Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

7/12/04

Contacts:
Cindy Haynes, Horticulture, (515) 294-4006, chaynes@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Garden Column for the week of July 16, 2004

Gathering in the Garden

By Cindy Haynes
Horticulture Specialist
Iowa State University Extension

Gardens make great gathering places for friends and neighbors. This year the Home Demonstration Gardens are not only gathering places for people, but birds are invited as well.

Several annual flowers that appeal to our feathered friends are showcased in this year’s gardens. Twelve cultivars of sunflowers outline the diamond shaped “garden for the birds.” All sunflower cultivars are at least 5 feet tall and have large, showy yellow, red, orange or white flowers. Several of the sunflower varieties produce pollen-free flowers for our two-legged visitors. Sorghum, niger and safflower which are components of bird-seed mixes, are also planted in the garden. The gardens contain petunias, flowering tobacco and salvia for hummingbirds.

Birds also need shelter. Living quarters will be provided by birdhouse gourds, which sprawl around the outside of the garden. A birdbath, specially created for each garden, is placed in the center. Come see the creative talents of each farm superintendent in their birdbath design.

While birds are invited to reap the rewards of this year’s garden, hopefully raccoons won’t raid the sweet corn patch. Another features of this year’s garden are six varieties of Triple Sweet(tm) or synergistic sweet corn. These hybrids combine the genetics of the sugar-enhanced and supersweet sweet corn to produce sweet and tender kernels. Hopefully a few varieties will be ready for testing at each field day, if the raccoons accommodate our plans.

Other vegetables that should be ready for sampling include beets, cucumbers, and potatoes. Red, gold, white and candy-striped (red and white) beet varieites are growing in the garden. At least five varieties of slicing cucumbers are already producing in several of the gardens, and eight varieties of baking potatoes were looking good in Ames last week.

Garden visitors can also feast their eyes on a multitude of annual vinca. A rainbow of colors is provided by more than a dozen varieties of vinca. Come pick your favorite color combinations.

The Home Demonstration Garden is not the only area of possible interest during the field day. Each farm conducts research or displays plants that are unique to each site. These added features include All-American Selections, fruit crops, windbreaks, field crops, melons, prairie plants and even a weed identification garden.

So, let’s gather together in the garden this summer for a few tasty treats and lots of ideas. Below is a list of field days and farm locations or you can visit www.ag.iastate.edu/farms. Hope to see you there!

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The fullsize photo is 348K. Caption: This is one of the 12 cultivars of sunflowers featured at the ISU Home Demonstration Gardens planted in 10 locations around Iowa.

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