The Green Thumb
news & updates
for Polk County Master Gardeners
August 2022
Natural Resource Program Coordinator Update: The application process for this position has closed. We are currently reviewing candidates and preparing for the interview process. We look forward to announcing our new Master Gardener program coordinator soon.
Project Updates
Garden Tour Recap

Despite a very rocky start where it seemed like everything was against us, we can definitely declare the 2022 PGMG Garden Tour a HUGE success. There are many people who deserve recognition and a great big THANK YOU for this success, and we will try to do justice to all of their many contributions.

SPONSORS
These are the wonderful businesses who provided the funds to help cover the expenses associated with putting on the tour. This year our special thanks go out to Lucille’s Garden Center in Bondurant, Harvey’s Greenhouse in Adel, Ted Lare Garden Center in Cumming, Perennial Gardens in Ankeny, and Just Add Water in Ankeny. Please consider giving them your gardening business whenever you can.

GARDENS/GARDENERS
It goes without saying that if it wasn’t for our hard working, oh so talented, and creative gardeners there just wouldn’t have been this amazing tour. The positive feedback we received from attendees at all of the tour gardens was fantastic and we were absolutely blown away. We sincerely hope that our participating gardeners feel that the time and effort they spent making their gardens look their very best was truly worth it, because the tour attendees certainly did!

VOLUNTEERS
Shortly before the tour we were still desperately in need of volunteers and our plea for help that went out to our MG family did not go unheard. By sale day we were in very good shape, so to everyone who came through for us a huge pat on the back. Having adequate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers makes the whole tour so much more pleasant for both the attendees and homeowners.

TICKET SALES
Like the volunteer situation, right before the tour our ticket sales were extremely low and you came through for us. Ticket sales far surpassed what we had hoped for, so to everyone who purchased tickets and/or persuaded their neighbors, family and friends to do so, your generosity was overwhelming.

MOTHER NATURE
WELL here’s to the one really unexpected big star of the tour, and the one we had absolutely no control over. Who knew she would come through for us by providing such great weather early in July. It has been such a strange year from a weather point of view, so we were very concerned that it would be way too hot to entice people to take a garden tour. We sold over 100 tickets just at the gardens alone on sale day. (We will be sharing final financials for the tour as soon as we have received and posted all receipts for our income and expenses.)

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST
Charity Andeweg and Kathy Cole, our amazing Garden Tour Co-chairs, stepped in at the last minute and through dedication and hours of hard work, salvaged the tour at the eleventh hour. They are owed a huge debt of gratitude because without them it is highly probable this fundraiser would never have happened. Charity and Kathy would especially like to give special recognition to the following people for sharing with them their expertise in a number of significant ways. Jeralee Justice who put such a lot of time and effort into finding and securing our wonderful sponsors. Nan Tibbetts for her very special and unique skills in sign making. Kelly Reeve who did such an outstanding job on putting together our absolutely beautiful brochure and also arranging for the brochure printing. All of these five special people truly encompass the true spirit of what it means to be a PCMG.
Demonstration Garden

Thank you to our volunteers that continued to come to the garden during the heat and dry of July. We are appreciative of your time spent weeding and watering. Installation of a new bench was completed a couple weeks back. It is located in the Birds and Bees bed in the shade of a tree looking out into various flower beds. It is a welcomed addition. 
 
Our education programs for the season have been completed. This year we presented six Thursday night programs. Members of the public attended several of them. If you have ideas for future programs, speakers or presentations for summer 2023, please reach out to one of the co-chairs.
 
August brings an increase in harvest. Each week we have been delivering beans, okra, squash, eggplant, and more to the local food pantry. Hopefully the tomatoes will continue to form and start ripening in earnest. The recent heat has been hard on the blossoms and pollination. Speaking of heat, there is a need to continue watering at the garden. While many of our perennials can withstand the lack of rain, many of the newer plantings need routine water this first year.
 
Work nights continue on Mondays with a start time of 5 p.m. Arrive when you can, leave when you must. If that day or time does not work for you, reach out to the co-chairs and we will guide you on where you can be of assistance. 
 
Enjoy the remaining days of summer while school is not in session. We hope to met you in the garden.

  
Discovery Garden

Its almost fair time. The Discovery Garden will be hosting people from the All American Seed Selection (AAS) group who are here for their national summit meeting in Des Moines. Two bus loads of people will be touring the Discovery Garden as well as the Iowa State Fairgrounds as part of their meeting. Hopefully we can make some nice connections for the Master Gardener program in Polk County.

Thanks goes out to those people who have volunteered to assist with working any of the State Fair shifts at the garden. This is always a fun experience for Master Gardeners, with lots of positive feedback for the garden and the Master Gardener program. We still have many shift openings in case anyone is looking to get hours or to work more than one shift. You can contact Jean Roe at 515-205-8706 or ljroe@q.com or Patrick at 515-657-1937 or SchmittPatrickJ@gmail.com

Tentatively, the Discovery Garden will be hosting the current Master Gardener Class on design at the Discovery Garden on 8/27.
Enabling Garden

GOOD-BYE, KALSA: It was a busy evening, Tuesday, July 12. Along with an educational talk, we all gathered to bid our fond farewells to Kalsa Parker-Browning, Polk County Master Gardener Program Coordinator. She has left Iowa to take on a new position in Michigan. As a token of our appreciation Kalsa received a small plaque, “Let Your Life Blossom”. A beautifully decorated cake was purchased and enjoyed by all those in attendance. “Best wishes, Kalsa! We will miss you!”

