The Des Moines County Master Gardeners will showcase their recent volunteer projects at four Burlington area gardens during the Des Moines County Master Gardeners Garden Show on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
The event, which includes an herb garden, flower garden and donation garden all with special and unique plants, will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public. Master Gardeners will be on hand at each site to provide information and answer gardening questions. There is no admission fee, but free-will offerings are accepted to help support the group’s educational efforts.
“This is the first time the Des Moines County Master Gardeners will showcase these gardens,” said Sandy Krell-Andre, chairperson for the group’s Education Committee. “Not only do we want to share the beauty and uniqueness of each garden, but also the methods used in creating them.”
According to Krell-Andre, not every gardener has the space or time to care for a large, traditional, in-ground garden.
“These gardens highlight practices that would appeal to any gardener, including small spaces and raised beds,” she said. “They make very efficient use of space.”
Morgan Hoenig, Des Moines County Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Coordinator, said, “This event is all about education and serving this community.
“Our Master Gardener volunteers are passionate about sharing their time and expertise in gardening practices, not only in these in community gardens, but in city beautification projects, and farmers markets to name a few,” Hoenig said.
The gardens on the tour and locations are: Growing Together Donation Garden, The Homestead 1839, 701 West Agency, West Burlington (across from Menard’s) Park by the barn; The South Hill Demonstration Garden, situated at the corner of South 7th Street and Angular Street, Burlington; The Middletown Butterfly Garden, found on North Street in Middletown, between Park Street and Iowa Street. (From old Highway 34, turn south on Boundary Avenue and then right on North); The Herb Garden, located on Brooks Avenue off S. Main Street in Crapo Park in Burlington, look for the signs.
Tour participants can begin the tour at any of the gardens and visit them in any order they choose.
The event will be held rain or shine unless dangerous storms are forecast.
The Des Moines County Master Gardeners, with 53 active members, is under the coordination of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with support from the Department of Horticulture. Each year specially trained Iowa Master Gardeners, in 80 of the state’s counties, provide more than 100,000 hours of volunteer service back to their communities.
For more information about the Des Moines County Master Gardeners Garden Show, contact Sandy Krell-Andre at flowerchildska@me.com; call the Des Moines County Extension office at 319-671-7165 and leave a message; or follow them on Facebook.