For our out-of-state readers who haven't heard, floods have been threatening homes and disrupting lives in Iowa this week, with the situation worsening as of today in Cedar Rapids.   Once the floodwaters recede, we can hopefully carry on with our lives, including the peace we gain in ...

Linn County Master Gardener Claire Smith describes how much water is enough  (obviously, many parts of Iowa have had too much this week) and other gardening hints:   We’re so excited:  my favorite daughter’s garden is growing by leaps and bounds.  We had no idea of the ...

   Only a gardener could get excited by a call to test out vermicompost, a.k.a., worm poop.  Such was the case when James Artis of TerraCycle, makers of the “world’s most eco-friendly products,” offered to send a sample of his company's products.  Worms create some of the ...

With the copious amounts of rainfall Eastern Iowa has received this spring, the Iowa Storm Water Education Program offers the following timely advice on lawns, runoff and water quality:       Can a Healthy Lawn Improve Water Quality?        If you live in a newer neighborhood, chances are that ...

From Linn County Master Gardener Claire Smith: Hi again - I promised to give you more info on the gardens that are being showcased in the Master Gardener Garden Walk.   First, though, a quick review of the Garden Walk info – Saturday, June 14, 2008; ...

This message is from S.E.E.D.: Dear Friends;   We invite you to an earth friendly, family friendly event.   Can you think of a better way to spend a balmy Iowa Summer Saturday than exploring the issues of sustainable living in the lush, green and fertile Iowa countryside?   All this, ...

Where do you go when you want a really great tenderloin? The Iowa Pork Producers Association is looking for the best breaded pork tenderloin in the state. To nominate the restaurant that you think has the best one, visit www.iowapork.org The person who nominates the winning restaurant will ...

   Following are Eastern Iowa gardening events scheduled during June. If your group has an activity not listed, please add information about the event in a comment below, or send an email to: Cindy.Hadish@gazcomm.com        Mon. June 2, noon to 3 p.m., and 5:30 – ...

   You can’t help but learn something when visiting Wanda Lunn’s garden. The Cedar Rapids woman has one of only two display gardens in Iowa for the Historic Iris Preservation Society, and she readily shares her 50-some years of gardening knowledge.      Wanda’s garden is ...

   Wasn't much of a tree. Neither showy nor stately. But when two storms in July and August of 2003 took down first one half, then the other, our backyard was forever changed, along with my opinion of the tree's value.    Birds lost their habitat and food source. ...