The advanced season continues.  Winecups typically bloom in June and July.

Eileen's plants of the week:

Callirhoe involucrata (Winecups, aka Purple Poppy Mallow) and Prairie Sage (Artemesia ludoviciana 'Silver Queen'). It drapes the steps beautifully.

                

 
Farm-to-Table Dinners at Historic Wallace House in Des Moines
 
Four Farm-to-Table Dinners will be offered during the 2012 growing season at the historic Wallace House, 756 16th Street in Sherman Hill. Chef Katie Routh will create a French-inspired four course menu for each upscale dinner that features fresh garden ingredients grown at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center near Orient and locally raised meat from Iowa family farms. Dinners will be held Saturday evenings on June 2, July 21, August 25 and October 6.
 
The June 2 menu begins with a spring vegetable platter, followed by a fresh arugula herb salad with baby beets and warm goat cheese. A pork loin entrée from Boyer Family Farms will be accompanied by sugar snap peas with spring greens and a Parmesan polenta cake with green garlic sauce. Lemon lavender cake with rhubarb ice cream completes the meal. Menus for the other dinners will be announced as the growing season progresses.
 
Seatings for all the dinners will be at 6 pm and 7:45 pm, with tables available for up to 10 people.  Guests are welcome to bring their own wine to enjoy with dinner. Live music will accompany the meal throughout the evening. Cost is $50 per person. Due to limited seating, advance payment is required.  Reservations may be made until a week prior by phoning 515-243-7063 or emailing Janis Falk at janfalk@wallace.org.
 
Proceeds from the event will support the educational programs and services of The Wallace Centers of Iowa. This non-profit organization includes the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient and the Wallace House in Des Moines. The two historic sites provide programs and community services centered on sustainability and civility, organic fruits and vegetables, and Wallace family history. More information can be found at www.wallace.org.
Ann Taylor, Vice President, Marketing & Development
The Wallace Centers of Iowa
515-243-7063
Free for members, everyone is invited to attend & join.
Featured Speaker:  Shannon Ramsay, Founder, Trees Forever
Voo Doo Lily - Amorphophallus konjac - Aaron
I just got three of these this week!  I'll have to keep all of you updated on their progress. 
Saturday, July 21st
9:00am-4:00pm
Plants, Ponds, Paradise 2012
17th Annual Water Garden Tour
West Des Moines, Jordan Creek, Urbandale Areas
Hollyhock Rust
Upcoming Class at Reiman Gardens
Learn about some great plants for your garden!
The first class is June 11th!