The Green Thumb
news & updates
for Polk County Master Gardeners
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Message from Steering Committee Chair
One thing that PCMG can look forward to in the fall is new faces and new leadership on the steering committee. The person to orchestrate finding those new faces is Mary Gannon. I recruited Mary about a year ago to fill the position of Chair of the Nominating Committee. If she hasn’t already reached out to you to fill positions on the steering committee, it’s quite possible that she may! Let me introduce you to my friend, Mary.
Mary Gannon is a Beaverdale native and still lives there to this day. She has a son, Chris, who is a Roosevelt graduate and is currently a student at DMACC. Mary graduated from UNI and holds a law degree from the University of Iowa. She works for the state of Iowa as a member of the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). PERB is the state’s neutral body working with the state’s public employers and employees who are union members. They mediate labor disputes and adjudicate state employee disciplinary appeals.
Mary started her love of gardening by helping her parents with their large vegetable and flower gardens. Mary has a weird passion—she likes to weed—she calls it her Zen! Her brother, who lives in Rochester, NY is a Master Gardener and is often recognized for his gardening talents. After years of being on the waiting list, she finally made into the PCMG Class of 2016. Mary fills her gardens with perennials loved by butterflies, bees and others. She once counted 13 monarchs on one Dark Knight butterfly bush!
This year, Mary took over the responsibility of the Beaverdale Farmer’s Market booth. That endeavor plus the garden sales is where she earns most of volunteer hours. In her spare time, she likes to work on the PCMG Facebook page. This page is for all of us to communicate among ourselves—not formal business—and ask questions of fellow MG’s. She really likes to jump in and help out wherever she can! If you need an extra set of hands, reach out to Mary Gannon! She earns her education hours by attending intern classes, program sessions from ISU Extension, other state’s Extension offices, especially the state of Oregon’s Extension program.
As I said before, Mary Gannon is happy to throw her time and talents behind any number of PCMG projects and she has offered a variety of ideas for the future of this organization: 1.) Her passion for pollinators has spurred an idea: she would like to see PCMG expand our speaker’s bureau - the PCMG Ambassadors - and she is volunteering to give presentations about the importance of pollinators. The experience and expertise of our gardeners is an asset we should promote and utilize. 2.) In five years, Mary would like to see PCMGs active, flourishing and with a greenhouse. If we were able to get a greenhouse, Mary would advocate for a classroom component. 3.) Sustainability is another recommendation Mary makes for the future of our organization. Mary believes that sustainability is an important thing to focus on and would like to see a committee work on that.
I know as gardeners we enjoy each of the seasons and eagerly anticipate whatever changes they bring. But I can only imagine that each of us has a favorite season and for any number of reasons. For me, it’s fall—fall is my favorite season. You see, I’m a teacher—or at least I was a teacher—and the smell of a #2 pencil or a ripe apple makes my heart pitter patter! This fall, there are a variety of volunteer positions to be filled. As the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Mary Gannon will be looking to fill those positions. Reach out to her if you would be interested in serving in a leadership capacity. Fall is upon us, friends, and I invite you to enjoy all that this fall has to offer.
See you in the garden—
Steering Committee Chair
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Steering Committee Nominations
Interested in being a part of the PCMG leadership team? Nominate yourself or another member for an elected position on the steering committee! Use this survey to nominate yourself or others for the positions listed:
Please provide a name and a short bio in the space allotted.
Did you know?
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Downtown Farmers' Market
We completed our first Market appearance of the season on Saturday, July 31. We responded to lots of gardening questions and shared ISU Extension materials on sustainable gardening practices, native plants and pollinators.
We weren’t at the Market during August, but we will return again on Saturday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 16. If you have suggestions for gardening topics we should cover on those dates, please let one of us know. Also, we still need a few more volunteers for both the September 18 and October 16 Farmers’ Market dates. We’ve broken up sign-ups for volunteers into multiple shifts for each date, so that no one has to work too long. The link for our signup sheet on Signup.com is:
Thanks—and we hope to see you at the Farmers’ Market soon.
