Des Moines Register
06-07-07
Urbandale group hopes to grow garden interest
The demonstration garden near Valerius Elementary in Urbandale may soon be
advertised on the city's Web site or in a newsletter.
By ELIZABETH OWENS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
The Polk County Master Gardeners are worried their demonstration garden in
Urbandale is more of a secret garden.
That's why Chairwoman Margaret Spikes attended Tuesday's Urbandale City
Council meeting. She asked for the city's help in the garden's growth and
visibility, and city officials pledged to offer assistance.
"It's a tremendous asset for our community," said Urbandale Mayor Bob
Andeweg.
The demonstration garden, a project with Iowa State University Extension, is
located at the corner of Dewey Gibbs Road and 92nd Street, just across from
Valerius Elementary School.
The master gardeners offer a lecture series, "How Does A Garden Grow," on
Thursday evenings in the summer at the garden. Spikes said that despite their
best effort with signs, they still have people who can't find the site.
Speaking during the open forum portion of Tuesday's council meeting, Spikes
requested the city essentially help them advertise, possibly through the Web site.
"We think that we have a lot to offer," Spikes said.
The demonstration garden emphasizes various techniques, as well as includes
specialized sections such as a butterfly garden and a vegetable garden. New this
summer is an ABC Kinder Garden geared toward children's learning.
Urbandale City Manager Robert Layton said the city would likely be able to help
through pictures of the demonstration garden on the Web site and in the city
newsletter.
Even without this additional advertising, Spikes said their summer classes have
grown from about 15 to 20 people to an average of 40 to 60 people.
The city already provides the master gardeners with free water for the
demonstration garden, but the water is provided through a fire hydrant, which
Spikes said is difficult to use. She asked Tuesday that the city look into a
different format for providing them water, which Andeweg said they would do.
Spikes said the group would like a financial contribution from the city to grow the
garden. A landscape architect has already done a master plan, but Spikes said
it's a "Cadillac design for a Chevy budget."
Andeweg said the most logical place for the master gardeners to request city
money from would be hotel/motel allocations, which will be done through the
budget process at the beginning of next year.
Reporter Elizabeth Owens can be reached at (515) 284-8142 or
elowens@dmreg.com