NO LONGER WITH US: Janis Hendrickson was a volunteer in the garden after taking the Master Gardener class in 2013. We are saddened to inform you that she passed away on July 5. A private graveside service was held on July 18. Jan and Master Gardener Kim Aalbers were responsible for a total renovation near the south shed, an area which also includes the Kentucky Coffee tree. Originally a very wet area, a dry stream bed was created with a drain that empties into the nearby rain garden. Jan also cared for the very large pot nearby and the area bordering it. In her memory, a Pufferbill Butterfly bush was purchased and has been planted in that area. Love and memories live forever; our condolences to her family.  
 
LITTLE HANDS IN THE GARDEN: “There are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” by Anne Lamott. Many families now look forward to our annual Children’s Art in the Garden. To observe childrens' creativity and imagination makes it all worthwhile. In the weeks leading up to this event on July 26, I had parents asking me questions about what it is, appropriate age, time and date. It was a beautiful evening with a total of 60 volunteers assisted approximately 250 children in attendance. If this was your first year as a volunteer, you now understand the countless hours of preparation leading up this event. Unlike Tuesday worknights, where the focus is tending plants, this event creates community and cooperation while working as a team. The invitation remains; share your thoughts with your team leader about any changes or ideas that might create greater effectiveness and efficiency.
  
The StoryWalk was new last year and repeated this year. For those new to the Green Thumb, you may be wondering, ‘What is a StoryWalk’? It is an innovative and delightful way for children (and adults), to enjoy both reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children’s book were attached to stakes installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you are directed to the next page in the story. The book was ‘The Color Monster’ by Anna Llenas. Wooden monsters were created last year--each depicting a different emotion. 

Rounding out the evening were eight arts and crafts stations plus two music stations. Planting For Pollinators was a new activity this year, hosted by Neal Smith Refuge near Prairie City. Children were given the opportunity to plant milkweed seeds.  

EDUCATIONAL TALK: This is the final one scheduled in 2022. If you have questions and an interest in plants that do well in shade, please join us on Tuesday, August 23, at 6:00 pm at the garden. Topic is Shade Gardening (basics for amateurs and great plants for shade), by Aaron Steil, ISU Consumer Horticulture Specialist. There is no potluck on this evening so you may want to pack a snack.
 
STAY CONNECTED: To receive information about activities at the Enabling Garden, please join our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnablingGarden.
 
To stay current and receive emails of Enabling Garden announcements and notices, please send your email address to Rosie Surber, rms50112@gmail.com
 
ASSISTING WITH MEALS: There are countless dishes that do not require home preparation. If you have yet to sign up to contribute on two or three evenings throughout the season, please do so. With 20-25 volunteers staying for the meal, it helps if at least three people team up to provide part of the meal. The sign-up sheet is posted on the inside of the door of the north shed. You may also check with one of the chairs.
 
MORE TREES: We need them! I can already visualize the photos that will be posted on Facebook. A Sargent Crabapple is in the south end of Paul Satre’s area. Sugar Tyme Crabapple is located in the garden spot directly outside the north shed. Crabapple trees are prolific spring bloomers and very fragrant. They are certain to be a draw for all photographers and spring visitors.  
 
STUDENTS VISIT THE GARDEN: Whether spring, fall or summer, they continue to use the Enabling Garden to sharpen their skills. Over the years, I’ve watched them wander throughout the garden, always in the morning and generally with clipboard and pen or pencil in hand. Students on a recent visit in July were enrolled in a 10-week summer horticulture class at Des Moines Area Community College. I happened to be there upon their arrival. They immediately spread out over the garden. Curious as to what they were looking for, I approached the older gentleman with 'DMACC Staff' on the back of his shirt. He too, carried a clipboard and was doing his own personal search. His explanation? Students were given a list of 150 plants and assigned to see how many they could identify growing in the garden. Two visits to the garden are planned for each class. I still remember being witness to a visit in early spring as new growth was poking through the ground. Students stood within hearing distance in front of the instructor. I overheard enough to know the discussion was about garden design. 
 
Would he have given me a copy of the list if I had asked? Oh, if only I would have thought of it sooner! Hopefully, I’ll be given another opportunity. For the benefit of horticulture classes, perhaps not having everything identified with markers is a better option. After all, how many tests did we take over the years that came with all the answers?
Program Committee

Mark your calendars! Programming for fall/winter is scheduled!

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 - Kathy Woida
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 - Tivon Feeley
Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 - Dr. Thomas Rosburg
Thursday, March 23, 2023 - Aaron Steil
April 2023, date TBD - Megan Will
Continuing Education Opportunities
Floral Arranging Workshop with the Dallas County Master Gardeners!

Join the Dallas Co. MG's for a Floral Arranging workshop this summer/fall! Choose from multiple dates.

  • Aug. 9
  • Nov. 2

Workshops are from 6-7:30pm and is $25/sesson. Bring your own vessel, and you can bring blooms from your own garden and suppliment with additional flowers and greenery provided at the workshop.

View the flyer for additional details. Register by calling the Dallas County Extension office at 515-993-4281.

Want to bring a friend? You can register them too! This workshop is open to non-Master Gardeners.
On Demand Education

Pre-recorded opportunities you can view on your own schedule!






This list is not all-inclusive - you can get continuing education from other reputable sources such as public gardens and other states' Extension services.