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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Iowa Arboretum & Gardens 
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T095722
CREATED:20260210T181759Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202519Z
UID:7602-1775898000-1775919600@iowaarboretum.org
SUMMARY:2026 Spring Fever Symposium
DESCRIPTION:SEED STORIES\nJoin us for our biggest education event of the year! We have an incredible lineup of speakers to pack this day with gardening goodness\, all about seeds. Pre-registration is required. Open to the public… all are welcome!\n \nApril 11th\, 2026; 9am-3pm\nLunch and refreshments provided with registration.\n \nREGISTER HERE\n \n\nSchdeule:\n \n\n9:00 am – Doors Open9:30 am – Opening Remarks9:40 am – Maddy Stevenson: Seeds With a Story10:40 am – Break10:55 am – Vivian Bernau: Writing the Next Chapter of Our Seed Stories12:10 pm – Lunch12:55 pm – Marcus Jansen: Behind the Breeding2:10 pm – Break2:25 pm – Fatima Najar: Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Top Performers3pm – Adjourn\n \n \nPresentation Descriptions:\n \nSeeds with a Story – Maddy Stevenson\nIf a seed could speak\, what story would it tell? Would it whisper about the perfect growing day\, or proudly recall the cultures and cuisines it has shaped? Join Maddy as she shares plants encountered in her travels and the surprising\, resourceful roles they play. Discover how these plants influence diets\, brighten gardens\, and sustain communities across the globe.\n \nWriting the Next Chapter of Our Seed Stories – Vivian Bernau\nEvery seed has a story. And researching\, crafting\, and sharing those stories has been at the very heart of Seed Savers Exchange’s mission since its founding more than a half-century ago.  In this presentation\, Vivian will take a deep dive into why stories are such an important part of saving and stewarding seed varieties. She will share some of Seed Savers Exchange’s most interesting and inspiring seed stories and walk attendees through the organization’s accession policy—including why a documented seed story plays such a critical role in whether a seed donation is accepted into the Seed Savers Exchange Collection. Vivian will wrap up her presentation by showing how every gardener and seed saver can add their own chapter to a seed history by selecting and cultivating specific varietal traits.\n \nIowa Arboretum & Gardens 2025 Top Performers – Fatima Najar\nAfter three rigorous seasons\, the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Trial Program selected the first perennial Top Performers that began the program in 2023. The Trial Program Coordinator\, Fatima\, will go over the climatic patterns in Central Iowa for 2025 and the four perennials that proved to be the most resilient for Central Iowa’s landscape.\n \nBehind the Breeding: The Journey of Developing New Garden Plants from Seed – Marcus Jansen\nHave you considered what it takes to make some of your favorite plant varieties available to you? In this session\, we will peek behind the curtain of plant breeding\, exploring how new garden plants are bred\, developed\, and launched into the market. From perennial and annual ornamentals to cut flowers and vegetables\, we will explore how seed is produced and plants are evaluated for gardeners in Iowa and gardeners around the world. Through this presentation\, we will highlight some of the people that make these plants possible and some of the gardens that make it all worthwhile.\n \nAbout the speakers:\n \nVivian Bernau\nVivian Bernau brings a lifelong passion for agricultural biodiversity and a wealth of experience in plant genetics to her new role as director of preservation at Seed Savers Exchange (SSE). She has devoted her career to safeguarding crop diversity and ensuring that seeds—and the stories they carry—are preserved for future generations. Before joining SSE\, Vivian served as lead scientist and maize curator for the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Plant Introduction Research Unit. There\, she managed one of the nation’s largest maize germplasm collections\, developing innovative\, data-driven strategies to maintain and distribute thousands of unique varieties to researchers and growers worldwide.\n \nVivian earned her doctorate in horticulture and crop science from The Ohio State University\, where her research explored drought tolerance and local adaptation in chile peppers of southern Mexico. Her commitment to global food security has taken her beyond U.S. borders\, including research collaborations with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia\, where she studied crop wild relatives and strategies for conserving genetic diversity.\n \nMarcus Jansen\nMarcus Jansen\, MS (He/Him) was raised in Quincy\, Illinois and is an alum of the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture. He now lives and gardens in Batavia\, Illinois and is a Product Manager for PanAmerican Seed of Ball Horticultural Company. In this role\, Marcus oversees the Pro Landscape Performer Program and manages a portfolio of annuals and perennials in the PanAmerican Seed assortment\, working to bring new plant varieties to growers and gardeners all over the world.\n \nMaddy Stevenson\nMaddy Stevenson is the Horticulture Technician at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. She plays a key role in designing and maintaining beautiful garden spaces for members and guests to enjoy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University and brings a diverse range of experiences to her role. Maddy started working in garden centers near her hometown of Story City\, Iowa. During her time at ISU\, she studied and shared horticultural practices as far away as Uganda and India. Maddy is excited to share her love of plants and create gardens that inspire people.\n \nFatima Najar\nFatima Najar has been with the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Trial Program for three years\, and wasinvaluable in helping start the program. Fatima grew up in Sioux City\, Iowa later going to Iowa Stateto pursue her bachelor’s degree in Forestry. Before joining the arboretum\, she worked as a field techniciancollecting data on native prairie plants and their importance to pollinators\, and on a special project with Botrychium (moonwort).\n \nAs Curatorial Assistant\, Fatima serves as a liaison between the public and horticulture industry while also collecting evaluation data on every perennial and shrub variety every two weeks. She does incredible work balancing those responsibilities with care of the garden and managing outreach. Fatima is passionate about conservation and sustainability\, and loves to communicate those interests to diverse audiences.
