Iowa State University Extension in cooperation with the Icarian Heritage Foundation planted a pumpkin patch and established an Adams County Family Heritage Garden Saturday, May 19th at the historical Icarian Colony site east of Corning. The gardens are Adams County Extension’s project to commemorate Iowa State University’s 150th anniversary. The anniversary is being celebrated all year long with special projects in every county of the state.
Six Adams County families contributed historical perennial flowers to start the Family Heritage Garden. Cliff and Illah Brown brought a peony bush from Cliff’s home place 1 mile west of Corning. Dean and Diane Davis contributed daylilies from the home of Thel and Ruby Harlow in Brooks. Thel and Ruby are the grandparents of Dean Davis and came to Adams County in the 1870’s.
Ellen Grace Brown from Prescott brought a split-leaf peony from her great grandfather Walton Gibson’s farm to the garden. The farm is still in the family and owned today by Ellen Grace’s son Byron.
Jennifer Moore planted a blue flag Iris in the garden in memory of her mother Lloris James. Lloris brought this iris plant to her home in town from her mother’s farm in Douglas township. Her mother’s maiden name was McFarling and they lived 2-3 miles north of Dickeyville on old highway 34.
Beverly Heaton brought one of Allen Heaton’s peony bushes to the garden. Allen was an ISU Master Gardener and was involved in many volunteer gardening and pruning efforts. The peony Bev brought to the Heritage Garden was transplanted from Allen’s grandma Walter,s place in Brooks. It originally came from Ohio and is referred to in the family as Grandma Walter’s early red peony according to Bev.
Erma Fuller brought several perennial flowers from the Marvin Fuller farm east of Corning. They included a peony bush, a compass plant and a wild rose.
Planting the pumpkins and flowers were project chair, Adams County Extension Council member and Icarian Board member Tim Ennis, Icarian board member Norma Jean Mosman, retired area farmer Delmar Chafa, Master Gardener Shirley Mallas, and Adams County Extension Education Director, Chris Nelson. The heritage garden project is intended to be an ongoing effort. Other families wishing to have plants from their families included in the garden should contact Chris Nelson, Adams County extension at 641-322-3184 to make arrangements.8-17-07Tim watering.JPG,New pumpkin patch Icaria07.JPG,Pumpkins Tim 07.JPG.