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• Spring Kickoff for Demonstration Garden

  • When
    1 Apr 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Conference Rms A & B, Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th St, Urbandale

  Register

  This event is not open to the public and for Master Gardeners only.

  Join us at the Urbandale Public Library for our Demonstration Garden Spring Kickoff!  Learn about the different areas of this garden and all that happens to keep this garden beautiful!

  Meet the leadership team as they share events that are being planned for the season, and learn of the many volunteer opportunities available.

  There will be time to talk with leaders from each garden bed and an opportunity to sign up to volunteer in an area of interest.

  Join via zoom if you can't make it in person.

  Join via Zoom
  

  Refreshments will be served. Come join us!  

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• Vineyard Pruning Lab

  • When
    5 Apr 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden, 92nd St and Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale

  It's SPRING!! -- and time to get the Demo Garden vineyard pruned and ready for the season!  Alfonso Lopez will be leading this lab.  Come and learn how to prune grapevines and apply your new knowledge. New and experienced pruners welcome.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Spring Kick Off and Awards and Recognition

  • When
    10 Apr 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Polk Extension Office 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A
  • Registered
    30 registrants

  Register

  Keegan Kolbet, agronomist with Allendan Seed Company in Winterset will talk about their operation and how to grow native plants from seed and plugs. This evening will include 2024 Awards and Recognition.
  

  This event is open to the public.

  Join Polk County Master Gardener's for an evening of learning and fun!  Master Gardeners and non-Master Gardeners are welcome. Master Gardeners receive 1 credit CEU for attending. 

  UPDATE: The Program Committee will be supplying the main and vegetable dishes for this event, as well as coffee and water.  Please plan to bring your favorite dessert to share for this event.  

  Let's keep it green, please bring your own reusable water bottle. 

  
  

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• 2025 Enabling Garden Plant Sale

  • When
    12 Apr 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • 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 12, 2025

  Noon – 3:00 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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• Demonstration Garden Spring Clean Up

  • When
    26 Apr 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden, 3305 92nd St, Urbandale

  Join us Saturday, April 26 for the Demonstration Garden's annual spring cleanup.  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.  New volunteers welcome!

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• First Work Night, Demonstration Garden

  • When
    5 May 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden, 3305 92nd St, Urbandale

  All are welcome to come to our first work night at the Demo Garden!

  This is a great opportunity for new volunteers to meet the garden leaders, learn about the different areas of the garden and become involved!

  Work nights continue weekly throughout the summer, and there are many tasks to be done each week.

  5:00 PM -8:00 PM.  Come when you can, leave when you must!

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• Polk County Master Gardener Bus Trip

  • When
    28 Jun 2025
  • Location
    Start and End at: 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A. Altoona, IA

  

  Join the Polk County Master Gardeners for a day full of beautiful private gardens, a flower farm, a farm-to-table lunch, a prairie restoration and plant nursery shopping in Story and Boone County.

  Register Now!
  

  Registration fee: $85– includes bus travel, lunch, snacks and garden admissions. Physical activity: moderate walking stairs, occasional uneven terrain, will require walking on a gravel road for a short distance, and stairs on/off bus.

  Itinerary:

  • We are very excited to have the privilege of touring 4 very special private gardens. Highlights include:
  • A large urban garden that has numerous conifers, Japanese maples, sun and shade plants of various sizes and shapes.  While wandering through the garden you’ll find 6 water features and fish too! 
  • A five-acre perennial garden that is situated on three levels.  Each level contains distinct microclimates and plant ecosystems.  You will see over 1500 Hosta’s and hundreds of companion shade perennials displayed in various designs.  You will observe several pollinator gardens, a rose garden, a daylily collection, water features and several original art pieces.
  • A 10-acre home site of a local Story County Master Gardener that includes a reconstructed prairie, a large daylily collection Hosta, iris and a diverse collection of perennials, shrubs and trees.
  • A 3200 square foot garden that features 57 different plant species! This entire landscape was designed and planted by Kelly Norris.  Kelly is an award-winning author and plantsman, and the former director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens.
  •  Friend’s Flowers is a family run flower farm with over 70 varieties of flowers through the season.  There will be an opportunity to build a bouquet at their flower bar for $15 per person.  Please note your interest in participating on the registration and bring cash the day of the trip.
  • Nursery Red Granite Farm is a diverse, family-owned retail garden center operation.  Its garden center is full of unique perennials, succulents, shrubs and hardy vines.

  Learn More

  
  

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• Open House at the Demonstration Garden

  • When
    10 Jul 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Demonstration Garden 3305 92nd St, Urbandale

  Come enjoy this gem in the heart of the metro area! Spend some time exploring the different areas of the garden, enjoying some unique activities and refreshments, and connecting with neighborhood residents as well as other master gardeners.  Everyone welcome!

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