Polk County Master Gardener Bus Trip

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.

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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.

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