Homegrown: May 2012 Calendar

Following are gardening and eco-events happening in Eastern Iowa during May 2012. If you know of others, send information in an email to: Cindy.Hadish@sourcemedia.net

Tues., May 1, 6:30 p.m., Fabulous Frogs at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center near Toddville. Learn to identify frogs by sight and sound.  There will be live frogs available so you can see what the local species look like. We will also go outside to listen for calling frogs.  Cost: $2.50/adult, $1/child 16 and under or $5/family.

Wed., May 2, 6-7 p.m., No-Till Gardening, with Roxane Mitten at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. $5/person.  Is plowing or rototilling the best way to prepare soil for plant beds? Join permaculture designer Roxane Mitten as she explains the merits of allowing soil structure to remain intact while continually increasing soil fertility. Roxane will discuss sheet mulching and mulching in place, and the use of a garden fork. She will explore various ways to minimize soil compaction, as well as the role of worms and microorganisms in creating extraordinary garden soil.

Thurs., May 3, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Mushroom Ramble at Wickiup Hill. Of course, at this time of year, many thoughts will be on the tasty morel mushrooms! Marty Augustine of the Prairie State Mushroom Club will lead participants on a search for fungus at Wickiup Hill. Participants should meet at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center parking area and be ready to car pool to the back prairie as a starting point. There will be education about local mushrooms – who knows, maybe someone will share their favorite spots. Bring a container to collect mushrooms and dress for conditions that may include ticks, mosquitoes or poison ivy. Cost: $2.50/ adult, $1.00 for children 16 and under or $5.00 per family. No charge for Mushroom Club members.

Sat., May 5, 9–11:30 a.m, Project GREEN Garden Fair at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City. Your purchases fund local landscaping. All funds raised from the 2012 Garden Fair will be earmarked for a major contribution to the landscaping at the new Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, south of Iowa City on Sand Road, which will be Iowa City's largest park including 207 acres with a 95.5 acre lake. There will be a display at the Garden Fair with more information about this project, as well as Project GREEN's other projects - past, present and future. Tried and true plant stock! The plants sold at the Garden Fair are all proven performers for our climate. Our plants have all been nurtured and donated by local gardeners. Hosta, shade perennials, sunny perennials, trees, shrubs, vines galore! Contrary to popular rumors, there are plenty of plants available for the duration of the sale. You do not need to be present when the doors open in order to have a good selection of plants for purchase.  New this year will be blooming orchids for sale, courtesy of the Eastern Iowa Orchid Club. What a perfect gift for Mother's Day! Door prizes will be given away; all Fair-goers will be eligible to register for the drawings.  Judy Allen's wonderful garden sculptures will be available for sale. We will have refreshments available for purchase - coffee, muffins, sweet rolls, sweet breads and the like; plus tables and chairs where you can take a break from your shopping! Local experts will be available to answer your garden questions. Experts from Master Gardeners, Iowa City recycling and composting, Department of Natural Resources, and other wildlife experts, biologists, foresters will be on hand.

Plant sitting stations will be available where you can stow your boxes of plant treasures while you talk to the experts, enjoy refreshments, or shop for more.

Sat., May 5, Bird and Wildflower Walk and Pancake Breakfast, Seed Savers Exchange, Heritage Farm, 3074 North Winn Road, Decorah. Bird and wildflower tours depart from the visitors center at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pancake breakfast served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. 563-382-6104. Cost: Free. Bird experts Dennis Carter and Larry Reis will lead tours at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. through SSE's wooded hiking trails. Dennis Carter has identified more than 100 species of birds at Heritage Farm. Carter, a retired naturalist with the National Park Service, and Reis, a naturalist for Winneshiek County Conservation, will help visitors identify birds as well as discuss bird habitat and migration. Bring your bird and wildflower books, binoculars and comfortable walking shoes. As part of this spring celebration, the Decorah Lions Club will be serving a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Herb, vegetable, and flower transplants will be available at the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center to get your garden growing. www.seedsavers.org

