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• Jordan House Gardens - Bed Leads & Volunteers Meeting

  • When
    1 Mar 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    2001 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265

  

  BED LEADS AND VOLUNTEERS MEETING

  Bed Leads & Volunteers: The Heart of Jordan House Gardens

  Bed Leads serve as primary stewards for a specific garden area—guiding plant planning, seasonal care, and the story each space tells.

  We need one LEAD per garden, plus volunteers to support each space. You don’t do it all—you guide, prioritize, and welcome others.

  What Bed Leads Do

  • Guide seasonal planning

  • Set work-night priorities

  • Coordinate with volunteers and leadership

  • Share the garden’s story (history, theme, plants)

  • Ensure beds are show-ready for key events

  Time commitment:
  Flexible · ~1–2 hrs/week in peak season, less otherwise

  Support provided:
  Plant guidance · shared tools · volunteer help · leadership backup

  If you would like to be a bed lead or bed volunteer, please use the signup genius to select a specific bed.  Bed descriptions are located on the signup page.  Please select one and add your signup information.

  If you would like to attend the meeting to gain more information, please use the Interested/Want to Learn More option on the signup genius.  

  Jordan House, 2001 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265

  
  

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• Tivon Feeley: What's Wrong with My Tree?

  • When
    12 Mar 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Polk Extension Office - 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A
  • Spaces left
    10
  • Registered
    90 registrants

  Register

  

  Program: Tivon Feeley

  "What's Wrong with My Tree?  A Hands-On Look at Iowa's Tree Decline Cases"
  

  March 12, 2026

  From mysterious dieback to sudden leaf loss, tree decline can have many causes.  In this interactive presentation, we'll review a variety of tree health issues reported to the Iowa DNR. Attendees will have the opportunity to diagnose problems, share experiences, and discuss effective management strategies to promote healthier urban and rural trees across the state.  Please email Tivon Feeley any tree issues prior to the event if you would like them included. 

  Join Polk County Master Gardeners for an evening of learning and fun!  Master Gardeners and non-Master Gardeners are welcome. Master Gardeners receive 2.5 hours of education for attending. 

  This event is open to the public. 

  The Program Committee is asking for seven volunteers to bring soup for the evening.  Please use the link below to register on the Sign Up Genius. Participants are asked to bring a side or dessert for this event. 

    Please bring your own drink container.
  Water and coffee will be provided.

  The meal will begin at 6 p.m. and our speakers will begin at 6:30 p.m.

  
  

  
  

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• 2026 - Plant Propagation Lab, IPM, & Seed Starting 101

  • When
    23 Mar 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Greater DM Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • Spaces left
    27

  Register

  

  This event is for Master Gardeners (MGs) only. This event is required for new trainees for Spring 2026 MG Class. Up to 15 more slots for already active MGs. 

  GROUP A - Trainees_ Starts with Seed Starting 101, goes to Plant Propagation, then ends with IPM.

  GROUP B - Trainees _Starts with Plant Propagation, goes to IPM, then ends with Seed Starting 101.

  GROUP C - Active MGs _Starts with IPM, then goes to Seed Starting 101, ends with Plant Propagation

  Choose your group when you register. All groups will attend each session. The group determines where you begin and end. 

  Please remember your group assignment, when you arrive and check in we will also have the list with instructions.

  Overall lab descriptions:

  Master Gardener Trainees will have the opportunity to practice seed starting and propagation skills at the DM Botanical Gardens. This event is only open to Master Gardeners. There are 3 groups so please remember your group assignment, or look on your app, when you arrive. This counts as 1 of 3 required in-person sessions. 

  Sow Seeds and transplant basil in your kitchen window this winter! You can transplant what you grow next spring. 

  Training includes Integrated Pest Management Techniques, Watering and Soils/Potting Media, Sowing Seeds including Supplemental Lighting, Transplanting, "Watering in" transplants, and Care for you transplants at home, as well as Propagation where you can learn how to propagate leaf cuttings, divisions, and more!