Co-chairs:
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Beaverdale Farmers' Market
The Polk County Master Gardeners will have an information booth at the Beaverdale Farmers Market! We will be present at the market on the first Tuesday of the month:
The booth is staffed from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Set up starts at 3:45 p.m. We generally work in 1.5 hour shifts.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mary Gannon at mtccgannon@gmail.com or 515.201.3756!
Thank you!
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Program Committee
Harvest Celebration Planned--Sort of!
The committee met to plan our event and is being flexible. We do plan to have an event on Tuesday, October 19. Whether it is inside or outside will be determined by Covid. We are considering having it catered. Marcia Leeper will provide one hour of education on “Putting the Garden to Bed." She will talk about saving some of the more tender perennials outside and no fuss wintering over plants indoors as well as info on winter containers. More info to come!
TIVON FEELEY CONFIRMED
Tivon will present 2.5 hours of education on Thursday January 27, 2022! Topic to be determined...send your ideas to Poultermk76@gmail.com for the committee to consider.
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Garden Tour 2022
Planning is underway for the 2022 Garden Tour! We are looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of event planning - whether you have skills in marketing, logistics, activity planning, or others - we'd love to hear from you! Contact Brandon Akamine, chair for the 2022 event, for additional information and to volunteer. (Were you a part of the 2020 planning, and want to volunteer in 2022 as well? Reach out to Brandon!)
You can also join the Garden Tour 2022 to showcase your garden at the event! So far, we have:
- a large backyard produce garden,
- a permaculture garden on land stripped of top soil,
- backyard bee keepers with wild flowers galore,
- a horticulturist that cares for dinosaur-themed flower beds and the only "living dinosaur" in Iowa,
- zone pushing magnolias recognized by the Magnolia Society International,
- a land revival that could win a neighborhood blue ribbon,
- personal rain gardens funded by Des Moines' rain garden campaign,
- private homes with produce for the general public and needy,
- a forest garden that opens up to a multi-level nature led and funded prairie field.
Some homes have a singular garden and others have a collection, some are 4 years new and others are up to 20 years in the making. It takes all kinds of diverse gardens, gardeners and volunteers to make this event a success. Is there something special about your garden that you'd like to share? We are looking for anything from small gardens, themed gardens, sustainable gardens, gardens with a story, gardens with old school charm, and more. Give us gardens, and we'll give you a community. Reach out to Brandon if you are interested in showcasing your garden at the event, or get your questions answered before adding your name to the growing dots on next year's map.
We need your help making the Garden Tour 2022 a success! Please reach out to Brandon about volunteering for this great educational event.
Garden Tour chair:
515-564-9450
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Demonstration Garden
Welcome Sept. and some cooler temperatures. During this last month in addition to endless weeding and watering, our volunteers continued with the harvest of vegetables and a summer apple tree. Despite the rough start to the raised vegetable garden season, most plants have caught back up and are producing well. Donations are made to the Urbandale Food Pantry multiple times a week. As of early August the garden had exceeded 500 lbs in donations.
As mentioned last month, fall brings the apple harvest. Harvesting of our summer producing tree was completed last week. Our next early harvest variety is "Wealthy". They are running a tad behind previous years however given a couple cooler days and nights we should be able to start pulling them from the trees.
Demolition of Valerius Elementary (our neighbor to the east) has been progressing in earnest this last month. As of last week the bulk of the main structure had been knocked down and hauled off site. If you are visiting the garden or volunteering, please do not enter the fenced area even when the gates are open. Also, if the gates are open upon arrival, please do not park next to them. Large construction equipment comes and goes taking up much of that space. Once the gates are closed and locked for the evening, it is fair game to park in front of them on both sides of the street.
Doing some advance planning in volunteerism when the days are cooler? There will be a special project day on Saturday, October 2nd, start time 9am. Our goal will be to remove dead branches from several trees. This cannot be saved for late winter pruning as the dead material is readily identifiable while leaves are on the trees. Please join us with pole saws in hand. If you have a vehicle that handles a step ladder we could use that also. Not willing to do the trimming but wish to put in some volunteer time? There will be a need for volunteers to reduce the size of branches once they are on the ground and drag our debris to the south curb. The city will pick up our brush pile. Please email the Demo account demogarden16@gmail.com if interested in participating so that we may plan and provide communications.
