Walk this way; two Corridor garden walks showcase spectacular landscapes

CEDAR RAPIDS - Garden lovers can revel in two straight days of viewing spectacular landscapes in the Corridor.

The Linn County Master Gardeners' Garden Walk is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23, followed by the Project GREEN Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24 in Iowa City.

One “mature” garden, at 4680 Rapid Creek Road NE, will be featured on the Project GREEN tour, along with nine neighbors in a fairly new development on White Oak Place.

A stop in downtown Iowa City rounds out the tour to see planters created and maintained by The Downtown District Plant Project, a public/private partnership in its fifth year.

Iowa City crews plant the central business district in stunning annuals and Project GREEN volunteers plant perennial plants and flowers.

Five diverse gardens will be showcased on the Master Gardeners' Walk in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area, including the gardens of Lisa Slattery, 105 Indian Creek Lane SE. Others are at 9300 C Ave., Marion, and 3115 Parkview Ct. SE; 2617 30th St. SW and at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center, 200 Clive Dr. SE, all in Cedar Rapids.

More than 300 varieties of plants in 11 garden beds, including 10 different clematis vines, grace Slattery's nearly 1-acre yard in both sun and shade.

“Everything is early this year,” says Slattery earlier this month. “Some of the things blooming now won't be blooming for the garden walk.”

Daylillies should open in coming days, replacing the blossoms of exotic-looking Asiatic lilies that peaked in early June.

Giant allium are allowed to stand even after blooming, providing structure in the beds.

Slattery, a master gardener since 2007, says the lack of rain also has affected the gardens, but consistent watering is keeping the beds lush and green.

“I'm amazed that things look as good as they do for how dry it's been,” she says, noting that even her neighbors have helped with watering.

Two truckloads of finely ground hardwood mulch spread throughout the beds helps retain moisture and keeps weeds at bay.

Antique garden art, including a colorful vase and a mosaic planter that have been in the family for decades, add interest to the beds.

Slattery and her husband, Tom, have two sons who help with gardening tasks.

Tossing a Frisbee out of one of the beds, Slattery says the yard is both kid- and dog-friendly.

“It's probably the only garden on the garden walk with a trampoline in the middle of it,” she says with a laugh.

A patio, surrounded by a semi-shaded perennial garden, is the family's favorite place to watch birds.

Slattery grows numerous tubular flowers to attract hummingbirds, including salvia, nicotiana and foxglove.

Beets, peppers and other vegetables grow in raised beds and ornamental gourd vines climb old cattle panels in the backyard.

Slattery likes the unusual, including electric blue sea holly and rattlesnake master that blooms white.

Like many Iowa gardeners, she also battles moles - she had a trap out earlier this month - and deer.

Eight deer use the yard as a deer crossing, she says, noting that she plants dill, Russian sage, lamb's ear and other plants that deer bypass in the yard's perimeter.

“I would never put a hosta out there,” she says. “That's like chocolate cake for deer.”

Linn County Master Gardener Walk

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23

Five gardens will include ornamental grasses, conifers, vegetables, perennials, containers, rain gardens, raised beds and range from a facility garden to an acreage garden. Get ideas for landscaping even the most difficult of terrains. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer horticulture-related questions.

Gardens: Kay McWhinney, 9300 C Ave., Marion; Lisa Slattery, 105 Indian Creek Ln. SE, Cedar Rapids; Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center, 200 Clive Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids; Pat Semanek and John Gary, 3115 Parkview Ct. SE, Cedar Rapids; Paula Schulte, 2617 30th St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Cost: $5 adults, $10 family

More information: www.Extension.iastate.edu/linn/news/linn-county-master-gardener-garden-walk

Project GREEN Walk

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 24 in Iowa City

Linda and Edward Dykstra, 4680 Rapid Creek Road NE (north of Interstate 80 off Hwy 1 / N. Dodge Street)

Nine neighbors along White Oak Place (west of Dubuque St. off Foster Road):

Mark and Nancy McMullen, 5 White Oak Place

George and Nancy Perry, 12 White Oak Place

Barbara and Brian Swick, 22 White Oak Place

Cathy and Steve Means, 25 White Oak Place

Susan Wells, 40 White Oak Place

Emily and Chris Barwacz, 57 White Oak Place

Pat and Gerald Meis, 62 White Oak Place

Paula O. Brandt, 67 White Oak Place

Mark and Joyce Gromko, 72 White Oak Place

Cost: $5 or free for 16 and under

Extra: Round out your garden day by heading to downtown Iowa City to appreciate the five-year anniversary of planters created and maintained by The Downtown District Plant Project.  Quality Care, The Nature Company, has generously contributed with labor or plant supplies every year.

Varieties of hosta, salvia, impatiens and fountain grasses are included in a total of 3,400 plants and shrubs that have been installed over the years.

On Sunday, enjoy free parking on-street and in three of the five parking ramps: Chauncey Swan (Washington and College Streets), Tower Place (Iowa Avenue and Gilbert Street) and the Court Street Transportation Center (Dubuque and Court Street). Several downtown restaurants that day will have discounted offers when you show your Garden Tour tickets: Bo-James, 118 E Washington St:  $5.99 burger basket with fruit or fries Bread Garden Market, 225 S Linn St:  10% off any purchase Capanna, 136 S Dubuque St:  15% off a gelato simple Formosa, 221 E College St:  open all day, 15% off any order Oasis–the Falafel Joint, 206 N Linn St:  10% off any order The Saloon, 112 E College St:  10% off any order Takanami, 219 Iowa Ave:  opens at 5 p.m., 15% off any order.

More information: www.Projectgreen.org