  
  

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• Enabling Garden Spring Clean Up

  • When
    28 Mar 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Enabling Garden, 1050 1st Ave S, Altoona, IA 50009

  Enabling Garden - Master Gardener only event. This work time is for Spring Clean up at the garden. 

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• Spring Kick Off PCMG Awards and Recognition

  • When
    9 Apr 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Polk Extension Office 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A
  • Spaces left
    59
  • Registered
    66 registrants

  Register

  This evening is to celebrate all the accomplishment of 2025! There will be special awards and dinner is provided. 

  Common Weeds & Earth Friendly Control

  Jeff Reiland, Permaculture Designer and owner of Abundant Design

  Learn about some of the common weeds in your yard and garden and how to safely remove them.

  You will also have a chance to learn about Abundant Design and Jeff’s efforts to help restore the quality of our waters, renew the fertility of our soils, and improve the health of our planet.

  This evening will include 2025 Awards and Recognition.

  Evening Agenda:

  5:30 p.m. Social Time
  5:57 p.m. Welcome
  6:00 p.m. Meal Time
  6:28 p.m. Introduction of Speaker
  6:30 p.m. Speaker 
  7:30 p.m. Break
  7:45 p.m. Awards and Celebration. In addition to the MG Special Awards, folks with milestone MG years will be honored.

  This event is open to the public. Please bring family and friends! Master Gardeners and non-Master Gardeners are welcome. Master Gardeners receive 1 credit CEU for attending. 

  UPDATE: HyVee has graciously donated the meal for this evening's event. Menu includes fried and roasted chicken, green beans, roasted red potatoes, drinks and cake for dessert.

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

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• Enabling Garden Dig and Divide- Volunteers Only!

  • When
    11 Apr 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Enabling Garden, 1050 1st Ave S, Altoona, IA 50009

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• A-Z Perennial Plant Sale - Enabling Garden

  • When
    18 Apr 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 4:00 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 18, 2026

  11 am - 4 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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• Enabling Garden - Volunteer Work Nights

  • Start
    5 May 2026
  •  
  • End
    6 Oct 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    23 sessions
  • Location
    Enabling Garden, 1050 1st Ave S, Altoona, IA 50009

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• 2026 Polk County Master Gardener Bus Trip

  • Start
    13 Jun 2026
  • End
    14 Jun 2026
  • Location
    Start and End at: 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A. Altoona, IA

  

  Registration: coming soon!– includes bus travel, meals, 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. 

  Hotel reservation is not included with the bus trip registration. Participants will be given instructions for booking their room from the block reserved for the group.

  Save the Date!

  Saturday and Sunday,

  June 13-14, 2026

  Please join us as we take a tour through Eastern Iowa to tour both public and private gardens as well as stop at local nurseries. We will stay overnight in Moline. Educational hours will be available.

  Highlights of the private gardens include:

  • We will visit a garden that has transitioned from larger trees to those focusing on intermediate and dwarf conifers.  Numerous troughs and a rock garden showcase the miniature plants.  This garden displays a wide variety of interesting trees, conifers, shrubs and perennials.
  • We will explore a garden filled with witch’s brooms along with other rare and unique conifers. Three ponds are home to water lilies and goldfish of various sizes.  You will see metal artwork throughout the landscape and vegetable garden.
  • We will travel to the land of fairies on a ½ acre backyard that displays conifers, hostas and fairy gardens.  Two ponds contribute to the soothing sound of water and a pavilion with a fire pit provides an entertainment area.  There is also a playhouse for the younger family members.  The entry to the garden has a brick patio made up of 8000 bricks that the owners installed themselves.
  • We will enjoy a one-acre yard that has several flowing beds and rock outcrops filled with a collection of over 800 conifer cultivars as well as many non-conifer trees and perennials set off by walkways and walls. A pond, streams, and waterfalls rea scattered throughout the garden as well.

  Registration will be available March 27^th.

  Please join us for a fun full day of gardens!

  Learn More

  
  

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