Almost every gardener I know always complains they have too much of this or that during the growing season.  If you are one of these fine people, and I am among them, there is something you can do about it.  No, it isn’t planting fewer plants.  Don’t even think that!

You can donate your extra produce.  And, no, I don’t mean to me, although I would probably take it.  Donate your extra produce to the Food Bank! 

I got an email from Mike Lind, the Director of External Relations at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  They have a program called Fresh Food for Families.  This is the third year of the program and it goes something like this:

Plant extra plants and then donate the produce the the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  They will take your donations Monday through Friday and will even pick them up if they are over 100 pounds.  You can also drop your extra produce off at Rotts Market in Cedar Falls on Thursdays.  They are located at 2021 Main Street in Cedar Falls, north of University Avenue.  Make sure that you put your name and address with your donation if you would like a receipt.

Donations will stay local and Mike mentions that “1 in 6 are food insecure in Iowa, which mean not having an adequate amount of nutritious food.”

While this email pertains to the Cedar Valley area around Waterloo, you can contact your local food pantry and see if they want your excess produce.  Chances are they will love it.  The kids with the Vinton Youth Garden donated some of our excess produce last year to the Benton County Food Pantry.  The kids even got a tour of the facilities and learned that many of the people who utilize the food pantry don’t get enough fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets because it is too expensive for the Pantry to purchase the fresh stuff.  They rely on donations so that they can help even more families.

Contact your local food pantry or even a senior dining center to see if they can use your extra produce.

If you are interested in helping out the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, contact Sheri Huber-Otting at 319-235-0507 ext. 114 or shuber-otting@feedingamerica.org.

Dig it!

Posted under Event, General

I love roses.  I like the ones that smell like roses.  That means I have to wait until the roses are blooming at the nursery so that I can actually smell them.  I have found that the tag may say it has a “strong licorice scent” or “slight old rose fragrance” smell, but sometimes it just smells like a flower shop rose.  Nothing but waxy.  They may be beautiful, but I want to have my finger stuck by a thorn when I reach down to breathe in the rose fragrance. 

So last weekend I went to Peck’s in Cedar Rapids.  I stopped in to get two roses, Firefighter, which is a deep red with a beautiful rose scent and a yellow one with a nice smell.  Note to self… go before Mother’s Day weekend.  They were pretty picked over.  I managed to grab the last of the Firefighter roses they had on the greenhouse floor.  It was probably still there because the spent blooms had been cut off and there weren’t any buds showing. Yeah for me. 

I had one from last year that didn’t make it through the winter, but I loved the deep red blooms and the strong sweet rose smell, so I wanted to get another one.  This time, I’m putting it on the south side of the house where it has natural winter protection.

The yellow one I had to search for.  The one that was recommended to me was Julia Child, but the flowers didn’t have a strong enough scent for me.  It just wasn’t quite right.  However, as I bent to sniff one called Radiant Perfume, I was hooked.  And not because the thorns grabbed me, the smell was fantastic!  It made it into the wagon. 

Of course, there was more room on the south side of the house that could always use some colorful and scented filler.  Sooooo…. I made several mistakes. 

1) I went to Peck’s

2) I didn’t leave when I grabbed the two roses

3) I told myself, “I still have space in the wagon.”

4) followed by “There is plenty of room on the south side of the house”

5) I started smelling the other roses

So, I ended up with a dark pink beauty called Grand Dame with a gorgeous rose smell

The Grand Dame is on the right. She needed a drink.

and a very nicely scented Floribunda called Burgundy Ice.  The other three are Hybrid Teas and will be taller while the Burgundy Ice will be more mounded.  It is just loaded with blooms.

I have them located on the south side of the house where they will have protection from the winter winds.  I plan on covering them with mulch for the winter, but that will be about it.

Here is the Burgundy Iceberg with a Serviceberry on the right and a Mock Orange on the left. There is a miniature rose in front of the picture.

I will be optimistic and say that they will be back next year and we can enjoy them again!

Dig it!

Posted under General

Yet another event to put on your calendar… this one is about roses.

