50/adult, $1/ child 16 and under, or $5/family.

 Fri., Feb. 19, 7 p.m., Night Walk: Waxing Crescent Moon, Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE.  Do people really garden, hunt, or fish by the phases of the moon? Find out as we experience the night on a waxing crescent moon. Learn how the moon "phases" we see are caused by the moon moving around the earth. Dress warmly for this walk. We have an indoor alternative in case of inclement weather. Members, $3, Non-members, $4, Children: $1.

Sat., Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to noon,  Linn County Extension, 3279 7th Ave. Ste. 140 Marion. Basic/Advanced Daylilies, Presented by Linn County Master Gardener, Zora Ronan.   The first hour will tell the gardener the basics of daylily planting and care.  The second hour is for those who are interested in learning more about kinds of daylilies, their names, etc.  Registration requested by February 19. The class is free, but please register in advance as class size is limited to 319-377-9839 or lillieb@iastate.edu

 Sun., Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Green Gems Walk: Discover Vecný Woods. Towering walnut trees and impressive oaks cast long shadows across the floor of this beautiful winter woodland. Join us for a simple winter stroll through this newly protected natural area. Warm clothing and boots recommended. Call the Indian Creek Nature Center at: (319) 362-0664 for directions on where to meet and park. Members: $3, Non Members: $4.

Sun., Feb. 21, 2-3 p.m., Earl May Seed & Nursery, 1200 Edgewood Road SW, Find Abundance in Growing Food. Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance, will help you gain a deeper connection to gardening and growing food in a low-maintenance garden. Covering topics from health and wellness to creating a sustainable community, he will provide ideas that will enrich both your life and your soil. The event is free. More information: www.BackyardAbundance.org  This event is part of the Backyard Abundance Seeds of Sustainability event series.

 Tues., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Linn County Extension, 3279 7th Ave. Ste. 140 Marion. Shrub/Tree Pruning, Presented by Linn County Master Gardener, Gene Frye. Learn the basics of correct pruning for trees and shrubs.  Registration requested by February 19. The class is free, but please register in advance as class size is limited to 319-377-9839 or lillieb@iastate.edu

 Wed., Feb. 24, 6-7 p.m., Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St., Hiawatha Library Master Gardeners Series presented by Linn County Master Gardeners; Gardening Green with Ellen Skripsky. Want to do your part to help the environment? Why not garden green? Ellen will show how to use raised beds, container gardens, and vertical gardening with Cultural technique to save the environment and the home gardener dollars.

Wed., Feb. 24, 9-11 a.m., Noelridge Greenhouse, corner of Collins Road and Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids. New program on starting flower seeds. Having trouble getting your flower seeds to germinate? Learn techniques for starting flower seeds indoors and out. The class will cover soil media, seed sizes, germination rates, transplant­ing and more. $12 (Resident, $10.)   See: www.crrec.org or call (319) 286-5731.

 Thurs., Feb. 25, 3 p.m., Lowe Park, 4500 N 10th Street, Marion. Linn County Master Gardener Deb Walser will be presenting "New and Unusual Annuals and Perennials for 2010."  Add the spice of life to your gardens. Annual and perennial gardens do not have to be just Geranium, Daylily and Hosta. We will talk about mixing it up by adding unusual annuals and perennials in the same bed. Deb Walser will introduce you to some of the most unusual annuals and perennials that will be in the nurseries near you this year. You will be surprised by some of the same but in a new way. Come and get new ideas for this spring and add some spunk to your garden. The free presentation is at the Witwer Senior Center site at Lowe Park.

 Fri., Feb. 26, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Hills Bank and Trust Company, 1009 2nd St, Coralville. Economics of Agriculture 2010 Agribusiness/Bioscience Breakfast Series. The Chamber's Agribusiness/Bioscience Committee 2010 Breakfast Series will examine the economics of agriculture and how it impacts you. Please join us for this insightful series. Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture  on the Economic Impact of Iowa Agriculture. $10 per session for members/$12 per session for future members; includes complimentary breakfast.  RSVP by the Wednesday before each event to rsvp@iowacityarea.com or 319-337-9637.

 Sat., Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m., Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Growing Appreciation Program: Framing Landscape. During the cold winter months, discover how landscape was brought indoors through art with the Framing Landscape tour,  Enjoy the natural world captured in the canvases and wall coverings of Brucemore and depicted in boldly-colored rural landscapes, impressionistic water scenes, and lush cloudscapes. The tour tells the story of the Douglas family's move from the bustling heart of Cedar Rapids to what, at the time, was the country. By increasing the size of the estate from ten to 33 acres, the focus of Brucemore shifted away from the mansion to the garden and grounds. Guided by Brucemore staff, this 45-minute tour explores how the ideals that guided the development of the estate also informed Mrs. Douglas's interior decor. Mrs. Douglas, an early supporter of the burgeoning symphony and community theater, had the financial means to collect art from the most prestigious big-city galleries of the day. However, her regional patronage was extended to purchasing pieces from local artists, most notably Marvin Cone and Grant Wood, two artists who still have work on display at Brucemore. From charming oil paintings of landscapes, exquisite and rare wallpapers, and a Grant Wood plaster relief, participants will have the exciting opportunity to explore how Mrs. Douglas brought the natural world indoors through art. The tour is the second event in a year-long series of programs celebrating the 100Growing Appreciation programs.  For more details call (319) 362-7375 or visit: www.brucemore.org   Admission is $10 per person and $7 per Brucemore member. Reservations are required. Space is limited. Please register online or by calling (319) 362-7375.

^th

anniversary of the Brucemore formal gardens.  Special package pricing is available for additional anniversary

 Sat., Feb. 27, 1 p.m., Bug Academy at the Indian Creek Nature Center. Joe Zito, amateur entomologist, will lead a presentation on the ways insects survive the winter and deal with cold. Adults and children 8 and older are invited to learn about insect migration, galls, and other tricks to survive Iowa's cold. Bring outdoor clothes for a hike to find over-wintering insects and active winter stoneflies and craneflies and snow fleas. Learn about future Bug Academy adventures! Members: $5, Non Members: $8.

 Sun., Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn Street, Free Film Screening: Flow. As part of the Backyard Abundance “Seeds of Sustainability” series, Transition Ecology, in partnership with Environmental Films Iowa City,  will screen the film "Flow." The film builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.