What's Growing On?

At issue: Who decides and what is considered art?

2022 JANUARY I got my first seed catalog last week and I am already excited for another year of growing things. That also means that my thoughts turn to our wonderful Arboretum. The staff is hard at work planning our next season, we volunteers are biding our time until we can get our hands back in the dirt. However, mother nature continues on her own sedate pace and the gardens rest.

This year has begun with the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine. At first the supply is limited and there is a strict order of distribution so most of us have to wait. Therefore, not a lot has changed yet, but we are optimistic for our season but cautious as well. We have known all along that the natural world of growing things has gone on and we have continued to nurture our green space in accordance with our mission of supplying a place where the Cedar Valley may connect with nature.

Here we are into our second decade of the 21st Century and the Arboretum is on the cusp of some very exciting times. We have been planning now for over a year to create a new Master Plan to take us into the future. This year the Master Plan committee is in the process of choosing the firm to produce that plan In the meantime, we will get on with making this space beautiful and inviting to our guests for this season

This is a story of a place. This place resides in what is known as the Cedar Valley. It is 40 acres set aside within the town of Waterloo, Iowa. It is formally known as the Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.

The rhythms of the Arboretum are in tune with the cycles of the growing season and are old friends to those of us who have the privilege of being associated with this place. We can’t wait to once again watch as this 40-acre oasis of peace and tranquility changes before our eyes. The gardens slumber and wait, but we plot and scheme!  JANURARY It is Winter and the gardens are resting

As we think about our future and a new Master Plan, we would like to start moving to being a year- round attraction. We have a long way to go to achieve that, but I thought I would get a head start by presenting the Arboretum to you month by month. JANUARY AND FEBRUARY Again, this year, an introduction is in order, Libby has moved away from our area and we welcome our new Development & Communications Coordinator: Beth Lavenz, Beth is from Cedar Falls and a graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with a degree in Communication Arts with emphasis in public relations and organization.

At this year’s annual retreat, we talked about the need to scale back some of the projects and brainstorm new ways to raise revenue for our operations budget. We have lost a significant portion of our private funding and we all understand that we do not receive any public funding and never have. So, a major portion of what was discussed was about new events that would be either ticketed or would require an admission fee unless you had a membership. Following is a list from that planning session of possibilities. Shakespeare/Renaissance Festival Garden Show Beer & Pork, Pig Out @ the Arb Outdoor Antique Fest Plant Sale Some sort of wine event Dog Walk Days (Dog Days of summer) Theme Days (Tulips, Peonies, Lilacs, etc.) Music in the Gardens Art in the Gardens: Gnome Hunt Always a popular activity for our younger visitors; for the second year, local businesses “sponsored” the gnomes and they were placed throughout the grounds for visitors to discover. Our ever ready and terrific volunteers gave them a new coat of paint.