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Iowa Arboretum

www.iowaarboretum.org

Rainbow Iris Farm

www.rainbowfarms.net

Kelly Norris

www.kellydnorris.com

ISU Extension

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For information on the Fort Dodge Area Gardeners

contact Leroy Jorgensen at (515) 332-2280

or the Webster County ISU Extension

office at 576-2119. The club usually meets there

on the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.

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Saturday morning, with a few flakes of snow falling out of a steel gray sky, probably wasn't the sort of day anyone would really want to spend outside in their garden.

It was, however, perfect weather to sit inside and learn a thing or two at the 31st annual Fort Dodge Area Gardeners seminar in the Career Education Building at Iowa Central Community College.

Spring brings plenty of greening with it and after hearing Iowa State University Extension Program Specialist Linda Naeve talk about using environmentally friendly gardening techniques, gardeners will be better able to help protect their environments too.

Naeve offered a number of things gardeners can do to that are considered green: composting, growing native plants, maintaining healthy soil and reducing water usage through good management such as selective irrigation.

She also talked about using integrated pest management, which uses cultural control such as proper pruning and plant selection along with mechanical barriers and hand picking to reduce pesticide use.

"Balance and smart choices," she said. "It economical and environmentally sound."

Kelly Norris, who operates the Rainbow Iris Farm near Bedford, has a passion for the iris. He has more than 1,300 types growing on his place - with about 800 of those varieties available for sale.

Norris, 22, began operating the facility after convincing his parents to purchase it; he was 16 at the time. His passion for gardening began when he would visit nurseries while traveling with his grandmother which eventually got him around to the iris.

"I'm a plant nerd across the board," he said, "I really got into trouble with the iris."

Besides his passion for irises, Norris also fully embraces the green concept, and he said he hopes it's here to stay.

"It's first nature for me," he said. "I hope it becomes an innate force in people's minds and not simply the right thing to do."

He helped illustrate the idea that green gardening isn't exactly new; the Japanese have been growing plants on roofs for centuries.

"Green roofs are not a new concept," he said.

He also talked about the Iris Virginica, a species found in the wild in Iowa and throughout the Midwest and East. It grows in streams and marshes. He helped rescue some of them from a marsh that was about to be drained, but suggested they be left alone otherwise.

"You shouldn't dig them from the wild," he said.

Norris has also found time to write about gardening, his current book, "Iowa Gardener's Travel Guide" is already in publication and a new volume, "Planting Passion - The Story of why Gardeners Garden," is in manuscript. The new book is the story of his own gardening experience and that of 17 other Iowa gardeners.

"It's the evangelism of green things," he said.

Darrell Christensen, of Dakota City, grows mostly tomatoes, lettuce and other food crops. He explained that his flower growing has been pretty limited, but that may change soon.

"I'm gonna give them a shot," he said. "They seem fairly easy to maintain."

Diane Madoerin, of Webster City, is already growing several varieties of iris, including Siberian and Japanese in her landscape. She came away with a new appreciation of the iris.

"I was astounded at the different colors available now and the duration of the blooms," she said.

She also said she enjoyed the presentation on going green, finding that it reinforces her beliefs in the green techniques she is already using.

Kevin Lantz, of Boone, was the day's final speaker. He joked that his job title at the Iowa Arboretum includes a lot of different words before manager - grounds, wedding, facilities being among the many hats he wears.

He spoke about the facilities at the private, nonprofit, 40-acre site in Boone County and the various special events on the horizon that members can attend.

LeRoy Jorgensen, president of the almost 40-member Fort Dodge Area Gardeners, had hope for the weeks ahead,

"Spring is just around the corner," he said.

He explained that the annual event is held as a spring kickoff to help get people enthused and out into the garden. He said one member has already planted a few things, so it must be working.

Door prizes donated by local merchants, homemade treats from the club members and a display offering information from the ISU Extension Service and the club were also included in the day's events, but the real purpose of the day was summed up pretty well by ISU Extension Service speaker Linda Naeve.

"My goal is that everyone goes home with at least one new idea," she said.

Contact Hans Madsen at (515) 573-2141 or hmadsen@messengernews.net