Art of Gardening

Master Gardeners Iowa Extension and Outreach Art of Gardening is one of our most popular seminars. Hundreds of gardeners and plant enthusiasts flock to the college each year for the event. Its mission is "to educate and inspire others to seek enjoyment and fulfillment through a variety of home gardening-related topics and activities." No matter if you're a seasoned gardener or just starting your journey, we invite individuals of all skill levels to participate.

Immerse yourself in a variety of engaging topics and activities centered around gardening. Learn from Master Gardeners as they share their knowledge and insights, providing valuable tips and techniques to enhance your gardening skills. From cultivating vibrant flowers to growing your own delicious produce, explore the artistry of gardening and unlock your green thumb potential.

This year’s seminar will be held:

Saturday, March 14, 2026
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Muscatine Community College

Cost: $55, includes lunch. Note that some sessions have additional workshop costs. 

Registration information will be available soon.

Keynote Speaker

Cindy Haynes

Dr. Haynes is a Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University in Ames.  Her primary responsibilities are in teaching and extension.  She teaches several courses for the Department of Horticulture, including Home Horticulture and Herbaceous Ornamentals.  She also has extension responsibilities in consumer or home horticulture and is on the Advisory Board for the Master Gardener Program in Iowa. 

Sessions

  • Weather and Gardening 
    Ray Wolf 
    Weather and climate shape how plants perform in our yards and gardens. Learn how Midwest conditions affect plant health and growth, as well as practical strategies to reduce challenges and make the most of what our weather has to offer.
  • Diagnosing Tree Problems and Common Tree Health Issues in Iowa 
    Mark Vitosh 
    Trees face a range of disease, insect, and environmental stresses across Iowa. This session introduces the basics of diagnosing tree problems and highlights the most common threats to tree health in our region. 
  • Invaders 
    Donna McCabe
    Our understanding of nature has shifted — we’re learning to live in closer harmony with our environment. This presentation explores invasive plants, trees, insects, and diseases, along with updated ISU guidance that focuses on practical, lower-chemical solutions (including options like goat browsing). 
  • Landscape Plants for Midwest Gardens 
    Brian Davison 
    Sun or shade, there are grasses, shrubs, and perennials that can elevate any yard. Explore reliable plant options that help your landscape stand out.
  • Seasonal Blooms: Maximizing Year-Round Color 
    Kristin Schaapveld 
    Local flower farmer Kristin Schaapveld of Where the Flowers Are shares how to plan a garden that delivers color through all seasons using a thoughtful mix of bulbs, annuals, and perennials.
  • The Secrets of Succulents 
    Martha McClurg 
    Discover the basics of growing succulents — from varieties and care techniques to propagation and troubleshooting. A great session for anyone drawn to these popular, low-maintenance plants.

  • Confessions of a Hosta-holic 
    Mary Danner 
    If you can’t resist buying hostas but struggle to keep them thriving, this session is for you. Learn how to manage pests like slugs and deer, choose the right varieties for sun or shade, know when to plant and divide, and pair hostas with complementary perennials. 
  • Lavender, Sweet Lavender! 
    Taylor of Calyx Farm
    Lavender is thriving right here in Iowa. Hear from Taylor of Calyx Farm about his family’s journey into lavender farming in Oxford, and discover how this fragrant crop becomes teas, scones, perfumes, and beautiful home décor. 
  • The Secrets of Companion Planting: Fact or Folklore? 
    Deb Walser 
    Companion planting goes beyond simple plant pairings. Explore interplanting methods, beneficial and incompatible neighbors, trap crops, helpful insects, disguise techniques, and practices that support soil health. 
  • Bee the Solution — Plant Natives! 
    Jon Koch 
    More than 40% of the world’s insects, including many key pollinators, could face extinction in the coming decades. Learn which native plants best support pollinators in our ecoregion, where to source them, and how to plant and maintain them successfully. 
  • Garden and Life Transitions: Aging in Place With Your Garden 
    Brandy Olson 
    Discover ways to adapt your garden as your lifestyle and abilities change. Learn techniques that simplify maintenance and keep gardening enjoyable at every stage of life. 
  • Organic Vegetable Gardening 
    Phil Pfister 
    With environmental and health concerns on the rise, organic vegetable gardening is more important than ever. Linn County Master Gardener Phil Pfister shares techniques for boosting production and managing pests without harmful chemicals. Ideal for gardeners of all experience levels.

