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Participants will gain insight into pollinators, vegetables and flowers, and urban ecology

Just in time for the summer growing season, the Master Gardener Program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning three, one-hour-long educational webcasts. On the second Tuesday of the month, June- August, gardeners and plant enthusiasts will be able to learn about pollinators, perennial plant combinations and answers to frequently asked gardening questions at no cost.

“The webcasts are open to anybody who is interested in learning more about these topics. They’re not just for Master Gardener volunteers,” said Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The topics pertain to experienced and beginning gardeners, and provide insight into timely issues. Participating Master Gardener volunteers will gain three continuing education hours.

Jessie Lowry, director of conservation and research at Blank Park Zoo, in Des Moines, said her June session will touch on the importance of pollinators, why they’ve declined, and what Iowans can do to help.

“We’ll talk about what makes a good pollinator garden and we’ll highlight the migration and the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly,” Lowry said.

The three one-hour webcasts will be shown at the Cass County Extension office from 7-8 PM on June 11, July 9, and August 13. No pre- registration is required, and there is no cost to attend. For more information call 712-243-1132 or email [email protected].

Webcast topics:

June 11, 2019 7-8 P.M. Give Your Garden Wings. Jessie Lowry, director of conservation and research at Blank Park Zoo, will share pollinator garden best practices. Participants will learn what to plant and will get to explore the monarch butterfly migration.

July 9, 2019 7-8 P.M. Gardening FAQ. From vegetables to flowers, explore the in-depth answers to frequently asked gardening questions with Aaron Steil, assistant director at Reiman Gardens.

August 13, 2019 7-8 P.M. Ecology Plus Diversity. Explore how to create plant communities that mimic nature with Grant Thompson, assistant professor of horticulture at Iowa State.

For more information, contact the Cass County Extension Office. For administrative questions about the Master Gardener program, contact Susan DeBlieck at 515-294-6764 or [email protected].