To the editor:

Gardens Alive!

The annual garden seminar, held on April 6 by the Fort Dodge Area Gardeners was all about growing things! We had two really great speakers. Dr. Ajay Nair, associate professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, spoke on growing vegetables, and gave us valuable information on planting, the value of adding organic matter to the soil, crop rotation, and soil testing. Did you know that tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes are all in the same vegetable family? Remember that when rotating your crops yearly.

Our second speaker was Jeff Becker, of Becker Florists. He gave us many ideas for providing continuous color in our gardens throughout the growing season. For instance, grasses that add color and texture with height, colorful leaves, and feathery seed heads are very popular. Shrubs, such as Ninebark, that change color in the fall, and hanging baskets always add lots of color. He also made note to remember that hanging baskets and potted plants need very frequent watering and fertilizing for continual color.

We would like to thank the following local businesses for their continued support of our seminars by providing items for door prizes.

Thank you to Fort Dodge Ford, Community Tap/Smokehouse, Fort 8 Theaters, Culvers, Ninja-Sushi Steak House, Casa Blanca Steak House, Tobacco Outlet and Grocery, Pancheros, Peking Garden, Stone Creek Landscape and Nursery, Lefti’s Bar and Grill, Kemna Auto, Smitty’s Landscape and Nursery, Northwest Bank, Shimkat Auto, Walgreens, JRG Supply, C&S Products, Citizens Community Credit Union, Pizza Ranch, Becker Garden Center, and our own club members that provided items for door prizes.

It was a really fun morning, and we hope to see you next year.

Sharon Perkins

Fort Dodge Area Garden Club