Sat., May 5, 9 a.m. to noon, INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER HOSTS ANNUAL PLANT SALE. Guild fundraiser features native plants for gardeners. Celebrate the gardening season and support Iowa's only privately-funded nature center by attending the annual Spring Plant Sale at the Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE in Cedar Rapids, on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m.-Noon.    This three-hour event is hosted by members of the Nature Center Guild and offers a variety of annuals and perennials.   Whether shopping for Mother's Day or for your own backyard, you will enjoy browsing the available wildflowers, prairie grasses, geraniums, and hosta.   In addition, vendors will be selling succulents, herbs, small bushes and garden art.  While some early plants have already blossomed, these healthy plants will provide color and form for next spring's garden.  “Helpful advice from a Master Gardener is available for any gardener, from beginner to expert” states Guild member Nora Becker.  Proceeds from the Plant Sale help the Nature Center provide educational programming to thousands of children and to care for more than 210 acres of land.  For more information, call (319) 362-0664.

Sat., May 5, 1 p.m., Naturalists Adventurers: Go Batty. Students in middle and high school are invited to Indian Creek Nature Center on Saturday, May 5th at 1:00pm to learn about issues facing Iowa bat populations. You'll also construct a bat house that can either be taken home and installed on your property or left at the Nature Center to expand their bat habitat. Cost is $8 for members, $10 for non-members which includes a materials fee. Advance registration required. Call 319-362-0664 to register by phone or register online at indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Sat., May 5, 7 p.m., Recycle in Style Fashion Show, Goodwill of the Heartland, 1441 Blairs Ferry Road Northeast, Cedar Rapids. Join the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency and Goodwill of the Heartland for an evening of fashion, sustainability, and food. The fourth annual Recycle in Style Fashion Show will be bigger than ever this year with even more styles and fun activities including a chance at great door prizes for those that RSVP.  You can RSVP at www.recycleinstyle.org. Doors open at 6:30, show begins at 7:00. Cost : Free to attend (RSVP requested)

Sat., May 5, 8-11 a.m., Fontana Herb Society plant sale at the Fontana Park shelter south of Hazleton and Sat., May 13 from 8-11 am at the Presbyterian Church (115 6http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/ or by calling (800) 780-9986.

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Ave NW) Independence.  To help create more monarch habitat in Buchanan, Fayette and surrounding counties, Buchanan County Conservation has partnered with the Oelwien HS FFA, the Fontana Herb Society, and the Independence Garden Club to harvest seed, grow starter plants, and provide them to the public at low cost through several plant sales.  You can get your 4-packs of swamp, butterfly  and common milkweed for caterpillar food plants and nectar.  Rough blazingstar, stiff and showy goldenrod, and New England Aster provide nectaring flowers in August & Sept for migrating adults. The Fontana Herb Society sale will be Saturday, May 5 from 8-11 am at the Fontana Park shelter south of Hazleton. The Independence Garden Club sale will be on Saturday, May 12 from 8-11 am at the Presbyterian Church (115 6

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Ave NW) Independence. Monarch Watch has also developed Monarch Waystation planting information about how to create the best habitat for monarchs.  This information is available on their website at

Sun., May 6, 2-4 p.m., Backyard Abundance Playscape Tour and Planting, 2301 Jessup Circle, Iowa City get directions.  Join Zeb Buckley and Leana Guerin for a tour of their landscape which is designed to grow an abundance of food and improve the wellness and skill development of their children. You can also engage in hands-on planting projects and learn to:

• Prepare soil for blueberry bushes

• Properly plant trees and shrubs

• Begin designing child-engaging features in a landscape

International Permaculture Day: This event helps celebrate International Permaculture Day. Backyard Abundance designed the plantings following permaculture principles. If you have questions about permaculture, please bring them and learn how to create a more abundant and thriving community. See pictures and learn more about the playscape design

Mon., May 7, 6-7 p.m., Planning Your Successful Garden, with Joanne and Loren Leach, at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. $5/person. Make your garden more successful with thoughtful planning. Join Master Gardeners Joanne and Loren Leach as they help you identify which vegetables your family enjoys most, and how much to grow of each. Other important questions include the season and difficulty of each crop, how much time you are able to devote to the garden, and whether you wish to can or freeze garden surplus. Beginners welcome!

