Upcoming events

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• Spring Kick-Off and Awards Night: Edible Flowers

  • When
    16 Apr 2024
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    ISU Polk Extension, 1625 Adventureland Dr. Ste. A

  Register

  
  

  Do you know which flowers are edible? Whether you are looking for new recipes to spice up your favorite dish or looking for flowers to add flare to a dish as a garnish, you will love this topic!  Nancy "Ike" Eichmann, a Polk County Master Gardener, will be presenting on Edible Flowers. Edible flowers can be used to add color, fragrance, and of course flavor to dishes from salads to soups, entrees, and desserts—but first it is important to understand which flowers and which flower parts are safe to eat! 

  After the presentation, enjoy recognizing all the 2024 accomplishments of the Master Gardener volunteers with awards and milestone recognitions. 

  
  

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• Demonstration Garden's Spring Clean Up

  • When
    20 Apr 2024
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST)
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden

  Join us Saturday, April 20th for the Demonstration Gardens annual spring clean up.  Start time is 9 am.  Arrive when you can, leave when you must.  Generally we go until noon.  Mist, not a problem.  Sprinkles, not a problem.  Heavy rain and we will reschedule for the following week, April 27th, as our rain date. 

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• Enabling Garden Plant Sale

  • When
    20 Apr 2024
  •  
    12:00 PM - 3:30 PM (CST)
  • Location
    Enabling Garden, 1050 1st Ave. S; Altoona, IA 50009, behind the Altoona Hy-Vee

  A-Z Perennial Plant, Flea Market, and Craft Sale

  Saturday April 20, 2024

  Noon – 3:30 pm

  Enabling Garden

  (Southeast of the Hy-Vee behind loading dock)

  1050 1st Ave. S., Altoona, IA

  The Enabling Garden will be hosting a perennial plant sale featuring unique daylilies, ornamental grasses, native plants, blooming perennials, ground covers, and so much more. Lightly used garden tools and equipment along with crafts will also be available for purchase. 

  All proceeds benefit the work at the Enabling Garden and Polk County Master Gardeners.

  Unlike in years past, there will be no pre-sale online, so come to sale and pick from a large selection of plants to get your garden growing.

  Consider joining The Enabling Garden Facebook Group for notifications

  Questions about this sale can be directed to Linda Brown at ericandlindabrown@gmail.com.  Polk County Master Gardeners and interns looking for volunteer hours should contact Linda before the sale.  There is plenty of work to prepare for the sale and to conduct the sale.

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• Seed Swap & Spring Gardening Workshop

  • When
    27 Apr 2024
  •  
    1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    Franklin Ave Library Meeting Room: 5000 Franklin Ave , Des Moines, IA 50310

  
  

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• Demonstration Garden Plant Sale

  • When
    4 May 2024
  •  
    8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden, 3305 92nd Street Urbandale IA

  
  

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• Demonstration Garden Worknight

  • Start
    6 May 2024
  •  
    (CST)
  • End
    21 Oct 2024
  •  
    (CST)
  • Schedule
    29 sessions
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden 3305 92nd Street Urbandale IA

  Come hangout at the Demonstration Garden and help maintain it! Early in the season planting and then general weeding, watering, and later in the season picking vegetables to donate to the food pantry. Don't have to be a Master Gardener to come help.

  Be sure to check in and let us know if you are new!

  
  

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• Enabling Garden Hosta and Houseplant Sale!

  • When
    18 May 2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CST)
  • Location
    Enabling Garden, 1050 1st Ave. S; Altoona, IA 50009, behind the Altoona Hy-Vee

  
  

  (Southeast of the Hy-Vee behind loading dock)

  1050 1st Ave. S., Altoona, IA

  The Enabling Garden will be hosting a hosta and houseplant sale on May 18, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm. There will be an abundance of other types of plants as well for your home and garden.

  All proceeds benefit the work at the Enabling Garden and Polk County Master Gardeners.