ISU Extension Offers Rose Workshop

WAUKON — Roses have the reputation for being high-maintenance, short-lived and disease-prone. Yet our state flower, the wild rose, grows in ditches throughout the state despite the harsh conditions. Isn’t there some middle ground?

Many of the modern shrub or landscape roses fit into this middle ground and combine hardiness, disease resistance and beauty. Selection and care are the keys to success.  Rugosa roses are hardy and resistant to blackspot.  Buck roses, developed at ISU are also popular. Shrub roses like Knock Out, Parkland, Explorer and Easy Elegance are designed for the tough growing conditions of the Midwest. Even hybrid tea roses like Peace and Tropicana can survive our winters if they’re planted correctly and overwintered under a mound of soil.

To find out how to grow roses in Iowa, join Iowa State University Extension horticulturist, Bob Hauer as he discusses the strengths and weaknesses of various roses as well as insect and disease control.  Hauer grows over 50 rose varieties in his rural Waucoma garden.

This workshop will be held at the Dan and Sue Schlitter residence at 202 5th St. SW in Waukon on Saturday, June 25 from 10:00-11:30 am.  The cost for this program is $3.00. To register, call the ISU Extension – Allamakee County office at 568-6345 by June 24 or register online at www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee.

Posted under Event

I have heard many stories about how kids in large cities think milk comes from the grocery store.  And cheese is born there, too.  I would hazard a guess that some Midwestern kids think that, too.  If you want to see where your milk comes, straight from the teat, so to say, here is your opportunity.  Put it on your calendar!

(From Iowa State Extension):

Breakfast on the Farm June 11 at The Dairy Center!

Everyone is invited to attend Breakfast on the Farm on June 11, 8 a.m. to noon at the Dairy Center, Calmar. 

The menu includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee and milk. The family-oriented event includes a tour of the 250-cow dairy farm at The Dairy Center and a farm animal petting zoo. 

“The majority of Iowans have never been on an operating dairy farm,” says Dairy Foundation President Gary Kregel.   “We thought a Breakfast on the Farm was the perfect answer to bring people to our facility to see modern dairy practices. We think it is very important that the public understand where the dairy products they eat originate, and why dairy producers do what they do.” 

Event organizers are planning attendance of about 500, with a focus on area families who don’t usually have access to farms. “We hope people come with an interest in learning, and a good appetite,” says Kregel.

Dairy Breakfasts in Wisconsin and Minnesota have been held for decades, and often draw in up to 5,000 people. It is hoped that if this first Breakfast on the Farm is a huge success and become an annual event.

 Kregel adds that this is a free event for those wanting to learn more about agriculture and to celebrate Iowa’s rich history of agriculture.

Two large tents will be put up for serving and eating, and the event will be held rain or shine.

Everyone will be allowed to park at the Northeast Iowa Community Based Dairy Foundation parking lot. The Dairy Center is located about a half mile south of NICC at 1527 Highway 150.

Many local and regional organizations are working together to make this event a reality, including The Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation, the Midwest Dairy Association, area dairy promotional groups, the Iowa Egg Council, Northeast Iowa Community College, the Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa State University, Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative, Iowa dairy processors, and local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters.

The Dairy Center opened 11 years ago, and was created by the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in partnership with Iowa State University and Northeast Iowa Community College. The purpose of the Dairy Foundation and The Dairy Center is to enhance the dairy industry by providing education, demonstration and research.

About 120 students use The Dairy Center while attending NICC classes for dairy science and other agriculture majors. “But another very important part of our ‘education’ mission is to teach the public about dairy farming as well,” says Kregel. “That is a big part of why we started planning for the June 11 Breakfast on The Farm.”

Kregel added many people don’t understand the very important economic impact of the industry. “Every dairy cow is worth $16,000 each year in economic activity. Iowa’s 215,000 cows contribute about $1.5 billion industry to the state’s economy annually. That is something everyone should care about.”

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the event or working as a volunteer at the event can contact Jenn Bentley at 563-382-2949.