Tues., May 8, 9:30 a.m., PRESCHOOLERS & PARENTS – SOUNDS OF SPRING, Indian Creek Nature Center.  Did you hear something? Preschoolers and their parents take a fun frog walk at the Indian Creek Nature Center on Tuesday, May 8www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org

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. Learn the lifecycle of a frog and discover the many ways this amphibian survives in the wild. Take a peek in our wetland pond and listen for their wonderful songs. Program runs from 9:30-10:30am. This presentation is geared for children 3-6 years of age accompanied by an adult. Fee is $4 for ICNC member children, $5 for non-member children, adults admitted free. Advance registration strongly suggested. To register, call 319-362-0664 or register online at

Tues., May 8, 6-8 p.m., Natural Body Care at Prairiewoods. Have you ever noticed the long list of chemicals in your cosmetics and body care products? Cosmetics are supposed to help us look and feel beautiful, but many of the chemicals found in our cosmetics are anything but pretty! This class at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha) will be led by Prairiewoods Ecospirituality Coordinator Emy Sautter. She will teach you about the chemicals in cosmetics and body care products, how to reduce your exposure to these chemicals, safe alternatives and recipes for making your own products. The cost is $8. Registration and payment are required by May 7, so please contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

Thurs., May 10, 6:30 p.m., BACKYARD CHICKEN BASICS, Indian Creek Nature Center. Cedar Rapids-Interested in keeping backyard chickens? The Indian Creek Nature Center presents a workshop will detail the “ins and outs” of legally and successfully keeping hens in urban and suburban environments. Those who complete the workshop will receive a Certificate of Completion required by the City of Cedar Rapids before receiving a permit to keep backyard hens. Fee: $7/members; $10/non-members. Participants must register by 4pm on Tuesday, May 8th. Call 319-362-0664 to register by phone or register online at indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Fri., May 11, 9:30 a.m., Frog Walk. Did you hear something? Preschoolers and their parents take a fun frog walk at the Indian Creek Nature Center on Friday, May 11www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org

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. Learn the lifecycle of a frog and discover the many ways this amphibian survives in the wild. Take a peek in our wetland pond and listen for their wonderful songs. Program runs from 9:30-10:30am. This presentation is geared for children 3-6 years of age accompanied by an adult. Fee is $4 for ICNC member children, $5 for non-member children, adults admitted free. Advance registration strongly suggested. To register, call 319-362-0664 or register online at

Fri., May 11, 7 p.m., Linn Area Reads: “Righteous Porkchop;” meet the author, Nicolette Hahn Niman, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Fri., May 11, 4-7 p.m.; Sat., May 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fri., May 18, 4-7 p.m. and Sat., May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., FRIENDS OF HICKORY HILL PARK ANNUAL PLANT SALE. The annual Friends of Hickory Hill Park Plant Sale will take place in the backyard at 1167 East Jefferson Street in Iowa City. Plant donations are needed as well as help BEFORE & DURING the sale. In the past, donations have included perennials such as, coneflowers, dahlias, asters, daisies, hostas, lily of the valley, wild ginger, celendon poppy and other woodland plants plus other groundcovers. Sometimes shrubs and small trees are donated. This annual fundraising plant sale supports projects within Hickory Hill Park, funded by The Friends of Hickory Hill Park. In past years, FHHP has raised $1,800 to $2,000 from this sale. For more information or to donate plants, please call J. Jehle at 319-338-5331.