URL:https://iowaarboretum.org/event/2026-spring-fever-symposium/
LOCATION:Iowa Arboretum & Gardens\, 1875 Peach Avenue\, MADRID\, IA\, 50156
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iowaarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Spring-Fever-Symposium-Banner-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="David McKinney":MAILTO:mark.schneider@iowaarboretum.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260419T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260419T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T095722
CREATED:20251231T204531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T174535Z
UID:6808-1776600000-1776610800@iowaarboretum.org
SUMMARY:Taking Time to See ~ a workshop in watercolor journaling
DESCRIPTION:Taking Time to See ~ a workshop in watercolor journaling ~ with artist Jane Marie Degeneffe ~ Sunday\, April 19\, 2026 from Noon to 3pm ~ Registration is required and space is limited. $25 per person. REGISTER HERE \nIn this workshop\, you begin with choosing one of the flowers or branches provided to focus on and paint. This first watercolor painting done in class will be an illustration for your writing \, to inspire what you add to your journal at home. The blank watercolor pad and paints provided will be a take home starter for your journal. Quotes\, reflections\, poetry and goals or memories are always good topics for journaling. Workshop runs from 1-3pm with an opening reception from 12-1pm before class starts. Here is a link to more information about this workshop experience from the artist herself: WORKSHOP INFORMATION
URL:https://iowaarboretum.org/event/6808/
LOCATION:Iowa Arboretum & Gardens\, 1875 Peach Avenue\, MADRID\, IA\, 50156
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iowaarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Taking-Time-to-See-APR-2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Kim Anderson":MAILTO:info@iowaarboretum.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260425T081500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260425T100000
DTSTAMP:20260405T095722
CREATED:20260202T160134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T160304Z
UID:7502-1777104900-1777111200@iowaarboretum.org
SUMMARY:Run for the Trees & NEW KIDS FUN RUN!
DESCRIPTION:SATURDAY\, APRIL 25\, 2026 ~ REGISTER HERE ~ Join us to support the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens by running the 5K or walking the 1K along our amazing gardens\, prairie and woodland grounds during the heart of springtime – individuals\, groups or families are welcomed to participate! NEW THIS YEAR – we have added a KIDS FUN RUN around the paved\, accessible Treehouse Village trail loop – perfect for children of all abilities up to age 12 who will run\, walk\, or roll (wheelchairs\, walkers and mobility chairs welcomed to participate)! 5K & 1K RUN/WALK starts at 9am ~ KIDS FUN RUN starts at 8:15am. RAIN DATE for all activities is Sunday\, April 26\, 2026. 
URL:https://iowaarboretum.org/event/run-for-the-trees-new-kids-fun-run/
LOCATION:Iowa Arboretum & Gardens\, 1875 Peach Avenue\, MADRID\, IA\, 50156
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iowaarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Events-promos-5-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Kim Anderson":MAILTO:info@iowaarboretum.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260425T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260425T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T095722
CREATED:20260202T161653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T161653Z
UID:7506-1777107600-1777118400@iowaarboretum.org
SUMMARY:ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION!
DESCRIPTION:SATURDAY\, APRIL 25\, 2026 ~ 9am to 12noon Join us for our annual celebration of all things trees ~ from tree themed activities and crafts to Treehouse Village Playtime and KIDS CLIMB event with the Iowa Arborists Association on site to assist with tree climbing! We’ll also have scavenger hunts\, snacks\, tree planting ceremony and a free tree sapling for all attendees! General admission rates apply and include all Arbore Day Celebration activities ~ members are FREE! **RUN FOR THE TREES PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO FREE AFTER THEIR RUN/WALK!**
URL:https://iowaarboretum.org/event/arbor-day-celebration-4/
LOCATION:Iowa Arboretum & Gardens\, 1875 Peach Avenue\, MADRID\, IA\, 50156
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iowaarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ARBOR-DAY-2024-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Kim Anderson":MAILTO:info@iowaarboretum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260502T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T095722
CREATED:20260202T162407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T195315Z
UID:7509-1777539600-1777737600@iowaarboretum.org
SUMMARY:ANNUAL PLANT SALE!
DESCRIPTION:Enhance and beautify your garden with the best plants at the annual Plant Sale at Iowa Arboretum & Gardens! \nDiscover an outstanding selection of perennials and specialty plants carefully chosen for their beauty\, performance\, and suitability for Iowa landscapes. Whether you’re refreshing a garden bed\, adding vibrant color\, or searching for that one standout specimen\, you’ll find high-quality plants hand-selected by our horticulture expert. \nKnowledgeable staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and help you choose the right plants for your space. Plus\, every purchase supports the Arboretum’s mission to connect people of all ages with nature. \nShop early for the best selection
URL:https://iowaarboretum.org/event/annual-plant-sale-2/
LOCATION:Iowa Arboretum & Gardens\, 1875 Peach Avenue\, MADRID\, IA\, 50156
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iowaarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Annual-Plant-Sale-4.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="David McKinney":MAILTO:mark.schneider@iowaarboretum.org
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