Green ThumbThe Newsletter for the Polk County

Master GardenersISU Polk County Extension

1625 Adventureland Drive, Ste A, Altoona, Iowa Phone 515-957-5760

Sherri's View from the Garden

Ode to the Zinnia: Zinnias, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. If ElizabethBarrett Browning were to wax eloquent on the topic of my favorite flower, she wouldhave plenty of material. Zinnias are extraordinary flowers - gorgeous, bright, andhappy. The more you cut them, the more they bloom. The hotter it gets, the better theyperform. They grace the garden from May until October in vivid color. Some look likedaisies, while others resemble dahlias; some are low-growing, while others soar to fivefeet. They make beautiful and long-lasting cut flowers, and look charming mixed withherbs such as lavender and thyme. Zinnias are easy to grow from seed, and the nextyear's seeds are simple to save - just let the flower dry on the stem, collect the seedheads, and store in a cool, dry place until spring. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirdslove zinnias, and bring lovely movement and life to the garden as they flutter and buzz. This winter, I promised a friend I would make sixteen zinnia bouquets for her late-Julywedding. I was nervous all summer, wondering if my beloved flowers might fail me andnot produce enough blooms. The day after the wedding, I looked at the garden and Icouldn't tell that I'd cut a single flower. Beauty, variety, and abundance - what's not tolove? If you're not a zinnia fan yet, try them next spring. Our own Master Gardener plant salecarries beautiful and unusual varieties. You may not be moved to write a sonnet, buttrust me - you'll fall in love with the zinnia.

Have a wonderful September!

Sherri Soich, Steering Committee Chair sherrisoich@gmail.com or 515-710-5665.

Thanks for everything

It has been a good stretch and I've enjoyed working with all the great volunteers in Polk County. Thanks Mary Farlow

Demonstration Garden Summer may be winding down, but we still have much to look forward to this fall in the Demo Garden.In September, we will begin in earnest to harvest the fall apples and pears for donation to local foodpantries. Watch "This n That" for notice of specific harvesting needs, or stop by on any Monday night,beginning around 5 p.m. Even if the apples aren't quite ready, we usually have plenty of droppedapples to clean up. And hey, it's great for the waistline!

Our fall fundraiser will take place on Sunday, September 18th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuringperennials and gently used garden items for sale. Everyone is welcome to stop by and snag an end-of-season bargain and enjoy some time in the fall garden. Note: Anyone wishing to donate items for thesale may drop them off between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, the 17th. Or you may contact one of theco-chairs to make arrangements to drop off at a different time.

And finally, we want to extend our gratitude to Mary Farlow for all she has done over the years toassist the demo garden and all of the PCMG projects. Happy retirement, Mary. Co-Chairs, Ruth Doxon, Sandie Sydnes, and Diane Ackerman

Discovery Garden The fair is over and the Garden was a BIG hit with fairgoers. They liked the new pathway, thought allof the flowers were beautiful, and were really interested in how the path drains all of the water. Sokudos to all of the gardeners, who worked very hard to get the gardens ready. A big THANK YOU to allof the volunteers who did shifts "hosting" during the fair, enduring rain, heat, and humidity, but allsurvived. We could not be a success without your assistance. Congratulations to Mary Smith and Jen Firzlaff, for winning ribbons for their entries, Mary entered fruitsand Jen did arrangements. All of us,at the Garden, want to wish Mary Farlow congratulations on her retirement and thank her forher many years of service to the PCMG. We are sure you will enjoy this newest phase of your life. It is starting to feel like Fall, so have a great September. Co-Chairs:Dean Brand drbrand@mediacombb.net tel:515-360-0774, Jean Roe ljroe@q.com tel:515.205.8706Patrick Schmitt schmittpatrickj@gmail.com tel:515.279.9645, Cheree Tilton tiltoncm@gmail.com tel:515.262.0488

Enabling Garden The Enabling Garden would like to invite you to our 4th Annual Fall Fundraiser and Garden Gatheringscheduled for Sunday, September 11th from 1-4 PM. We will have perennial plants, arts and crafts,garden produce, jams and pickles, baked goods and garden-related flea market items for sale. This isthe perfect opportunity to come out and enjoy a beautiful late summer afternoon and support theEnabling Garden!

