This year has begun with the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine. At first the supply is limited and there is a strict order of distribution so most of us have to wait. Therefore, not a lot has changed yet, but we are optimistic for our season but cautious as well. We have known all along that the natural world of growing things has gone on and we have continued to nurture our green space in accordance with our mission of supplying a place where the Cedar Valley may connect with nature.

MARCH

The snow has melted off for now and our volunteer base is eager to get back in the swing of things.

The season is kicked off by a great group of Master Gardeners working in the orchard.

As always, I will include the names of volunteers if I have them, if you are not mentioned it does not mean we appreciate you any less.

Bonnie Wetzel, Kathy Saddler, Sandra Kokatan

APRIL

The rhythm of the year at the gardens begins for most of us at Spring time as we see the site come alive.

MAY

The grounds are looking wonderful and we begin the month with our plant sale.

The tulips bloomed a bit early so are on the wane but still colorful.

As the month progressed the flowering trees took center stage and put on a gorgeous display.

We had many days of rain but our great community volunteers from Rabo Agrifinance came out anyway

By the end of the month, we are ready to change out the tulips for our yearly annuals display, and the rest of the gardens are showing the promise of what is to come.

JUNE

As the state opens up fully and the mask mandate is lifted, we know we can move ahead with more events for the year.

As we get into the middle of the month the richness and variety of our great green space takes on the full display of wonderful color and texture that we love.

Of course, the gardens don’t look this good without a tremendous amount of labor on the part of our terrific group of volunteers.

Today we are working in the Children's Garden

Not only do we pull weeds and plant things but we take on a variety of projects. This year a group installed a water line extension from the orchard to the shade garden.

Now we can water the shade garden with less hauling of hoses

As we wind up the month of June, we begin to really see the reward for all of this work as the gardens put on their yearly show including more fruit from the orchard. Everywhere we look, we find the glories of the natural world.

We move toward the end of June and things are ramping up. The maintenance team has received the last part needed to finish up the new water line from the Orchard to the Shade Garden

A much-needed new full-time staff member is added to our team; Jackie Falconer has been working part-time as the leader of our Monarch Zone project and we all welcome her to her new position.

JULY

As the Summer moves into full swing our space is looking magnificent; from the entrance gate and on into the gardens everywhere I look, I see color and a great sense of peace flows into my soul.

Thanks to a generous donor we have purchased a new shade cloth for the Children’s Garden and Rob and Randy put it up.

The year meanders into the heart of Summer and we put on our evening event.

The Master Gardener Orchard is bearing more fruit this year and our partner-Iowa State Extension-comes out for a look.

From the left: Dave Schelete, Vaughn Griffith, “unknown” Steven Eilers

In front from left; Kathy Payne, Pat Hoppner, Bonnie Wetzel

All through the years in the pages of our history, we find volunteers working, names and faces change but the constant fact is that we have been and continued to be, blessed with a volunteer base that makes this green space possible. One group that toils unseen and underappreciated for the most part is the mowing crew:

A huge thanks to these folks; this year’s crew:

Dick and Judi Nelson, Dick Yantis, Ross Chapin, Mark Ganske, Jerry Schmidt, Larry Dodge, Pam Richter, Marianna Gibbons, Mary Fratzke, Chuck Schulte, and substitute Howard Craven.

AUGUST

The dog days of Summer are upon us, this season has been hot and dry, our garden workers have battled to keep this spot an oasis of beauty. There is lots of good stuff in store for this month.

Approaching the middle of the month and it is time to harvest the plum crop and the Master Gardeners came out. We had lots of help  which makes for short work. We had 180 pounds for the food bank.

The group shots from back: left to right-Paul, Dave, Marisa, and then bottom left to right-Linda, Diane, Janet, Sarah.

The other group shot is the same folks except Bonnie is in the top row next to Dave.

This month is coming to the end and things seem back to almost normal. We have been making our presence known to the Cedar Valley again this year by setting up at various events around town.

SEPTEMBER

As I walk around today, I can tell that we are turning the corner into the latter part of this year and the space has taken on that mellow vibrant look.

These incredible spaces do not look this good without the tireless work of our volunteers like these folks weeding in the Rose Garden. We are also thankful for the businesses in our community, such as Next Generation Wireless, for allowing their employees to spend the day volunteering with us

It is time for the second year of this great event, a big shout out to the wonderful group of volunteers that have worked so hard to put this together.

For the second year, the Blackhawk County Master Gardeners held a multi-county Master Gardener’s meeting at the Arboretum.

OCTOBER

As our season winds down for another year I want to recognize again the people who make everything possible, our volunteers.

Today is a bright sunny day late into this month and the Arb is putting on its end-of-the-year display.

Before the snow falls and we prepare to close for the Winter I want to thank all my fellow board members for the great efforts they all put in this year. Coming off the challenging times of last year’s pandemic and the uncertain future; we have moved on and are concluding a great year of progress.

Bonnie Wetzle, Gaylord Stauffer, Howard Craven, Jacob Duffield, Kathy Sadler, Mary Meier, Mary Wilber, Melinda Young, Nancy Friedman, Pat Higby, Pat McGivern, Paul Kammerdiner, Rosalyn Middleton, Steve Buckles, Tracy Grandy, Vaughn Griffith, Warren George

NOVEMBER

 The Tulips are planted and we are starting to get ready to close up shop on another fun year at the Arboretum. 

We are putting the benches and plant containers in the Education Center and collecting the gnomes. We also put some fencing around the plant beds in the Rose Garden.

The fish tank is fortified against marauding predators. A huge thank you to our great Volunteers and staff who helped put the gardens to bed today.

Paul, Kathy, Jackie, Tracy, Rob 

Today the sky is gray and a chill is in the air, the grass is still green and many plants and trees are putting on one last hurrah of vibrant color while others have packed it in and are waiting for the long winter.

So as the sun sets on another year, I can’t wait to see what is in store for us in 2022!