Posted under Event

The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier had an article in Sunday’s paper about gardening in a bag.  This is something fairly new to me but it has been around for awhile. One article I found from Missouri State University was from a study in 2008.  Another article I found but apparently forgot to save had images from 2002.  This sounds like something I will be trying at the Vinton Youth Garden, at the very least.

You begin by getting a 40 pound bag of dirt. Well, actually, you start by figuring out where you want your 40 pound bag of dirt, then you buy it. And you can buy one or many depending on what you are planning to do with your space.  Put the bag where you want it to stay, cut some holes on one side for drainage and place that side toward the ground. On the top of the bag cut a large hole in it.

Plant your items and water.  You can mulch the bag beds with compost, grass clippings, or whatever you like.  It will help keep the bags moist longer. 

If you want to hide the bags you can mulch the bags with enough straw or hay to cover them.  Or you can use a whole lot of mulch.

If you want to plant tomatoes using this style, only use one bag per tomato plant. Otherwise, you can put several pepper plants in one bag, or any number of other plants.  I have one person asking about watermelons.  I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, but watermelons do want a more sandy soil, so you may want to mix in a little sand if you want to try watermelons in a bag.

At the end of the growing season, you just pull the plastic out of the garden and work the soil in with any amendments (more compost, nutrients) that you want.  That way if you started the bag garden because of really lousy soil, you are starting to fix that problem.  And next year maybe you can just put it in the ground

I found information on gardening by the bag from Missouri State University and Vegetable Gardener websites.

This gives you another option for gardening.  Whether you are trying to amend a bad piece of ground or just want to see how something will look in a particular spot but aren’t quite ready to commit to digging, this is the style for you.  I plan on giving it a try at the Vinton Youth Garden with some flowers the kids want to grow.  I’ll keep you posted.

Dig it!

Posted under General

Irises prefer to be moved in the fall.  The irises I needed to move last spring apparently didn’t suffer.

Happy flowers. These irises came to us through our friend Bill. They are shorter than the Bearded Iris, but I don't think they are Miniature Iris. They are probably considered Dwarf Iris. Since Bill got them from someone else, we don't know what kind they are. But they are certainly beautiful.

The creeping phlox are looking good, too.

These irises are closer to the house, but seem to have taken well to being moved. I may have to divide them again!

One of them decided to do its own thing and have a white stripe on the petal.

This batch of irises had me worried a bit last fall. I thought it was getting too wet, but apparently their feet stayed dry enough.

We also have a few other items still blooming or beginning to bloom:

These tulips are hanging on a few days past the others.

The Fern Peonies are starting their show. They look terrific!

This is why Dwayne says I should never go to the nursery. I found a black petunia. I had to have it. It is very velvety. I matched it with some orange weeping flowers that I can not remember the name of. I'll try to figure it out and let you know. This should look great when they fill out. All we need is some warmer weather. Oh, right. That's my department!

Dig it!

Posted under Spring

The Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near Dubuque is having an International Migratory Bird Day from 10 AM to Noon, Saturday May 14th.  David Shealer and Dan Wenny from Loras College will be on hand to provide information on migratory birds that come to the area for the summer to nest or stop over to rest on their way to the north.  Dan will lead a hike on the Catfish Creek Trail in search of some of the migrants or the local birds.  Dave will monitor the mist nets set up along the trail in hopes of capturing migratory birds. These birds will be available for you to view during and at the end of the hike.  At the end of the hike, Dave and Dan will band and gather data about each bird.  Bring binoculars for the hike, which will be about one and a half miles in length.  For more information contact the Mines of Spain by calling the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at 563-556-0620 or visit the parks’ website at www.minesofspain.org.

Also on Saturday from 10 to Noon, Hartman Naturalists will be discussing the art of Nature Journaling through discussion and outdoor exploring.  This will be at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Black Hawk County.  The program is designed for adults 16 & over and there is a $5.00 fee for this program.  If you have questions about this or any other programs at the Nature Center, contact Chris Anderson, Program Coordinator at chris.hrnc@gmail.comor call 319-277-2187.  You can also pre-register on-line at www.BlackHawkCountyParks.com… click on the “Events” link and select the desired program.

