Mother Nature knows how to curry favor with us, doesn’t she? Colorful flowers and myriad shades of green plants pull us outdoors to share in the wonders of growth.
Have you been itching to visit as many of central Iowa’s garden centers as you can, dig in the soil, and add as much color as possible to your little corner of the world? For inspiration, you might want to visit the properties of other central Iowa gardeners for ideas. If you don’t garden yourself, a garden tour is a way to be inspired by the work of others.
For 10 years now, the Polk County Master Gardeners have been sponsoring a tour, Extraordinary Gardens by Ordinary People. This year’s event will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 19, rain or shine.
Six gardens in the western suburbs will offer a variety of displays. They range in size from a small cottage garden to a half acre of woodland living space. They will showcase annuals, grasses, tropical plants, shrubs, and trees. Perennials from hydrangea, Echinacea, hosta, and clematis to hibiscus, heucherella, ferns, and daylilies will showcase what plants will grow in this zone.
Hardscape and landscape ideas will be on the tour for up-close-and-personal viewing, including an arbor, a bridged stream, a summer house, bubbling boulders, and waterfalls. There will even be a yellow brick road. Garden art will complement the plantings.
Demonstrations at three stops will offer information on adding koi to your water feature, family fun in the garden, and planting in your hypertufa (rock garden troughs).
Those visiting Janet Pittman’s home in West Des Moines will see how major aspects in her life come together in the garden. She is a freelance food stylist who formerly worked full-time for Meredith Corp., and for 12 years she has had a quilting pattern company called Garden Trellis Designs. “All three of those aspects—styling, designing patterns, and quilting, along with gardening—work together so easily,” she says. “They all work together in a visual way. When I design quilting patterns, they all seem to have a floral or garden theme. It’s just natural for me to do that.”
Visitors can’t help noticing the blending of her interests. Her raised-bed herb garden even follows a quilt pattern design of a “square within a square.” The center square is set on point. With a sundial in the middle medallion, Janet uses peppers, marigolds, and pansies for striking color. Sage, purple basil, rosemary, chives, thyme, oregano, and basil fill in the design in the outer square.
To go along with the quilting theme, there will be two quilted pieces—a wall hanging and a throw designed for the tour—available for raffle. Janet and another quilter made the pieces. The quilted designs will be on display at the Iowa State University Extension office from June 7 through 18 and on tour day at Janet’s garden. Raffle tickets will be $1 each or six for $5.
In addition, she will have various quilted wall hangings displayed in windows of her home and, weather permitting, other quilts displayed outdoors on fence posts and other spots.
Ticket Information
Garden tour tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at ISU Extension Office, 1625 Adventureland Drive in Altoona, starting May 17. Starting June 1, tickets will be available also at Goode Greenhouse, 1050 N.E. 50th Ave, Des Moines; Herndon’s Des Moines Seed and Nursery, 6015 Grand Ave., Des Moines; The Woodsmith Store, 10320 Hickman Road, Des Moines; and Earl May Nursery & Garden Centers, 1845 22nd St. in West Des Moines, 5910 Douglas Ave. and 7701 Bloomfield Road in Des Moines, Highway 6 West in Waukee, and 1509 Ankeny Blvd. in Ankeny.
Proceeds benefit several of the group’s projects: Horticulture Hotline, the Demonstration Garden in Urbandale, the Enabling Garden in Altoona, the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the Gardener’s Show House at the Des Moines Botanical Center, and the newest project, the Empowerment Garden.
For more information, call ISU Extension at 515-957-5760 or check the PCMG Garden Tour page on Facebook.
Secret Gardens of Waterbury Tour
Seven home gardens will be
featured in the Secret Gardens of Waterbury tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 12, and from noon to
4 p.m. Sunday, June 13. The tour will also showcase works of more than 30 artists and musicians at the gardens. Horse and carriage rides will be available.
Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 on tour days. There will be free parking and shuttles to the gardens from the Des Moines Art Center.
Tickets are available at all Dahl's metro locations, all locations of Grounds for Celebrations, LaMie Bakery & Restaurant at the Roosevelt Shopping center, Herndon's Des Moines Seed & Nursery, and Bauder's Pharmacy on Ingersoll Avenue. Proceeds will benefit beautification projects in the Waterbury Neighborhood Association.
Resources
PCMG Garden Tour page
Waterbury Neighborhood Association