  • Mixed Gardens: An Approach for All Seasons 
    Ray Wolf 
    Explore the concept of mixed gardens and how to design them for year-round interest. Learn about preparation, site considerations, and plant combinations — trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, bulbs, annuals, and perennials — that work beautifully in our region. 
  • Gardening With Beneficial and Harmful Insects 
    Paul Mayes 
    Some insects are essential to a thriving garden; others cause damage. This session covers how to identify both, encourage beneficial species, and manage harmful ones — including new invasive threats like the Spotted Lanternfly.
  • Herbs and Your Health 
    Bonnie Buelt 
    For generations, people — including Indigenous communities — have used herbs to create teas, tinctures, and remedies. Learn about easy-to-grow herbs and how they may support overall wellness in this interactive, show-and-tell style session. 
  • Top Flower Varieties for Every Season 
    Kristin Schaapveld 
    Kristin Schaapveld of Where the Flowers Are highlights top flower picks for each season, along with planting and care tips to help them thrive throughout the year.
  • Growing Healthy Shade Trees 
    Mark Vitosh 
    Healthy trees start with the right match between species and site. Learn proper planting techniques and essential care — including watering, mulching, staking, and pruning — to promote long-term tree health. 
  • It’s True! Gardening Improves Quality of Life, Even as We Age 
    Lynn Pruitt
    Discover how gardening — at even minimal levels — can strengthen bones, boost brain health and mood, support social connections, increase stamina, improve the environment, and provide nutritious produce and fresh flowers. Practical tips included.

  • Ornamental Grasses: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 
    Deb Walser 
    Thinking about ornamental grasses but not sure which ones spread aggressively? Learn which varieties are hardy, clump-forming, and suited to Eastern Iowa, including many from Deb’s own garden.
  • Gardening Through a Nutritional Lens 
    Martha McClurg 
    Ever grow an unusual vegetable and then wonder how to use it? Registered dietitian and Master Gardener Martha McClurg shares creative ways to prepare lesser-known or excess produce — and the nutritional benefits these plants offer. 
  • It’s All About Watering! 
    Phil Pfister 
    Overwatering kills more plants than underwatering. Learn when and how to water seedlings, transplants, containers, lawns, and gardens under a variety of conditions, indoors and outdoors.
  • Bumble Bees 
    Donna McCabe 
    Bumble bees are vital pollinators — yet only 14 species remain in Iowa, and many are at risk. Learn why they matter, how they behave, and what we can do to protect them. Donna will share several videos, including some that reveal their surprising intelligence. 
  • Nature, the Fibonacci Sequence, and the Golden Ratio 
    Lynn Pruitt 
    Explore how mathematical patterns — such as the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio — appear throughout nature. Examine examples from sunflowers, pinecones, and other plants, and consider how these patterns shape our perception of beauty. 

  • Hands-On: Plant Your Own Cut Flower Garden 
    Kristin Schaapveld 
    Learn the basics of growing your own specialty cut flowers with farmer Kristin Schaapveld. Participants will leave with practical knowledge and a tray of started seedlings. 
    Fee: $25. 
  • Hands-On: Enjoy Making a Hanging Glass Globe! 
    Charles Brooke 
    Create a beautiful hanging glass orb — perfect as a Mother’s Day gift or for decorating your home or garden. Led by Charles Brooke of 3 B’s Floral, using silk flowers as the base. 
    Fee: $25. 
  • Hands-On: Kokedama
    Brandy Olson
    Kokedama is a “no-pot” style of displaying houseplants using a mosscovered soil ball wrapped with twine, wire, or decorative materials. Learn the method step-by-step and create your own. 
    Fee: $25. 
  • Hands-On: Making It With Lavender 
    Taylor of Calyx Farm
    Enjoy a hands-on project featuring lavender grown in Oxford, Iowa. Create a scented sachet or potpourri blend and take home your own custom lavender keepsake. 
    Fee: $25.

Schedule

8 - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 - 9:20 a.m. Session 1
9:30 - 10:20 a.m. Session 2
10:25 - 10:55 a.m. Vendors & Coffee Break
11 - 11:50 a.m. Session 3
12 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Keynote Speaker
1:40 - 2:30 p.m. Session 4
2:40 - 3:30 p.m. Session 5

Questions?

We're here to help. Call us at 563-288-6161 with any questions about the event.