Regular work nights will continue on every Tuesday as long as the weather is good. Please join us anytime after 5:00 PM for fun, food and fellowship in the garden.

Thanks again to all of our volunteers that help to make the garden beautiful.

EG Co-Chairs: Sandie Hamilton, Paula Winslow, Christine Barker & Sharon Schoonover.

Education Opportunities

Fall Master Gardener Training Classes will be starting September 13 on Tuesday evenings at 6:15 atthe Extension office. As in previous years, we'll have the full schedule on the PCMG page soon and youare welcome to audit a class that interests you for a refresher. If you stay for the entire lecture, itcounts at 3 hours MG education. You are welcome to bring a beverage or snack for yourself but, justlike other intern classes, we ask that you leave the treats (and the seats at tables) for those who areseeing the material for the first time.

Farmers Market We completed our fourth appearance of the season on Saturday, August 20. Our feature topics wereOrnamental Grasses and Canning/Preserving Produce. As usual, we answered lots of gardening

questions from Market patrons and gave away plenty of free seeds. September 24 will mark our final appearance this season. (Please note the change from our earlierscheduled date-September 17.) We'll be giving away seeds for Big Blue Stem, Little Blue Stem andIndian Grass. Our feature topics will be Native Grasses and Fall Planting for Spring Color. If you have suggestions for future feature topics at our Farmers' Market booth, please contact one ofthe co-chairs of our Committee: Matt Doré (matt.dore@drake.edu), Sherri Soich(sherrisoich@gmail.com) or Randy Campbell (campbellrd@mchsi.com).

Matt Dore, FM Co-chair matt.dore@drake.edu

Directory ChangesPatricia Reeves has moved to 2208 Hillside Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50265 and dropped herlandline phone so use cell 515-537-7513 or email patriciareeves2@gmail.com

Have you moved, changed phone, changed email recently? We'll be updating directory sometime inSept so please email any changes to mfarlow@iastate.edu BEFORE 9-7-16.

All-Iowa MG Art Show Now on Exhibit

Come see the fabulous and unique Art Show at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's NorthGallery, now through October 16. There were 68 entries on exhibit at the reception from 27 artistsrepresenting Polk, Jasper, Decatur, Boone, Black Hawk, Story and Ringgold counties. The judges placedthe pieces as follows and selected 31 entries to hang in the North Gallery, which includes or representsa piece of art from each artist.Drawing: Laura McInerney, First Place; Shirley Wallace, Second Place; Linda Wilkinson, Third PlacePainting: Jane Reitz, First Place; Mary Rolfes, Second Place; Elsie Monthei, Third PlacePhotography: Deborah Shannan, First Place and Third Place; Margo Hutcheson, SecondPlace Mixed Media: Lindy Smith, First Place; Margaret Caldwell, Second Place; Robyn Hofland, Third PlaceCeramic: Nancy Eichmann, First PlaceMetal: Dennis Zaabel, First PlaceRepurposed: Shirley Wallace, First Place; Patricia Reeves, Second Place; Marilyn Moon, Third PlaceBest of Show: Lindy SmithPeople's Choice Award: Vicki Tow

Do you use Facebook? I f so, please check the various PCMG project Facebook pages regularly and "l ike" them so you can share news of upcomingevents wi th those who see your posts . You can search for them on name on FacebookPolk County Master GardenersPCMG Garden TourPolk County Master Gardeners Annua l Plant Sa leDiscovery Garden - Polk County Master GardenersDemonstration GardenPolk County Master Gardener GreenhouseEnabl ing GardenPCMG Demonstration GardenAn easy way to find any of the Facebook, webpages , or Volunteer Spots for PCMG gardens or projects i s to s tart a t the PolkCounty Master Gardener main web page. Here you wi l l find information about each PCMG garden and "project" and canconnect to thei r separate socia l media s i tes : CLICK HERE to vi s i t the Polk County Master Gardeners web page.

