The Polk County Master Gardeners maintain its own web site at www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/info/mastergardener/mg.htm
Polk County Extension Master Gardeners
The Master Gardener program is a volunteer service training program whereby adults are given advanced training in horticulture in exchange for volunteer service to the community.
Mission - The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to provide current, research-based, home horticulture information and education to the citizens of Iowa through ISU Extension programs and projects. Through their participation in educational activities, Master Gardeners also increase their own personal knowledge in horticulture.
Demonstration Garden - Urbandale, Iowa
The Demonstration Garden is the oldest Polk County Extension Master Gardener project. It is a cooperative arrangement between the Polk County Extension District and the City of Urbandale.
Set in an out-of-the-way location near the Walker Johnson Park, the beauty and interesting displays contained here make the drive well worth the effort.
Demonstration Garden - Dewey Gibbs Road & 92nd Street.
The purposes of the Demonstration Garden are to provide a working garden area for:
- Demonstration of various garden techniques
- Hosting classes Maintaining environments suitable for:
- annuals
- perennials
- vegetables
- berries
- orchard fruits
The garden opens with a lovely rose garden accompanied by dwarf conifers and unfolds into two orchards, herb gardens, small fruits, native grasses, and many demonstration gardens full of creative ideas and horticulture information. The emphasis here is on learning, the bonus is the beauty that abounds.
On Thursday evenings, the Master Gardeners offer "How Does A Garden Grow" - a series of lectures held in the garden and open to the public at no charge. The lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. and all that's required is a lawn chair and an interest in gardening. 2007 Schedule of dates, topics, and speakers.