Project GREEN Iowa City

06/19/2026

A Fairy Wonderland in the Woods

Colleen Meng has transformed her wooded hillside lot into a fairy wonderland—one designed as much for her grandchildren's imaginations as for her own enjoyment. The transformation began with replacing a deteriorating retaining wall with a concrete block wall, creating the structure needed for a creative, multilevel landscape that reflects Colleen's whimsical design aesthetic.

Working with a modest budget and plenty of determination, Colleen cleared the sloping hillside and planted thousands of specialty hostas along winding paths softened with wood chips. Enhancing the fairyland atmosphere, repurposed wooden pallets form the setting for an outdoor tea party, while LED lighting adds a festive glow after dark.

Swings are tucked into a cozy corner near a playhouse affectionately known as the "Kids Kottage," a special retreat reserved for the youngest family members and their grandma. Throughout the garden, shade-loving plants thrive beneath the trees, creating a magical setting where imagination flourishes.

Part fairy tale, part playground, and part sanctuary, this enchanting garden proves that love, inspiration, and hard work can transform a wooded hillside into a magical place for generations to enjoy.

06/17/2026

The Open Garden Weekend 2026 provides a unique opportunity for gardeners and those who want to be to connect with a passionate community and appreciate different gardening journeys. Gardeners visit other gardens to seek inspiration for plant combinations and design layouts, discover new or unusual plant varieties, and learn practical growing techniques from fellow enthusiasts.
Out-of-town gardeners should take advantage of this two-day horticultural event by planning to stay overnight in one of our many fine motels and dining out in our extraordinary restaurants.

06/16/2026

From Woodland Shade to Garden Harvest

The charming craftsman bungalow in University Heights owned by Mike & Lisa Haverkamp is nestled on a quiet street that ends at the edge of an urban forest. The sloping front yard is a shady retreat featuring low-growing groundcovers, Solomon seal, ligularia, wild ginger, rudbeckia, a variety of specialty hostas, variegated ground elder, and gooseneck loosestrife, providing color throughout the summer. Ostrich ferns and peonies rise above the understory, adding structure, texture, and seasonal interest. A climbing rose adorns the wooden arch along the side yard. Shade-loving plants continue along the sidewalk to the backyard, where a goldfish pond serves as the centerpiece of an inviting outdoor living space. A hardscape patio, gazebo, and fire pit provide sheltered spots to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

The Haverkamps share garden duties. Lisa enjoys changing up the property’s long-established gardens by adding colorful plants. A snowball hydrangea with large blooms is paired with liatris, daisies, native perennials, and carefully selected cultivars and garden art to create a vibrant display to attract pollinators. Mike tends a spacious vegetable garden that has been enclosed to deter deer and protect the homegrown hops, which are cultivated for craft beer.

This thoughtfully designed garden blends shade, water, native perennials and cultivars, and food into a welcoming retreat that celebrates nature and the joy of home gardening. From its shady woodland front to its tranquil pond and productive vegetable and hop gardens, this lovely landscape invites visitors to explore and linger.

06/15/2026

Gardening inspiration varies. Gardening appeals to a variety of people. Some are fascinated by unusual plant varieties; others are horticultural enthusiasts seeking scientific knowledge; some approach gardening as a contribution to environmental health; others maintain a garden to improve the appearance of their home and play space. Make your plan to attend the Open Garden Weekend 2026 on June 27 & 28 to see how gardeners combine artistic expression with visual appeal.

06/14/2026

Whether you are a keen gardener or not green-fingered at all, attending the Open Garden Weekend is a great community experience. Every open garden is a lovely experience: Visiting some gorgeous gardens, meeting people and having fun with gardeners. Gardens can range from small secret gardens to large sprawling landscapes. Each person’s garden is so completely different, yet special for their own reasons. It is amazing to see how gardeners have transformed their outdoor spaces. Beware, some gardens will take you completely by surprise! Chatting with the owners and feeling the amazing community spirit is all part of the adventure.

06/14/2026

This morning, several visitors toured Project GREEN Gardens. Many improvements have been made to the 8-acre public garden, including a bird blind, a prairie installation, and a communal fire pit with limestone seating, upgraded water installation, an entrance on Normandy Drive, and bike repair station. A REAP grant funded the projects. The tour group visited several gardens, The visit was coordinated by Iowa City Public Library and Project GREEN leaders.

06/13/2026

Gardening is widely considered an art form. Often described as a living art or the "slowest of the performing arts", it combines design, color theory, and spatial arrangement. Occasionally, gardeners ask themselves, “Why do I garden?” It takes work, can be expensive, and things die. But to answer the question, most say: “I feel alive in the beauty of my garden.” The garden is like living within an artist’s painting. In the garden, gardeners get to create their artistic voice—a composition filled with shape, color, texture, and mood.
Make your plan to attend Open Garden Weekend 2026.

06/12/2026

Nature has what you need. Visit Project GREEN Gardens this week to see what our volunteers are doing for the environment.

"After a period of burnout, I realised that nature knows what you need, and is always ready to offer it – you just have to be quiet enough to receive it"