Guests: Holly & Joel Gettys

Rain Barrels Iowa

Holly and Joel Gettys

4240 Clinton Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50310

rainbarrelsiowa@gmail.com

515-276-6267

Store hours March through September:

Thursdays & Fridays 11-6, plus Saturdays 10-4, and by appointment

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Natural Living Expo is May 18 & 19, 2013

Iowa State Fairgrounds  - 4-H Building

More information here

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Ovid Avenue Garden Faire

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Grow a Nuttery!

The Nuttery at Sissinghurst Castle
The Nuttery - A Woodlands Trust

Don't Plant These Trees in Your Urban Yard

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This Week at Reiman Gardens

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Skip mowing your lawn on a holiday weekend, and enjoy landscapes, blooms of flowers, and freshly cut grass at Reiman Gardens instead. The Gardens is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27. This weekend marks the start of the Gardens’ extended summer hours.

Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to visit during our 2013 theme, More than Meets the Iowa. Tour the Gardens and enjoy “Iowa Naturally” garden inspired sculpture created by Iowa artists. Thirteen sculptures are nestled in the landscape creating beautiful displays sure to inspire.

While visiting the Gardens, don’t miss the Butterfly Wing full of hundreds of exotic butterflies in flight and the Gift Shop featuring items perfect for the gardening enthusiast.

In honor of their service, on Monday, May 27, all active duty military personnel and veterans are admitted free. Reiman Gardens thanks you for your sacrifice.

General admission to the Gardens is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors, $4.00 for youth ages 4-17, and free for age 3 and under. Admission is always free for Reiman Gardens’ members and Iowa State University students with valid ISU card.

Reiman Gardens’ extended summer hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the outdoor gardens, the Conservatory Complex, and the Gift Shop. The Butterfly Wing hours remain 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit www.reimangardens.com for more information.

Discovery Station on Saturday, May 25
Saturday, May 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

"Watercolor Geodes"

The purpose of Reiman Gardens’ discovery stations is to add a fun, informal activity in the Gardens during the summer that relates to the themed garden areas. The discovery stations are family oriented and designed so both youth and adults can participate in the activities.

Free for members and Iowa State University students. Price of admission for the general public.

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Iowa Praire Network would be an organization to contact regarding supppliers of native plants, and lots of other information.

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Poly Hose for Irrigation suggested link for information.

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Conservation Districts of Iowa

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Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum

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• Reiman Gardens
• ISU Extension, Polk County
• ISU Extension Publications
• ISU Horticulture & Home Pest Newsletter
• ISU Climatology
• ISU Extension Forestry 
• ISU Plant Pathology
• ISU Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic
• ISU Agronomy yesterday's soil temperatures by county

GUEST: Inger Lamb, Prairie Landscapes of Iowa,

Recommended Native Plants

515 250-1693

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Iowa Native Plant Sale, DSM Parks & Rec

Gray's Lake Concession Stand/Rental Area

Friday, May 17 2-6

Saturday, May 18 10-3

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Blooming Perennials, in dry part-shade, under pine trees

Miniature Bearded Iris

Catmint-Sedum-Prairie Sage

similar to Catmint "Little Titch"

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This Week at Reiman Gardens

Vermiculture Lecture
Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Vermiculture, or worm composting, is a fun and easy way to turn kitchen waste into valuable organic fertilizer. Learn how you can get started making your own worm compost as Dallas County Master Gardener Megan Will talks you through the simple steps. Perfect introduction for the Hands-On How-To Vermiculture workshop on June 6!

Tulips are in Bloom RIGHT NOW!  Visit Reiman Gardens to see 21,000 tulip bulbs of 56 different varieties and thousands of other spring blooms before they go away!

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Less expensive "forbs" for pheasant habitat mixes:

Partridge pea

Cream Gentian

Illinois Bundleflower

Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)

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Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy

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DMPS Plant Sale

Check out all the plants available at the 2009 FFA Spring Plant Sale! Be sure to visit them at the Central Campus Greenhouse (201 SW County Line Rd) through May 30. 2009 to see what they have for sale! Call 242-8363 for more information.

We think.....the plant sale is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays--closed Sundays

Guest: Lynn Kuhn

Brenton Arboretum

25141 260th Street
Dallas Center, Iowa 50063
Phone: 515.992.4211; Fax: 515.992.3303
Email: mail@thebrentonarboretum.org

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National Public Gardens Day - Friday, May 10, 2013

It is a day to celebrate our Public Gardens - Central Iowa is Fortunate to have five great public gardens

Brenton Arboretum - Dallas Center, IA

Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens - Des Moines, IA

Reiman Gardens - Ames, IA

Iowa Arboretum - Madrid, IA

Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden - Des Moines, IA

Click Here to learn more

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Hubbard Plant Sale has been delayed for one week (probably other plant sales as well.) Look for it on May 11.