Fri., May 11, 3-7 pm and Sat., May 12, 8 a.m. to noon; Iowa County Master Gardeners plant sale, at Gateway Park and the Iowa County Fairgrounds, in Marengo, a fund-raiser for a $500 scholarship, as well as community projects (Lake Iowa Nature Center in Ladora, Gateway Park Arboretum, etc).   The sale will feature:   Several new Hostas, 26 varieties of tomatoes, 5 varieties hot peppers, 8 varieties sweet peppers, herbs, Annuals, Perennials and  Gardening accessories.

Sat., May 12, 6:30 p.m., Frog Walk: REAL walk for adults of all ages. Love-struck male frogs make a deafening noise that's a true harbinger of spring. The Indian Creek Nature Center welcomes adults of all ages to take a walk to see and hear different species of frogs as part of the REAL walk series held on the second Saturday of every month at the Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $3 for ICNC members; $4 for non-members. Advance registration is strongly suggested.  Call 319-362-0664 to register by phone or register online at indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Sat., May 12, 9 a.m. to noon, Bird Banding & Migratory Bird Day at Wickiup Hill. Rob Bradley will be banding birds caught near Wickiup Hill.  Visitors may be surprised with special views of spring migrants such as warblers and white- throated sparrows.   While birds are being banded, close-up views of feather colors and behaviors can be observed.  Activities are also planned to celebrate Migratory Bird Day which will include activities for children during the morning. Cost is $2.50/adult, $1/child 16 and under, or $5/family.

Sat., May 12, 8 am – noon. 5th Annual Johnson County Master Gardeners Plant Sale & Flea Market - Johnson County Fairgrounds. Come join the excitement of shopping the tables full of Annuals, Perennials, Vegetables, Herbs, Tubers, Bulbs, Seedlings and Houseplants. Wander through the flea market for that one of kind treasure you won't be able to go home without. Stock up on garden related items from books, magazines, containers, tools, patio furniture, yard art and much, much more.  Funds raised support two annual  Kirkwood Comm. College Scholarships and the Master Gardener Program.

Sat., May 12, 9 a.m. to noon, Brucemore Plant Sale, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids. Take home a treasure from Brucemore's greenhouse at the annual Brucemore Plant Sale. Several plants seen in Brucemore's formal garden will be available for sale, including annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. A variety of herbs will also be available, including basil, thyme, and rosemary. Plant Sale prices range from $3.50 to $30.00, with all the proceeds benefiting garden and landscape rehabilitation projects at Brucemore. The Plant Sale will be located around the 1915 Lord & Burnham Greenhouse to celebrate the grand opening of this structure, which has been closed since 2008 and underwent rehabilitation in 2012.  The “Heritage Section” will return for a second year to feature a limited supply of a Cedar Rapids' celebrity-inspired plant with a history on the Brucemore estate. The Bill Quarton Plant (Iresine lindenii or commonly called Bloodleaf) began its story at Brucemore around 1985. Mr. Quarton brought it to former head gardener Don Novy to winter in Brucemore's Lord & Burnham Greenhouse. While Mr. Quarton passed away in August of 2007, clippings of the plant can be seen around the estate.The garden staff will be on hand to provide expert advice on the selection, placement, and care of plants; and a variety of garden books and merchandise are available for purchase in the Brucemore Store. For further information on the Brucemore Plant Sale, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Sat., May 12; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat., May 19 and Sunday, May 20,  8am-4pm; Good Earth Garden Club plant sale, 740 Old Marion Rd NE, Cedar Rapids. See a list of plants and prices here: http://gegc.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/4/2/3942235/plant_sale_spreadsheet.pdf

Sun., May 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Annual Mother's Day Showcase, 4900 Council Street NE. Admission is free. Photos, bed designs, greenhouse plans and other memorabilia from past shows will be on display. Visitors will also enjoy seeing hundreds of blooming plants, educational exhibits and a special display of live butterflies by ButterFliz of Iowa. Professionally designed hanging baskets, books about nature and gardening, honey, greeting cards and original handcrafted jewelry will be available for sale. Call the Noelridge Greenhouse, 286-5762, for more information.

