by Shay Magaraci | Aug 10, 2020 | Horticulture
Gardening in August Despite the heat and humidity, August is an important month for observing life in the garden, perhaps one of the most valuable gardening activities. I carve out time to putter often around my home garden, a 5,000 sq. ft. meadow and prairie-inspired...
by Shay Magaraci | Jul 23, 2020 | Horticulture
Plant Birthdays and Silphiums After reading Aldo Leopold’s book A Sand County Almanac in college, I have tried to keep his words close to heart and mind. In the essay titled “Prairie Birthdays,” Leopold shares an appreciation of plants coming into...
by Shay Magaraci | Jul 13, 2020 | Horticulture
What is Plant Blindness and How Can I Overcome It? People often lament “not seeing the forest for the trees,” fearful of becoming too consumed with minor details to see a situation in its totality. But scientists and plant lovers are troubled by the opposite scenario:...
by Shay Magaraci | Jul 1, 2020 | Horticulture
July is for Pollinators It’s July and your garden is thriving, perhaps only with weeding and occasional watering to keep you busy. But this is the gardener’s sweet spot—the time of year when you can sit outside and reap the rewards of seeds sown earlier. This month...
by Shay Magaraci | May 20, 2020 | Horticulture
Three Tips for Healthy Tomatoes The late-spring months of May and June provide ideal temperatures and conditions for planting tomatoes in Central Iowa. Whether you’ve grown food in your garden for decades, or if this season is your first attempt at growing your...
by Shay Magaraci | Apr 17, 2020 | Horticulture
Viewing the Garden in a New Way During our extended closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Botanical Garden team has used social media to share what’s growing and flowering in the Garden from week to week as spring progresses. Director of Horticulture and...
