The Iowa Garden

Yesterday I had the very great pleasure of spending almost three hours with Mary Harvey, one of the nicest, most generous people I’ve met. She told me stories that made me laugh and gasp and want to be just like her when I grow up.

But the important bits for you to know: they’re open now, and if you’re into starting things from seed, they have quite a nice collection. There were also hundreds (thousands?) of little sprouts making their way up into the world, ready to join your garden in a month or two.

The best part for me was walking in and taking a deep breath of that small. You know it… the wet, earthy, dirty smell that is so incredible, especially with a little undernote of compost. YUMMMMMMMMM.

Okay, enough drooling.

Harvey’s is open now. Go see them. If you have self-control. Or want to start seeds.

Tell Mary I said ‘hi.’

Harvey’s is located at 611 Nile Kinnick Dr. S., Adel, IA 50003
Phone (515) 993-3916
Visit their website.

The Flying Frog will open May 1st. If you haven’t been there, plan to visit (if you have been there, plan to visit). They have over 1000 varieties of hosta and are adding more perennials each year. The display gardens are beautiful. The location is peaceful. If Summerset Winery has music that day, it floats into the gardens and makes you want to sit on the deck sipping a cold drink all afternoon.

Marsha and Bruno are not just great plantspeople but great people in general. Bruno is going to be at the downtown Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, too.

Throughout the summer the Frog has Open House events… enjoy refreshments and special pricing on certain plants. This year’s Open House dates:

Every weekend in May
June 11-13
June 25-27
July 16-18
July 30, 31 and August 1
August 20-22
August 27-29

If you want to visit during the week, give them a call. 515-961-3585 or 515-208-9002 (cell).
Website

The address is:
5148 155th Avenue, Indianola, Iowa. It’s 30 minutes door-to-door from my house in River Bend.