The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission held the first of two educational presentations slated for this spring Saturday, April 15, at Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center.
Mount Vernon school alum and Linn County Master Gardener Heather Robertson presented a program on Old Thyme Iowa Gardens.
Robertson noted that for the first 30 years of people occupying the state of Iowa, much of the landscape was prairie.
“The east portion of the state had a lot more trees,” Robertson said.
Those original plants on the prairie – corn flowers, aster, blazing star, milk weed and black-eyed Susan – are among the plants Robertson encourages people to plant if they are considering to grow native plants in Iowa.
“They have a very deep-rooted system and were bred to withstand droughts and harsh weather swings of the state,” Robertson said
Those early years were all about survival, and the first horticulture in the state was garnered to food production. The west portion of the state lacked the windbreaks that the east portion of the state did, and faced more issues with items like prairie fires and tornadoes.
The first peonies came into Iowa with settlers relocating to the state, one of the first cut flowers brought from further east.
Shade trees, curving paths in lawns as well as front porches became prominent for the wealthy in the state.
The first rose in Iowa was introduced in 1848.
Robertson said in the 1870s to 1890s, with more railroads cutting across the state is when more and more seeds and other plants start making headway in the state.
Ornamental landscaping with trees and the use of evergreens to create windbreaks were among the changes in the state at that point. Seed companies start making perennials, annuals and bulbs available at general stores. Those include Coles Garden out of Pella and Iowa Seed Company in Des Moines.
There is talk at that time about the importance of any house plants you have being able to withstand colder temperatures, as central heating isn’t available in most homes.
The governor’s mansion, Terrace Hill, was built in the mid-1870s. It was one of the first greenhouses built in the state, with the goal of always having fresh cut flowers in the mansion.
In Mount Vernon in 1870s, sidewalks were mandatory.
There are also many homes that feature limestone structures in their gardens.
“Anytime there was a period of a decrease in wealth, you start seeing limestone structures popping up in gardens, as it is more prevalent in the area,” Robertson said.
The 1900s through 1920s were marked with the appearances of Japanese styled gardens, as well as the first appearance of plants like shrubberies that can be used to create borders for properties.
As World War I starts impacting the U.S., Robertson said that you start seeing a push from seed catalogs to get more rural and urban populaces to help raise more food. Canning and preserving food also get more and more followers. As such, there is a 300 percent increase in gardening in the state.
After World War I is when a lot more climbing plants and vines start making appearances in the state.
The Great Depression went back to the survival motifs once more, as more and more Iowans are unemployed. A lot more of swapping cuttings with neighbors or other inexpensive ways to grow gardens are implemented. The Iowa State Extension starts leading the charge for homes to make small changes that will increase value to the home, like planting shade trees.
In November 1940, Iowa suffers from the Armistice blizzard. That blizzard, due to the sudden onset, kills many of the apple trees within the state. At that point, Iowa was the second largest producer of apples. Many of those dying fruit trees were never replanted, as it takes several years for fruit trees to provide a harvest.
War gardens become popular again in the 1940s, as World War II rages on.
The 1950s started to see the rise of backyard gardens and back porches.
Beginning in the 1960s is when plants are easier to ship to different locations, thanks to plastic pots.
Dutch elm disease impacted several trees in Iowa in the 1970s, and that’s when many areas who lost trees replaced them with ash species, which are now being impacted by the emerald ash borer. As those trees have been dying, relying on maples has become more apparent.
“If there’s one piece of advice I really want to get across, it’s the importance of diversifying tree species that are planted,’’ Robertson said. “Otherwise, we’re just going to have another issue when the disease that impacts maples arrives.”
Robertson said that a lot of the trends in gardening in the state can be seen as being inspired by Better Homes and Garden magazine at any time.
As for today, Robertson said trends reflect Iowans are focused on planting more native species in order to help pollinators.
The next session is slated for Saturday, May 20, when Duane Eash will discuss painting old houses.
Attendees discuss gardens at the conclusion of the presentation on historic gardens Saturday, April 15.