Prairie Parkway Garden

08/21/2026

08/18/2026

Should be a great evening at the garden, come join us and bring a friend!

08/17/2026

Next week is the big day. Join us for this fun new event!!!

08/11/2026

Eye spy with my little eye 😳 yikes! Little visitors at the garden

08/07/2026

Yikes!!!

Awww its so cute...and painful! This is The American Dagger Moth Caterpillar spotted in Waterloo today. DO NOT TOUCH IT!

Hairs on the American Dagger Moth Caterpillar can break off into skin and sting, causing hives, burning sensations, and general skin irritation, so handling this larva is not recommended. The body is covered in short tufts of yellow hairs, and longer wispy yellow hairs as well. Long black lashes extend from the body and can be over 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. If the caterpillar is found in a place where children play, like parks and playgrounds, a stick can be a handy tool in removing it from the area.

08/06/2026

Zucchini season is upon us - great way to use them up!!

This popular double chocolate zucchini bread is moist and fudge-like, and comes together quickly with a couple bowls and a whisk.

08/04/2026

In case you were wondering. 🙂

"How do I know when a watermelon is ready to harvest?" 🍉

Harvest when the underside or "belly" of the melon turns from a greenish white to buttery yellow or cream. This color change is especially pronounced on the dark green-skinned varieties. It is often less noticeable on lighter-skinned watermelons. In addition, the fruit tends to lose its slick appearance on top and becomes dull when ripe.

The browning of the pig's tail (light green, curly tendril attached to the vine near the melon) is another option for determining ripeness. In some varieties, the pig's tail may turn brown 7 to 10 days before the melon is ripe making this method of determining ripeness unreliable in some varieties. Often the browning of the pig tail can be used in conjunction with the change in belly color to determine ripeness, especially for those varieties whose belly color change is not easily seen.

Thumping or tapping the melon is generally not a good indicator of ripeness. Rapping an immature melon with your knuckles produces a metallic ring. A ripe melon gives off a hollow or dull ring. Most individuals, however, have difficulty differentiating between the sounds.

When harvesting watermelons, leave 2 inches of the stem on the fruit. Watermelons can be stored at room temperature for about one week and for two to three weeks at 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach ISU Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources ISU Horticulture Research Station

07/30/2026

It’s a beautiful morning for Tai Chi in the garden today! Hope to see you at 9:30am on the grass! Free to all.

07/29/2026

We love harvest days - so many amazing ways to enjoy the bounty. Tell us what you have been harvesting and doing with it lately!!

07/29/2026

Thoughts of bruschetta come to mind after harvest 😁