We live in Iowa, where the winter is cold. Many plants we see in magazines or on television just won’t grow here. Iowa State University Extension and Iowa Gardening magazine have teamed up to provide information to Iowans about gardening in Iowa. “Gardening in the Zone” consists of two-minute video spots that are aired on several Iowa television stations. Here in Northeast Iowa, watch KCRG TV-9 Fridays on the Morning News. These spots feature Iowa Gardening’s Liz Gilman along with an ISU expert. A wide variety of topics are covered, from trees and shrubs to vegetables, flowers and lawns. Last spring there was even a segment on morel mushrooms.
These spots are also available online at www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu at the bottom of the left hand column. While you’re at ISU’s Yard and Garden Online, check out some of the other information this site offers. There are links to Extension gardening publications, the Horticulture and Home Pest Newsletter and Iowa States’ weekly garden column. You can also find the Department of Horticulture, Entomology and Forestry. If you’ve had insect or disease problems this year, click on the ISU Plant Disease Clinic for color pictures of common disease problems. If you can’t find an answer to your question, you will find the telephone number for the ISU Hortline or their e-mail address for Hortline Online.
Once you’ve been there, you’ll probably want to bookmark the Yard and Garden Online site so you have a quick link for horticultural information at your fingertips.
Bob Hauer/JLH
4/30/2006