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Polk County Master Gardeners

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Polk County

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Events

The Polk County Master Gardeners host events throughout the growing season to provide educational opportunities to the community. Each year we host a few signature events, as well as other pop-up events throughout the spring/summer. 

Garden Tour


Our Garden Tour will be July 9th, 2022! Check out extraordinary gardens created by ordinary people across the county in this educational event! Check out more information on our Garden Tour page. 


Bus Trips

Take a charter bus to explore nearby gardens and sites in Central Iowa and beyond! Read more and register on this page. 


Ask a Master Gardener


Visit us at the Downtown Des Moines and Beaverdale Farmers' Markets during the growing season! Come with your burning questions, or check out timely gardening information you can use at home. 


Don't Miss out!

Check our page often for pop-up events, summer lecture programs, and more!

Upcoming events

  • Sustainable Gardening for Climate Change

    • 11 Apr 2023
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • 1326 Forest Ave- Forest Ave Library

    A Sustainable Garden for Climate Change

    You can’t control our weather but you can plan a climate resilient landscape. Design your flower bed, vegetable garden, or landscape to withstand extremes from wind, temperature, and moisture. Learn short- and longer-term strategies for your lawn and garden from Polk County Master Gardener Nancy Eichmann.

    Program is open to the public and located at Forest Ave Library. 

    Speaker Biography

    Nancy Eichmann enjoyed a diverse career with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for 30 years. Post-retirement from Wellmark, she worked for Polk County Extension supporting agriculture programs for several years. Nancy now enjoys time for her many hobbies, traveling with her spouse, and meeting new people by volunteering with non-profit organizations such as Polk County Master Gardeners. Nancy has been a Certified Master Gardener since 2014. A self-study food science nerd, she has taught classes a variety of garden topics but is best known for talks on growing and preserving herbs.


    Show details

  • Lunch & Learn at Botanical Gardens

    • 14 Apr 2023
    • 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM



    You Must Be a Master Gardener to Attend this Event.

    Come for a relaxing day with fellow master gardeners. Learn how to use the new electronic directory and navigate the volunteer website. 

    11- 1 p.m. Lunch and training and guest speaker on Servant Leadership in the Garden 

    1 p.m. Guided Tour of Botanical Garden 

    More details TBD. 

    Location: 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309
    Directions


    Show details

  • Demonstration Garden's Spring Clean Up

    • 15 Apr 2023
    • 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
    • Demonstration Garden
    Join us  Saturday in April 15th 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 22nd) as our rain date. 
    Show details

  • Answering Consumer Horticulture Questions - MG Training

    • 18 Apr 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A.
    Register

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

    Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist, will describe best practices for answering public horticulture questions and will share resources to help you build a toolkit for farmer's Markets and public outreach events. 


    A must for Ambassadors, Farmer's Market, and outreach table event MG volunteers. 

    Show details

  • Discovery Garden's Pond Seasonal Clean Up

    • 22 Apr 2023
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Discovery Garden- Iowa State Fair
    This event is for Master Gardeners who would like to volunteer at Discovery Garden by helping with seasonal pond clean up. It is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more about pond and other water feature maintenance. 
    Show details

  • Enabling Garden Plant Sale

    • 22 Apr 2023
    • 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden

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

    Saturday April 22, 2023

    Noon – 4 pm

    Enabling Garden

    (Southeast of the HyVee 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, hostas, and so much more. Lightly used garden tools and equipment along with garden themed 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.

    In the event of inclement weather, the event will be relocated to:

    Caring Hands

    602 3rd St SW, Altoona, IA.

    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.

    Show details

  • PCMG Spring Celebration & Program Night with Megan Will

    • 26 Apr 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • ISU Extension Office
    Register

    Come to the extension office for the spring awards celebrations and 1.5 hours of education on Wednesday April 26th!


    Topic: Raised Gardens

    Megan Will is the Dallas County Master Gardener & Master Conservationist Coordinator.

      Thursday, April 26, 2023
      6:30 - 9:00 PM  (1.0 hours of education)

      Agenda:
      6:00 PM  Soups on! Bring a side if you like or just come to eat!

      6:30 PM  Raised Garden Beds by Megan Will

     7:30 PM Master Gardener Awards and Ceremony for Milestones 
                      
      9:00 PM  End of evening



    Show details

  • Demonstration Garden Worknight

    • 8 May 2023
    • 23 Oct 2023
    • 30 sessions
    • Demonstration Garden 3305 92nd Street Urbandale IA

    Come hangout at the 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!


    Show details

  • Demonstration Garden Plant Sale

    • 21 May 2023
    • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Demonstration Garden

    Demonstration Garden Plant Sale 2023.

    Details to TBD.

    Show details

  • Water Features

    • 23 May 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden
    Register
    Water features is an educational session provided by Master Gardener Dean Brand

    Details to TBD.

    Show details

  • Social Media Brand Development - MG Training

    • 23 May 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A.
    Register

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

    leah Feltz, Social media Specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, will teach best practices for improving public engagement, proper usage of county sponsoored accounts, and how to create a strong and compelling brand story through social media.  


    A must for MG's that create or are interested in creating flyers, newsletters, websites, or who manage facebook or other social media accounts for MG program, or who use the MG logo when promoting events.  

    Show details

  • Plants that Make Beer

    • 13 Jun 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden
    Register
    "Plants that Make Beer" is an educational session provided by Master Gardener Aaron Ostrem. 

    Details to TBD.

    Show details

  • Seed Saving

    • 15 Jun 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    Register

    Sydney Christensen, a Dallas County Master Gardener will be presenting on how to harvest and save seeds. No RSVP necessary, these educational programs are open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for comfort.  