Posted under Event

As nice as the weather has been this past week, I am still waiting to plant my tomatoes.  We still have to get through the Three Frozen Kings. That happens May 12th, 13th and 14th. 

The Three Frozen Kings or the Three Kings is a Czech legend that warns us to protect tender plants against a late frost.  I have come across various spellings, but it involves three kings or saints who were frozen when the temperatures dropped while they were fishing at sea.  Pankrac or Pankrak is on May 12, Servac or Seriac on May 13 and Boniface or Bonfac on May 14.    On May 15, St. Zofie or Queen Sophia comes to their rescue by defrosting them with her watering can or a kettle of hot water, depending on which story you hear. 

It is a good reminder to keep from starting my garden too early.  Or, I can face the consequences if I ignore such sage advice.

Dig it!

Posted under Myths, Spring

Actually, I have some other things coming up, too…. lilies, tulips, irises, allium… weeds.

While farmers have been wanting to get into the fields to get the corn and beans in, I have been wanting to get into my garden to clean up the winter detritus.  When I finally got that chance, it appears the weeds have loved the cooler weather. They were everywhere!  It took awhile, but I finally feel like we have a handle on the situation.  Of course, I’m sure they have all grown back bigger since I pulled them up.

It is amazing how nice things look when you get it cleaned up. The goldenrod is growing well. The asters are pushing up. The obedient plants are not being very obedient. I have to do some thinning.

Two stumps. The one in the foreground we placed. The one in the back, Mother Nature helped with.

The area in the back was full of baby morning glories. I pulled them all (hopefully) up and we will plant something more, um, wanted.

The tulips seem to like this Spring's weather.

This mass planting of tulips looks terrific. Even some of the daffodils managed to be seen.

The tulip mass has a lot of color in a small space

Extreme closeup of one of the tulips

There are still some holes in the front bed, but it is starting to look really nice.

These turned orange a couple of days after I took this picture. I didn't know they did that and it confused me for awhile. I couldn't figure out where my yellow tulips went!

These tulips have lighter color on the outside that gives them a striped appearance

Pretty peach tulips.

Nice red/orange tulips

Some plants on our "red" hill didn't make it through the winter, either due to the cold or the rabbits. While that is sad, at least I have room for more plants!

The chinese miniature rose didn't get eaten too much by rabbits, but it was covered in mulch.

The World War II rose was also eaten down. It should have some nice blooms despite the munching rabbits.

Sven is apparently tasty. He was chewed down by rabbits, but is making a great comeback.

Sven didn't get chewed on by rabbits, so I need to do a little bit of pruning.

Sven and Ole have a new sister, Sigrid. I'll put her up front with Ole. She should be able to handle the winter since she was developed by the University of Minnesota, too. My mom has the other sister, Lena.The knock-out rose on the right is coming back from the rabbit pruning. The fern peonies are about to show their color.

Old-fashioned bleeding heart on the right and a yellow-leaf variety on the left.

One of the astilbe, doing well on the north side of the house.

My baby trillium. I was glad to see it this year since I planted it kind of late last year.

The older trillium is growing well. I think it has more flowers this year than last year.

Hot lips Turtlehead will need to be watched very carefully. I've already had to corral some of the spreading. The baby trillium is in front of the turtlehead.

The columbine look like they are coming back pretty nicely.

White bleeding heart are growing well, too.

This bleeding heart blooms all summer. I have to cut it back a couple of times a year. It loves this spot. It is currently covering an astilbe, but the bluebells manage to peak underneath.

I put pansies in the Michael Pot until it gets warmer and we can put something else in it. It will probably involve sweet potato vine.

The hen and chicks made it through another winter.

I can't remember what these are, but they sure love these boots.

My new herb pot. So far they seem pretty content. I put purple sage, lemon basil, greek oregano, thyme and rosemary in it.

My new pot. I think he will like our garden. We have a lot of toads to keep him company.

Of course, while Dwayne and I were clearing out the dead stuff and weeding, we talked about where we are going to move this plant and what we want to do with this space.  It looks like we have a lot more work to do this year.  The work of a gardener is never done!

Dig it!

Posted under Spring