  Consider joining The Enabling Garden Facebook Group for notifications

  Questions about this sale can be directed to Linda Brown at ericandlindabrown@gmail.com.  Polk County Master Gardeners and interns looking for volunteer hours should contact Linda before the sale.  There is plenty of work to prepare for the sale and to conduct the sale.

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• Polk County Master Gardener Bus Trip

  • When
    8 Jun 2024
  • Location
    Start and End at: 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A. Altoona, IA

  

  Register for the Polk County Master Gardener Bus Trip! This year we are headed to Iowa City for a day full of activities. Stops include: The Newton Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, University of Iowa Arboretum, two beautiful local private gardens, shopping opportunities at plant nurseries, and lunch at Pizza Ranch.

  
  

  For a full itinerary and additional details, follow the registration link below or see more about the event on PCMG Bus Trip Page!

  
  

  Register Now!

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• Weed Identification and Treatment

  • When
    13 Jun 2024
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden, 3305 92nd St, Urbandale

  Join us at the Demo Garden for this presentation by Kelly Jensen.  Common weeds will be identified along with where they may be normally found. A number of organic methods of control will be explained as well as the shortcomings of these methods.  Herbicide control methods and their risks will also be included. 

  This event is open to the public.

  
  

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• Everything Hostas

  • When
    19 Jun 2024
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Discovery Garden - 1207 E Iowa St. at the Iowa State Fair, South of the Agriculture Bldg.

  Register

   

  Join the Discovery Garden Master Gardeners for an enjoyable evening about everything hostas! The evening is free education and Master Gardeners can count this as one hour of continuing education.

  Presenter is Ken Outzen from Rainbow Gardens in Jewell Iowa.  He has 1000+ varieties at his Garden.

  
  

  
  

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• Allendan Seed Company Tour - Hosted by Discovery Garden

  • When
    10 Jul 2024
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Discovery Garden - 1207 E Iowa St. at the Iowa State Fair, South of the Agriculture Bldg.

  Register

   

  This event is for Master Gardeners only.

  This will be a special tour for us to the  Allendan Seed Company in Winterset IA. This company produces native wildflower and grass seed to sell wholeale and retail  nationwide. This will be an exciting opportunity to learn about every stage of the native seed and plug production process.   Allendan has over 6,000 acres of wildflowers and grasses that produce the seed which they sell.  If wanting a preview, check out their website, (Allendan seed.com) to learn more about this Company.

  Polk County Master Gardeners should meet at the Discovery Garden (DG) at noon, drive to Allendan Seed Company. The address is 1966 175th Ln, in Winterset IA 50273.  Our tour (Download PDF with tour details) is scheduled for 1:00 pm and it will be approximately 1-2 hours long.  Then our trip back will take us back to the DG for work night from 4-6.  

  Please register so we know how many to expect.

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• Demonstration Garden Open House

  • When
    11 Jul 2024
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CST)
  • Location
    92nd & Dewey Gibbs Urbandale across of Valarius Elementary

  
  

  Come to the Demonstration Garden, one of Urbandale's most hidden gems! Join the Polk County Master Gardeners for an Annual Open House this year on July 11th featuring a variety of garden-related demonstrations.

  Featured are children’s activities, live music, refreshments, and Master Gardeners available to answer your home horticulture questions. It’s a relaxing environment with ideas and activities such as a garden scavenger hunt to get families and friends working together while exploring Demonstration Garden.

  Come out and be inspired by new garden trends and see how to incorporate natives, cut gardens, edible landscapes food gardens and more. Let the master gardeners of Demonstration garden show you tips and trick on having garden success. Refreshments provided!

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• Experience Growing Roses

  • When
    17 Jul 2024
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Discovery Garden - 1207 E Iowa St. at the Iowa State Fair, South of the Agriculture Bldg.

  Register

   Interested in roses?

  Our own PCMG, Susan Eckstrom, will share her experience of planting and growing roses in Iowa. Join Susan in the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair. This event is open to the public. 

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