    This education night is located at Demonstration Garden in Urbandale. 

    Show details

  • Polk County Master Gardeners Bus Tour - 2023

    • 17 Jun 2023
    • Cedar Valley Arboretum

    We look forward to reconnecting with past travelers and meeting new friends in 2023. We’ve planned a day full of garden views, education, and shopping in Waterloo-Cedar Falls and Independence. This trip is open to the public.

    The cost of the trip is $99 and includes travel, lunch snacks and admission to all gardens!  

    •  We will visit several private gardens on the Grout Museum District Garden Tour presented by Friends of the Grout Historic Houses.
    • You’ll have time to wander through Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens and eat lunch here while enjoying an educational presentation.
    • In the Country Garden and Gifts located in Independence, Iowa is our plant-shopping destination. The mother and son team, Sue and Josh Spece, started the business in 1998 on the family farm. The nursery blends into the display gardens that surround the Spece's home. Customers are encouraged to meander through the ever expanding garden which features three ponds with streams and waterfalls, over 900 varieties of Hostas, rock gardens, trough gardens, ornamental grasses, dwarf conifers, unusual trees and shrubs, and many uncommon sun and shade perennials. During our stop here, Josh will make a presentation on hostas.

    The morning of the trip, we will meet at the Polk County Extension Office located at 1625 Adventureland Drive in Altoona. There are plenty of places to park your car for the day. We will begin loading the bus at 6:00 a.m. Departure time is 6:30 a.m. We plan to return to the Extension office by 7:00 p.m. Final trip instructions will be emailed two weeks prior to departure.

    You can expect a moderate amount of walking on the trip. Higher fuel costs have caused the bus fees to increase substantially in recent years. The committee worked hard to keep registration fees as low as possible and still provide the full tour experience we have delivered on previous trips. Please register by April 30, 2023.

    We anticipate Master Gardeners on the tour will earn several education hours. The final number of hours will be determined at the conclusion of the tour.

    If you have questions about the trip, please email Carolyn Magnani  at: cersgarden@aol.com


    Register HERE

    Show details

  • Blindness and Gardening, Easier than you think.

    • 23 Jun 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    Register

    Roger Erpelding, a Polk County Master Gardener will share his experience as a blind gardener.  No RSVP necessary, these educational programs are open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for comfort.  

    This education night is located at Demonstration Garden in Urbandale. 

    Show details

  • Container and Small Space Vegetable Gardening

    • 29 Jun 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    Register

    Kelly Jensen from Ted Lare Garden Center will share the in's and out's of small space gardening. Don't miss these tips if your space is limited!  No RSVP necessary, these educational programs are open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for comfort.  

    This education night is located at Demonstration Garden in Urbandale. 

    Show details

  • Demonstration Garden Open House

    • 6 Jul 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • 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 6 featuring a variety of garden-related demonstrations, such as how to properly sharpen tools, baking with herbs and ideas for garden art.  

    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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  • Native Pollinators

    • 13 Jul 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    Register

     Sarah Nizzi from the Xerces Society will be talking about a variety of pollinators: bees, wasps, flies, Butterflies as well as moths that are mistaken for butterflies. She will also help us and identify some of the helpful wasps/bees and those to stay away from. No RSVP necessary, these educational programs are open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for comfort.  

    This education night is located at Demonstration Garden in Urbandale. 

    Show details

  • Edible Flowers

    • 20 Jul 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    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" Eichman, a Polk County Master Gardener will be presenting on Edible Flowers.

    No RSVP necessary, this open to the public. This education night is located a Demonstration Garden.

    Show details

  • Children's Art in the Garden

    • 25 Jul 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden
    Children's Art in the Garden at Enabling Garden is back for another wonderful evening of Story Telling, Art and Crafts, Music, and Bug Zoo!

    More details to come!

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  • Water Quality and Rain Barrels

    • 27 Jul 2023
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • 92nd & Dewey Gibbs, Urbandale, IA
    Register

    Cassie Druhl, from Des Moines Public Works will, be presenting on water quality and rain barrels.  

    No RSVP necessary, this open to the public. This education night is located a Demonstration Garden.

    Show details

  • Wild Birds in the Garden

    • 22 Aug 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden
    Register
    Wild Birds in the Garden will be Presented by Scott from Wild Birds Unlimited. This event is open to the public.

    Details to TBD.

    Show details

  • Garden Lessons with Master Gardeners

    • 12 Sep 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Enabling Garden
    Register
    Master Gardeners Ruth O’Connor and Eva Henderson with Sharon Nelson-Vaux will present various gardening topics. 

    Details to TBD.

    Show details

  • Public Speaking Skills Workshop - MG Training

    • 12 Sep 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A.
    Register

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

    Robin Ertz, Professional development manager for ISU Extension and Outreach , will help you gain skills to become amore confident and engaging public speaker. Pre-session homework is required for this session. 


    A must for MG Ambassadors. 

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  • Volunteer Recognition System (VRS) Deep Dive - MG Training

    • 24 Oct 2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • 1625 Adventureland Dr. Suite A.
    Register

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

    Feel puzzled by the VRS? Want to use the software more efficiently? Just need an overview of how to log hours? Richard Jacob, designer of the volunteer recognition system, will help volunteers better understand the system and it's uses for volunteers.

    Appropriate for all Polk County Master Gardeners!

    Show details


Contact Us
Office: 515-957-5768
polkmg@iastate.edu

ISU Extension and Outreach, Polk County:
1625 Adventureland Dr.
Suite A | Altoona, IA 50009

extension.iastate.edu/polk/

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.  


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