Art of Gardening

Muscatine Community College’s Continuing Education Department is again offering its popular Art of Gardening daylong seminar, to educate and inspire others to seek enjoyment and fulfillment through a variety of home gardening-related topics and activities. 

This year’s seminar will be held:

Saturday, March 12, 2022
7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

MCC Strahan Hall
152 Colorado Street
Muscatine, IA
Class ID: #19705
Cost: $45 (includes lunch)
Register by March 7

REGISTER ONLINE

For more information contact Paula Arends in EICC’s Continuing Education Department, 563-336-3357 or toll free 1-888-351-4669. 

Session Options

Session 1 

1. 20/20 Vision for Daylilies in 2022 
   Keith Riewerts, Cedar Valley Iris and Daylily Society 
   
   Overview of the incredible variety of daylilies. Photos and discussion of the many forms and variation that today's hybridizers are exploring. What will grow best in our local climate? What resources are available locally, in CVIDS, and online?  

2. Creative Designs for Your Backyard 
   Evan Meyer, Meyer Landscaping and Design 
   
   Is your backyard a little drab or boring? Evan is a professional landscape designer who will share tips and ideas to make your yard delightful!

3. Eat the Weeds:  Wild Edibles in Your Yard and Garden 
   Kathy Dice, Red Fern Farm 
   
   Many of the annoying weeds you pull from your yard and gardens are actually delicious and healthy. Learn which ones are safe to eat and get some simple recipes. You will be delighted to be able to harvest some of those pesky plants.  

4. New Perennials for 2022 
   Maria McCulley, Hilltop Nursery 
   
   New items on the market are sometimes a bit scary…will it grow in my yard? Does it play well with others? This class will show some of the new perennials in the greenhouse for 2022 along with tips on placement for best success. Start off a new decade with a few new items to make your garden grow beautifully. 

5. Ornamental Grasses -- Which Ones and How? 
   Deb Walser, Linn County MG 
   
   Do you want to plant ornamental grasses with wonderful fall seed heads? Are you worried about the grasses spreading? Gardening expert Deb Walser will show you which grasses are non-spreading, clump-forming and hardy to Eastern Iowa; many she grows herself.  Come see and start planning for spring!

6. Six Steps to Pollinator Gardening Success 
   Ron Knopik, US Fish & Wildlife 
   
   Here's an opportunity to beautify your landscape and benefit from a myriad of pollinators that frequent Iowa and Illinois. We will discuss the native plants of the area and how to best use them in your garden. 

7. Urban Trees and Shrubs 
   Hanna Howard, Muscatine Chamber of Commerce 
   
   When it comes to selecting a tree or a plant, why don't you try branching out? There are so many wonderful tree species to consider from ornamental varieties to native trees. We will go over tree species and site conditions to consider in your urban environment.
   
   

Session 2 

1. Bees, Birds, Bats & Butterflies… Oh My! 
   Lisa Hinzman Howard, Linn County MG 
   
   Discover how you can attract pollinators to your garden and help them thrive. We'll touch on why supporting pollinators matters, plant selection, yardscapes to help our flying friends, and habitat do's and don'ts for creating your own pollinator friendly paradise.
   
   

2. Essential Spring Preparations for Gardening Success 
   Patrick Ferrel, Earl May Nursery 
   
   Pat will list and discuss work items we all need to address in springtime to enjoy a summer of bountiful gardens. He will cover pruning for trees and shrubs as well as other gardening preparations.

3. How to Keep Your Houseplants Healthy and Propagate More 
   Kathy Haltmeyer, Muscatine County MG 
   
   Got a black thumb? Why do all of your houseplants die? Find out what the correct light, water, and fertilization needs are for different types of houseplants. Different types of houseplant propagation will be demonstrated.  

4. New Perennials for 2022 
   Maria McCulley, Hilltop Nursery 
   
   New items on the market are sometimes a bit scary…will it grow in my yard? Does it play well with others? This class will show some of the new perennials in the greenhouse for 2022, along with tips on placement for best success. Start off a new decade with a few new items to make your garden grow beautifully. 