Sun., May 13, Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse,  less than one mile outside of Marion on Highway 151.  Take in the fresh air, stroll through endless rows of blooming flowers as a family and  enjoy complimentary refreshments, including a tasting of Park Farm Wines. If a relaxing afternoon is what Mom is after, grab a couple chairs and listen to the original, folk melodies from Iowa singer/songwriter Danika Holmes live in the shade house from 1 to 4pm, a part of the garden center's 15th anniversary celebration.

Mid-May might be the most beautiful time to visit Culver's greenhouses and nursery, and with the early spring weather, this year offers even more planting options. Hydrangeas, roses and butterfly bushes are already available and blooming. The gift shop offers trendy jewelry, gardening accessories, and promotional Mother's Day gifts. In the greenhouse, hanging baskets are full and spilling with beautiful annuals, such as signature, Culver's-grown geraniums. Shop with Mom to find the perfect gift for home or garden.

Established in April of 1998, Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse is an extension of Culver's Lawn Care & Landscaping, Inc. In addition to the garden center, nursery and 14 greenhouses, the business offers complete residential and commercial landscaping; lawn care and maintenance, and more. Information about Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse and Culver's Lawn Care & Landscaping, Inc. is available online at www.culverslandscape.com<http://www.culverslandscape.com> or by calling (319) 377-4195.

Mon., May 14, 6-7 p.m., Best Tomatoes Ever, with Joanne and Loren Leach, at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. $5/person. Tomatoes may well be the most popular annual vegetable. Join Master Gardeners Joanne and Loren Leach to learn how to grow early, vigorous, and abundant tomatoes. From sturdy generous cherry tomatoes to colorful heirlooms, you can have fun growing (and eating!) lots of tomatoes.

Tues., May 15, 7 p.m., Meskwaki History with Johnathan Buffalo at Wickiup Hill. Johnathan Buffalo, Historic Preservation Director for the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, will explain Meskwaki Tribal history.  He will also describe the work of the Historic Preservation Office at Tama to research, archive, preserve and perpetuate the traditional resources of the Meskwaki.  Johnathan will also discuss the new Meskwaki Museum that has recently opened on the Tama settlement.  Cost is $2.50/adult, $1/child 16 and under, or $5/family.

Wed., May 16, 4-6 p.m., Taste of the Co-op Open House,  First Presbyterian, 310 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Free open house for all local food consumers and supporters by the Iowa Valley Food Co-op.  The Iowa Valley Food Co-op producer members will showcase their farms and their great products. We expect a good turnout and lots of delicious samples. Ask producers about their products and operations, and take a look at new items. Producer members expected to attend are Frog Hollow Farm, Rapid Creek Ranch, Pheasant Run Farm, May's 3

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Street Bakery, Custom Custard, Lisa's Baked Goods, Ebersole Cattle Co, Green's Organics, Grinnell Heritage Farm, Café del Sol Roasting, Levi's Indigenous Fruit Enterprises, Oak Hill Acres, Rag Rug Lady, Jeanne's Soaps, Jimel Farm, Doty Angus Cattle Co, and Sweet Doe Soaps.  Independent producers creating fresh local products are the heart of the local food movement. Iowa Valley Food Co-op (IVFC) is working to increase the amount of local food bought and sold in our region by bringing together local consumers with local food producers through an on-line ordering system.  IVFC is an innovative and creative marketing effort that takes advantage of two of today's fastest growing trends in grocery sales, online ordering and local food.