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This Week at Reiman Gardens

Spring Fling

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 10-12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

National Public Gardens Day

Friday, May 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.                        

Guest: Joe McNally, Horticulture Project Manager,  Iowa Arboretum

joe@iowaarboretum.org

515-795-3216

Green Tie Affair - May 3, 2013

A great way to support a local organization and get some really fun plants!

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Hubbard Plant and Bake sale.

May 4. Hubbard City Park.

9a.m.-2p.m.

We will have around 500 perennials and annuals.

Any questions call Scott Thompson at (319)269-0076

or email at sthompson@Countrylandscapes.com

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This Week at Reiman Gardens

Mid Iowa Woodcarvers 4^th Annual “Adventures in Wood”
Saturday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The Mid-Iowa Woodcarvers return for their one-day show on Saturday, May 4! Guests will have the opportunity to view carving contest entries, watch carving demonstrations, and participate in a hands-on lesson in whittling.

 Free for members and Iowa State University students. Price of admission for the general public.

Butterfly Painting Workshop

Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m.

As a treat during the Mid-Iowa Woodcarvers annual ''Adventures in Wood'' event, visit the Gardens to paint a 3D wooden butterfly sculpture with local artist Julie Vandeberg! She will teach and demonstrate some basic techniques for painting with acrylic on wood, and when you're done you'll have an amazing hand-painted piece to take home and enjoy for yourself! Perfect for families!

Preregistration with payment required by Thursday, May 2. Cost is $16 for members, $20 for the general public, and Iowa State University students pay 15% off the member price. Click here to register online.

Click here to view a video of the artist in her studio.

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Polk County Master Gardener Plant Sale

Saturday, May 4 8:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, May 5 Noon - 4:00pm

Facebook Page for the Plant Sale

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Iowa Wildflower Week April 28 - May 4, 2013, facebook page

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Rehder's Ceanothus 1995 Arnoldia Article

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Invasive Species Bill

SF 317 prohibits the importation, sale, offer for
sale, or distribution of oriental bittersweet,
Japanese knotweed, Japanese hop and garlic mustard,
or their seed in Iowa.

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Amorphophallus Update

Aaron's VooDoo Lily (Amorphophallus konjac) Bloomed!

It smelled like a dead mouse for about 5 days - I had to sequester it away in a back room iwith the door closed since it was too cold to put them outside.

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A Child's Video Tour of Her Family's Garden

This link takes you to an article and video that will make you want to garden with your young kids or grandkids TODAY!

A mother gives her iphone to her child to "keep her busy" - instead of playing Angry Birds, she narrates a video tour of her backyard. 

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This Week at Reiman Gardens

A new summer exhibit opens next week, April 27 & 28, 2013 - Iowa Naturally. It features a collection of large scale, nature inspired scultpure by artists with Iowa ties. A few examples are pictured below.  There will be an artist panel discussion that Saturday, April 27th at 11am and free activities throughout the day

Oak Tree Mural by Pam Dennis and Ryk Weiss of Ogden, IA

Birds by Hilde DeBruyne of Cumming, IA

Reiman Gardens will be staying open until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, for visitors to take advantage of a night walk to view the Iowa Naturally sculpture exhibit, and for a special viewing of a group of Iowa State University’s Industrial Design student projects inspired by nature, incorporating light, sound, and movement, on display at the Gardens for just one week.

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Iowa Arboretum Arbor Day Celebration

The Iowa Arboretum in rural Boone county will be celebrating Arbor Day (which is on Friday, April 26th) on Saturday April 27th with a tree planting at 10am with Charity of Nebbe, host of Talk of Iowa on iowa Public Radio.  More information is on their web site

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Annual Farm Cruise

April 27, 2013, Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm

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Enabling Garden April 27th

Polk County Master Gardeners Enabling Garden will host a free Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, April 27th starting at 11am. Mark Shour from ISU will be our main speaker. Girl Scouts will present a flag raising ceremony, our mayor will read a Arbor day proclamation, vendors and lots of fun and learning about trees for all who attend.

The Enabling Garden is located on 1st.Ave, South behind the HyVee in Altoona.

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 Amorpha nana available at Prairie Nursery & others

Native grasses available at ION Exchange & others

Carol: for small areas consider june grass, blue grama, bottle brush grass & buffalo grass

Michael: for larger, drier .areas consider Prairie dropseed & Blue grama.