Our annual Fall Clean Up is targeted for Saturday, October 16th. Start time 9am. Arrive when you can, leave when you must.
Work nights will continue each Monday evening until harvests are complete. Generally this is mid to late October. Join us when you can.
Meet you in the garden.
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Discovery Garden
On behalf of the Discovery Garden Co-Chairs (Dean Brand, Patrick Schmitt, Jean Roe & Joyce Carle), we would like to say Thank-you! Thank-you to each and everyone who volunteered during the Iowa State Fair as well as the Discovery Garden Team who worked tirelessly this year to create that special place we have all grown to love on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. We thank those from other projects who helped out with the endless hours it takes to participate as onsite garden hosts. We do host so many of our MG brothers and sisters from other Iowa Counties as well as from other states who are always amazed with the gardens and the product we collectively put forward. This year we handed out 50-75 brochures interested in the MG program, so that is a plus for all of us.
For those of you who might like to be involved with the Discovery Garden for 2022 or would like more information, you can contact us by sending an email to our DG gmail account: discoverygardenpcmg@gmail.com. We continue to host Wednesday worknights after 3:00 pm to keep the gardens fresh until frost in case anyone is needing volunteer hours.
Again, thanks to all for supporting the DG efforts at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
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Enabling Garden
THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD! Just imagine what it must be like to be a 3-5 year old, walking through paths of colorful flowers and plants as high or higher than you. It’s August and the butterflies are fluttering in front of you; the bees are busy and on the move; the tall grasses wave at you. Sounds very magical, doesn’t it?
Because mornings are cooler, I prefer working in the garden at that time. One can’t help but notice the almost continuous stream of grandmothers, mothers, and childcare helpers bringing children to the garden. Some bring the very young in strollers, saddled with backpacks full of snacks. drinks and wipes. Children run through the paths, swing on the porch swing, check out the fairy garden, stand on the bridges, and pose for pictures. The main attraction is the children’s play area at the far end of the garden. Read on.
WONDERLAND: One definition? “A place full of wonderful things.” Constructed in 2014-15, the Children’s Garden has proven to be a magnet for young families. Unlike many city parks and playgrounds, there is a huge sand pile, tic-tac-toe table, wooden blocks, musical instruments, large tepee equipped with a handcrafted play kitchen complete with pots and pans. I even happened on several children obviously acting out an imaginary story; using blocks and sand pile toys under the nearby bushes. They assured me all toys would be returned to their proper places. (see photo)
I share with you another bit of wonderland for children; twice I have witnessed this musical activity in the garden. Kindermusik is a program specifically for children ages birth to seven years. The tables were pushed back, blankets spread on the concrete, moms and young children were gathered to participate in a program that “shares the wonder of music, boosts brain development, sparks imagination and builds bonding.” Curiosity sent me to their web site for more information. If you have very young children in your family circle, please consider checking out this group activity; locations worldwide.
BUBBLING AGAIN! “The sound of water is worth more than all the poets’ words.” by Octavio Paz
Who doesn’t like the sights and sounds of moving water? Our old friend, the bubble rock is flowing again. It all began with; “It’s not working; where’s the problem?” Suggestions followed; the search began. Though all were hopeful of a minor repair, it required a total do-over. We owe a ton of thanks to Paul Satre, Dean Brand, Burt Hamilton, Mike and Eva Henderson, and Gary and Marlene Olson; all played a major role in this monumental task. Cheerleaders were on the sidelines; too many individuals to name. I was one of them.
NEW TREES AND SHRUBS: “I think of trees as my extended family; living, breathing, social; like us.”… author unknown. The trees are a Yellowwood in the bubble rock area, Firebird Crab Apple in the Arbor Garden, Fine Line Buckthorn; a few steps in from the entrance on your left, and a Larch near the Lady Bug Sculpture. New shrubs include two Rose of Sharons, three Hydrangeas, a Variegated Boxwood, and one Korean Spice Viburnum. Try your own scavenger hunt to see if you can locate them.