Community Requests/Updates Hubbell Elementary is looking for an enthusiastic individual to continue a long standing, gardening

program with our students. Needed is someone that could run bi monthly meetings, lasting no more

than 2 hours total. The program has been in place and functioning for over 6 years. We service theentire school population with a fun and educational program. Due to job change our previous organizerhad to leave, but will be available for advise/consultation. The program can be modified according to

what the new gardener sees as beneficial to the school, students or program. Please contact theschool office at 515-242-8414 or email Carrie.belt@dsmschools.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FEDERATED GARDEN CLUBS OF IOWA (FGCI)

GARDENING STUDY SCHOOL, COURSE IV - SERIES 11IOWA ARBORETUM, MADRID, IOWA

HUGHES EDUCATION CENTERSeptember 15-16, 2016

Open to the PublicSEPTEMBER 15, 2016 (Thursday)A New Garden for Iowa- the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden 1.0 hr Stephanie Jutila,President and CEO, Greater Des Moines Botanical GardenTECHNIQUES FOR GROWING FRUIT Diana Cochran, Dept. of Horticulture, ISUHOME IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Daniel Strey, Research Associate/Turfgrass Specialist, ISULUNCH (Please bring sack lunch)TREE IDENTIFICATION and OUTDOOR IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS Presentation and Exam following Tivon Feeley, Forest Health Program Leader, DNRSEPTEMBER 16, 2016 (Friday)TECHNIQUES FOR GROWING WOODY ORNAMENTALS, Brandon Miller, Graduate Assistant, Dept. of Horticulture, ISUSPECIALIZED STYLES OF GARDENING Lynnette Carpenter, Horticulture Educator12:15 LUNCH (Please bring sack lunch)12:45-3:30 EXAM____________________________________________________________________________________For full details and registration, click here or e-mail adamaelewis@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Agape Garden has a real need for volunteers to help gather and bag sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoesgrow in clumps close to the surface, so this is not as hard as it sounds. We need people to help withforking them out, gathering, bagging, and weighing. OuOr work times are Tuesday and Thursday 6:00

to 8:00 pm and Saturdays 8:00 to 10:30 am. Andrea Boughton 964-4908

alboughton@gmail.com

Kudos So far this year PCMG have made some major contributions to local food pantries.

Demonstration Garden

We've doubled our vegetable harvest over last year - with many thanks to both vegetable gardens nowproducing aplenty, as well as our expansion into the perennial vegetable garden area (squash!) Andthere will be more as the apple harvest continues. so far, 590 pounds from the vegetable garden and117 pounds from the orchard.

Enabling Garden As of August 23 there have been 313 pounds of produce donated to Altoona Food Pantry

Forest Avenue Outreach 729 lbs. of food donated from 8 raised beds (each bed is 20' x 4'). Produce is donated to St Vincent dePaul & Children and Family Urban Movement who distribute through their food pantries. We also have22 other raised beds leased out to refugees from Lutheran Services of Iowa as well as 4 active bucketgarden plots. We distributed 400 veggie plant through St Vincent de Paul food pantry, AbundantBuckets Community Garden, Crestview Elementary School Garden, Forest Ave Outreach's 3 Communitygardens and Moulton Elementary School Garden.

Not quite a ton but a lot of fresh food and they aren't done yet!!

Discovery Garden Renovation

Ribbon Cuttinglate July

enjoyed by many

before and during the fair

Photos from Dr. Schrock, Renee Leppert, Nancy Bodine,

and snitched for Dean Brand's posts to Discovery Garden Facebook page.

Welcome The Fall 2016 training class will start in early September. Please welcome the 37 newest PCMG!!

Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or

disability.