Wed., May 16, 6:30-8 p.m., Green Living Group at Prairiewoods: Wild Edibles. The Green Living Group meets the third Wednesday of every month at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha). Facilitators Maggie Anderson, Emmy Ball and Emy Sautter will help participants explore the subject of a sustainable and healthy environment through books, articles, films and speakers. This is an ideal opportunity for education and for an ongoing support system for happy and healthy green living, and participants may join at any time. This month's focus is Wild Edibles. A free-will offering will be accepted. For more information, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.prairiewoods.org.

Sat., May 19, 8 a.m. to noon (or until plants are gone); Linn County Master Gardener Plant Sale. Linn County Extension parking lot, 3279 7th Avenue, Marion. Choose plants for your garden from many kinds of perennials (both for sun and or shade), and many varieties of hosta and daylilies, also wildflowers, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, annuals and more.  These plants come from our Master Gardeners' gardens and some were raised in the Master Gardeners' Greenhouse, where they have been carefully potted, and tenderly taken care of until the sale day.  Best of all, they are priced for anyone who likes a bargain. Take Master Gardener plants home, grow them and enjoy them for years to come. Master Gardeners will help you choose the plants just right for you and answer your gardening questions.

Sat.,  May 19, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., HUBFEST 2012, Matthew 25 Ministry Hub,  at the old Hubbard Ice Building, 225 K Ave, NW Suite G, Cedar Rapids.  Tool and Plant Sale; Family Fun Activities; (Bounce House, plant the Pumpkin Patch, Games) Food; Live Music; Come learn about the Tool Library, Urban Farm; Summer Enrichment, and more! For more info: (319) 362-2214    www.hub25.org

Sat., May 19, 10:30 a.m., and Thurs., May 24, 6 p.m., Historic Landscape Tour at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids. Cover 26-acres and over 125 years of history during an exploration of Brucemore's landscape. Each of the estate's historic owners used the landscape differently. The changes they made to their gardens and grounds reflect their distinct personalities and the times in which they lived.  Brucemore's gardeners will point out evidence and offer insights into these three eras-from the suburban mansion and its sweeping front yard to the grand aspirations of a country estate to the modern trappings of a post-war couple.  The foundation of this tour is the design of noted landscape architect O. C. Simonds whose 1910 design continues to define the way Brucemore is used and preserved today.  Brucemore's Historic Landscape Tour is part of May as National Preservation Month, which is aimed at “Discover America's Hidden Gems.”  Admission is $10 per person and $7 per Brucemore member.  Advance ticket purchase required. Space is limited; call (319) 362-7375 to purchase tickets. For more information on the Historic Landscape Tour or other Preservation Month activities, visit Brucemore online at

www.brucemore.org.

Sat., May 19, 10 a.m., TODDLER TRACKS: FLOWER POWER, Indian Creek Nature Center., Spring is the season to get excited about new life! Bring your toddler to the Indian Creek Nature Center to discover the wonders of fabulous flowers and other plants. Work your way through self-guided stations to dig in the dirt, plant seeds to take home and take a naturalist-led hike to see what is sprouting up in our woods and prairie.  Activities are repeated, so come and go as it works best for you and your toddler. The program is geared for young children aged 18-36 months accompanied by an adult. Cost is $4 for ICNC member children; $5 for non-member children; accompanying adults are free. Advance registration strongly recommended. To register, call 319-362-0664 or register online at indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Sat., May 19, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ely Community Center, Plant and Landscape Tack Swap. Gather to swap plants, pots and landscape tack and even knowledge. Plants multiply and divide and what better way than to share and swap them? Don't toss the poor souls out to plant heaven. Bring your split, overgrown, perhaps “not your favorite anymore” and orphan plants in a tossable bucket, box, bag, bowl, what ever works to transport that precious cargo to Ely Community Center and place it for adoption. Same for landscape tack; pots, ornaments, decorations, gizmos and whatchamacallits! How it works: bring items to swap out and trade one for one. If you have three items you can swap for three. If you prefer to place your fodder up for adoption all the items that remain at the end of the swap will be cultivated back into the community.