5. Soil Amendments for Gardens 
   Virgil Schmidt, ISU Extension 
   
   Explore appropriate soil amendments and soil management practices that will improve soil productivity.  

6. Vegetables - Trends and New Varieties for 2022 
   Shane Mariet, Mariet Farms 
   
   Investigate current vegetable trends and learn about new varieties of vegetables that can be grown in your backyard garden.

7. Geraniums - Not Grandma's Red 
   Laura McGinnis, Hilltop Nursery 
   
   We now have splashes of color! We will discuss types of growing patterns in geraniums. 

 Lunch

 

Session 3 

1. A Garden for All Seasons
   Chuck Porto, Iowa City Landscaping 
   
   Trees, shrubs and perennials that add multi-seasonal interest to the garden and landscape. 

2. Butterfly Gardening 
   Ray Wolff, Scott County MG Butterfly Garden 
   
   Plan a garden with warmer and drier or wetter weather. What should you consider, and what plants can adapt to climate changes?

3. Fruit Trees for Iowa 
   Patrick O'Malley, ISU 
   
   Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of growing common and unusual (such as pawpaw) fruit trees. 

4. Choosing True Lilies for Your Garden 
   Wanda Lunn, Linn County MG 
   
   Choose true lilies to add elegant beauty and height to your garden! Lilies can fill your garden with color from the shady May Martagons to exploding Asiatics in July to the towering trumpets, Orienpets and Aurelians into August. Plus newest bulbs.
   
   

5. Low Maintenance Landscaping 
   Todd Wiebenga, Aunt Rhodies Landscaping and Design Studio 
   
   Learn some simple techniques and changes you can make to your high maintenance garden to lessen the burden. Transition your spaces into low maintenance landscaping to fit your time and abilities.

6. The Wonderful World of Worm Composting 
   Lana Artz-McComb, Louisa County Conservation 
   
   Worm composting, or vermicomposting is a fascinating and fun way to reduce the amount of food waste that a household sends to the landfill while also creating rich organic soil for gardening. This presentation will provide an introduction to worm composting, including how to easily set up your own in-home worm bin. An active worm composting set-up will be present for further exploration. 

7. Veggies 101: Seed to Harvest 
   Lisa Hinzman Howard, Linn County MG 
   
   Learn the benefits and basics of growing your own food at home, plus ideas for maximizing your bounty.

Session 4 

1. Shade Tree Solutions 
   Chuck Porto, Iowa City Landscaping 
   
   With too many maples and ash disappearing, it is still possible to add color and diversity to our shade tree canopy.

2. Gardening Accents and Accessories
   Lynn Pruitt, Muscatine County MG 
   
   Moving on beyond just plants. Use garden ascents that stand out and yet blend in. Learn to use garden ornaments and statuary as well as small trees and shrubs to showcase your flowers.

3. Climate Change and Gardening 
   Ray Wolff, Scott County MG 
   
   Plan a garden with warmer and drier or wetter weather. What should you consider, and what plants can adapt to climate changes? 

4. Climbing Color: Clematis in Your Garden 
   Wanda Lunn, Linn County MG 
   
   Clematis can add height and glorious color to your garden using very little space! Easy to grow with a rainbow of blooms. Plant them on a trellis, fence or wall for all the summer color.

5. Mushroom Production for the Homeowner/Hobbyist 
   Tyson Allchin, Allchin Acres LLC 
   
   Learn to cultivate mushrooms at home with little to no specialized equipment, and discover indoor and outdoor activities to incorporate mushrooms into your life.

6. Plan a Salsa Garden for This Spring 
   Deb Walser, Linn County MG 
   
   What plants can we grow to make a salsa garden? Which tomatoes, peppers and other garden-grown produce goes into growing a salsa garden? We will learn the trick of when, where and how to plant a salsa garden. We will see plans that will make it easy to grow.

7. Pollinators: Plants for Butterflies and Hummingbirds 
   Jon Koch, Muscatine Water Resource Recovery 
   
   What is a pollinator plant? Why are they good for the environment, as well as, how to plant, find and maintain pollinators so they attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
   
   

For more information or to register, contact Paula Arends in EICC’s Continuing Education Department, 563-336-3357 or toll free 1-888-351-4669.