By Susan Deblieck
Classes start in June for landscaping, saving water, attracting pollinators and growing herbs
Gardeners have the opportunity this summer to learn about theme gardens, planting trough gardens, water features and conservation, attracting butterflies and bees, and growing herbs. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach “Growing Season” webinar series will be offered at multiple locations across Iowa during June, July and August.
This is the sixth year for the Iowa Master Gardener program annual summer series. It is open to all interested gardeners; participants are not required to have completed master gardener training to attend.
Each of the three webinars feature an Iowa Master Gardener and ISU Extension and Outreach faculty or staff member presenting the two-hour course at an ISU Extension and Outreach county office. Course topics and speakers include:
- Design from Yard to Trough, with Iowa State University Department of Horticulture lecturer Lisa Orgler and Fayette County Master Gardener Gary Whittenbaugh. Participants will learn how to add spark to landscape designs and trough planters filled with conifers and their companions.
- Water in the Garden. ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturist Denny Schrock, along with Boone County Master Gardener Jamie Beyer, will discuss various water saving techniques to apply to the garden and how to incorporate creative water features.
- Pollinators and Growing Herbs will be presented by Nathan Brockman, the curator of the butterfly wing of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State, and Polk County Master Gardener Susan Appleget Hurst. Participants will learn about attracting bees, birds and butterflies, and focus on growing, harvesting and preserving culinary herbs.
In the “Water in the Garden” webinar, Schrock will focus will on waterwise landscaping and Jamie Beyer will talk about water features. “We’ll present the principles of xeriscaping, a low-water use landscaping, and using low-water-tolerant plants adapted to Iowa landscapes,” said Schrock.
“With climate change, it is apparent Iowans will need to adapt to changing weather patterns that include more weather extremes—hotter and drier drought cycles, with more intense storms,” said Schrock. “The waterwise landscaping will lay the framework for developing a landscape that will better withstand weather extremes.”
Growing Season webinar locations
To register for any or all of the Growing Season webinars, contact an ISU Extension and Outreach county office. Webinars are pre-recorded, so dates and times will vary with location. All master gardeners attending the webinars will earn two continuing education hours for each webinar. To learn how to become an Iowa Master Gardener, visit the program website.
The webinar series will be available at county extension offices in the following communities: Altoona, Boone, Bloomfield, Charles City, Council Bluffs, Cresco, Denison, Dubuque, Fort Madison, Grinnell, Grundy Center, Hull, Le Mars, Logan, Mason City, Mount Pleasant, Muscatine, Pocahontas, Sioux City, Tripoli, Webster City, West Burlington and Williamsburg. As additional county extension offices are added as hosts, their community will be added to the list on the website.