SNYDER HERITAGE FARM: Mid-September; it’s time for a break! Plants and weeds will be losing their luster. Let’s get out of the city and head for the farm! We’re going on a field trip; a gardener’s kind of party. All master gardeners are welcome. Do not confuse this with our usual Tuesday evening. It’s Saturday, September 11th at the Snyder Heritage Farm, located at 11700 NE 64th St, Elkhart, IA. Tour will begin at 2:00; plan to arrive soon after 1:30. There is a porta-potty on site; wear closed toed shoes for hiking and bring a water bottle. If you would prefer to ride with someone else, please contact one of the chairs. It is not out of the way for some of us to meet and leave together from the Enabling Garden.
More about this tour: For nearly 30 years, Snyder Heritage Farm has been slowly transitioning from a traditional farm to a beautiful blend of prairie, oak savanna, woodland and wetland ecosystems. It is now a 154-acre natural area just north of the Des Moines metro. Snyder Heritage Farm is owned and managed by Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
EDUCATIONAL TALK: Tuesday September 14th, 6:00 PM at the Enabling Garden. Eva Henderson will be our speaker and share with us; What’s New at the Rain Garden? A rain garden is a garden that lies lower than its surrounding area and is designed to collect and absorb rainwater runoff. The runoff can be surface drainage, or water from gutters and downspouts on buildings. This program will begin under the pergola and then take a ‘field trip’ to the renovated rain garden area in the Enabling Garden. We’ll talk about rain garden location, design considerations, and plant materials. Bring your questions!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: It may be a little known fact, but it makes a huge difference in our plant sales. Quite a number of volunteers are doing ‘foster care’ of grasses, day-lilies, iris, peonies and other perennials in their home gardens. Divisions will be removed for future plant sales. Who are these caregivers? Eva Henderson, Teresa Brady, Bill and Judy Goshorn, Linda Brown, Gary and Marlene Olson, Ruth O’Connor, Christine Barker, Steve and Sharon Nelson-Vaux.
70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: Because they loved the garden so much, the children of Tom and Wanda Newell donated a very beautiful bench to the garden. This is not an ordinary garden bench; it is a two-seated Adirondack style glider bench, built of polywood by the Amish. It will withstand the elements and endure for years. To celebrate their anniversary, a surprise official unveiling was held at the garden on August 21.
SLOPPY JOES, MELONS, AND APPLE PIE: These are just a few of the surprises that have shown up at our Tuesday evening potlucks at 6:00 PM. If you’ve put off participating, please reconsider. Table conversations are every bit as valuable as physical nourishment. I’m reminded of the proverb, “iron sharpens iron”. We gardeners should be questioning, encouraging, coaching, and challenging each other. Some arrive around 4:00 PM; others find more tasks and linger till sunset.
NOTES FROM THE MAILBOX: 1. Envious of this garden! Wonderful community resource; we’ll be back. (From Older Urban Riders bicycle group.) 2. On our road trip; we loved having a beautiful pit stop to stretch our legs. (From Independence, IA) 3. What a beautiful space; so many ideas for home. Thank you!
Submitted by Ruth O’Connor
Co-Chairs:
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Continuing Education Opportunities |
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Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden - Annual Symposium
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is gearing up for the 2021 Annual Symposium. This year, there will be a combination of both virtual and in-person. The Symposium will be held over 4 days: Thursdays, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, and 14 from 6-7:30 pm and Saturday, October 16 from 10-11:30 am.
All of the lectures will be presented virtually via Zoom, and the October 16 presentation will be available both virtually and in-person at the Botanical Garden. Learn more on the website.
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Polk County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources programs aim to help all Iowans, from the home hobbyist to the ag professional, make informed decisions through research-based education. Some programs and focus areas include farm management education, technical expertise for crops, livestock and pests, as well as our Polk County Master Gardener volunteer program; our signature horticulture education program. Our work supports clean water and healthy habitats, profitable farms, and a more secure food system. |
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Contact
Kalsa Parker Browning
Natural Resources Program Coordinator
ISU Extension and Outreach, Polk County
(515) 957-5768
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