Sat., May 19, 1 p.m., BUG ACADEMY: BUG SEASON IS HERE! The Bug Academy at Indian Creek Nature Center emphasizes hands-on activities to find insects and learn basic identification techniques. Join Joe and Christopher Zito on Saturday, May 19

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at 1:00pm to hike the Nature Center grounds, learn about insect habitats, traps and check previously set traps. Learn to build a homemade Berlese funnel and take home your own beetle trap. A good family activity. Fee is $5 for ICNC members; $8 for non-members. Advance registration advised. Register by phone at 319-362-0664 or register online at indiancreeknaturecenter.org.

Sat., May 19, 10 a.m. to noon; Handmade Willow Trellises, with Roxane Mitten, at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. $15/person. Fresh cut willow is strong and flexible, and it's an abundant resource that decomposes into the earth. Join Roxane Mitten as she demonstrates how to create a graceful natural trellis of willow, tied with twine. Use your creativity to envision the trellis of your dreams. One dreamer sent blooming runner beans up her trellis and found hummingbirds at the flowers! Fresh willow will be provided. If possible please bring a pair of hand pruners and a pocket knife or scissors.

Sat., May 19, 2-5 p.m., Backyard Abundance Urban Woodland Tours, Bristol Dr. and Quincent Court, Iowa City. get directions. Seven Iowa City residents are increasing the health of their urban woodlands through restoration activities. Tours of these beautiful, flowering landscapes will give you a firsthand look at a healthy, Midwest woodland. Local woodland experts will be available to answer your questions. View a map and more about the event

Mon., May 21, 6-7 p.m., Where the Root Meets the Soil, with Scott Koepke, at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. FREE and open to all! Children welcome! “Where the root meets the soil, food starts here!” says New Pi Soilmates organic garden educator Scott Koepke. Bring the family to this worm-loving, dirt-digging session designed to help you connect with the source of all food: fertile, well-balanced, biologically active soil. As Scott always says, "The food needs to eat first before we can eat the food."

Tues., May 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Master Gardener Webinar, Ajay Nair – Growing Vegetables; ISU Linn County Extension Office, 3279 7th Ave., Marion. Nair is an ISU Extension horticulture specialist. Webinar presentations will be at the Extension Office in the large conference room. These presentations are open to Master Gardeners and the public. There is no fee in Linn County, but registration is required by calling the Extension Office 319-377-9839 or email benesh1@iastate.edu. Johnson County Extension plans to offer the webinar series at a cost of $5 per session at the Johnson County Extension & Outreach Office, 3109 Old HWY 218 S, Iowa City.  Contact Johnson County Extension to register 319-337-2145.

Wed., May 23, 6-7 p.m., Vermicomposting Basics, with Roxane Mitten at Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE Corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. $15/person. Meet the helpful composting worms! Worms can eat your vegetable trimmings and make fertile castings for natural plant fertilizer. Learn how it is done, indoors and out. First 15 students get a free starter pack of worms!

Wed., May 23, 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Science for Squirts – Hike and Play Day at Wickiup Hill near Toddville. We will start by walking the boardwalk through our wetland, visit the savannah to play with blocks and toys from nature, then finish with a hike back to the prairie and dig in our sandboxes! This is a great way to get your little ones outside and burn off some energy! Please call 892-6485 at least 3 days before program date. Cost: $2/child.

Thurs., May 24, 10-10:45 a.m., Toddler Toadstools at Morgan Creel Park Arboretum. Toddler Toadstools is a nature program designed to get you outside with your little ones, ages 1-4. Kids will read a story, meet an animal, and do hands-on activities. The children are then able to go to hands-on stations and play with items from nature, play-doh, water, bubbles, sand and more! You must pre-register by calling 892-6485 at least 2 days before class.