BY LINDA SCHREIBER

Anthophiles (flower lovers) and nature enthusiasts will have an opportunity to participate in a favorite free activity when Project GREEN presents Open Gardens Weekend 2023 on July 8-9.

OGW draws visitors from throughout eastern Iowa. They know these marvelous gardens are worth the trip for beauty and inspiration. This year, Project GREEN has curated 30 host gardens—private and public—that will open to the public without charge on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (See more details about the event here: https://projectgreen.org/open-gardens-weekend-2/)

Two Master Gardeners will share their gardens on the OGW 2023. Both are encore presenters.

^{Vandenberg Gardens}

Byron and Anne Vandenberg, in Iowa City, planted giant arborvitae and tall viburnums to surround flower gardens creating a private, park-like setting on their property. As the arborvitae grew so did their gardens. Over time, they removed the lawn, three feet at a time, to add more garden space. Byron has planted complementing varieties of daylilies, Shasta daisies, purple coneflowers, yarrow, dahlias, gladiolas and annuals to sequence their English-style, cutting flower garden with blooms throughout the growing season beginning with crocus and daffodils in early spring. “Now, that the bearded iris blooms are done, the daylilies and dahlias are ready to explode with their color,” Byron says.

^{Siefers Gardens}

Vicki and Dick Siefers, in Coralville, have installed numerous garden features that for visitors with a water feature for the birds. Delightful sculptures dot their island gardens. The Siefers multi-terraced gardens provide space for a wide array of showy perennial plants and vegetables. A fenced vegetable garden keeps most of the wildlife and critters away. Nearby, a cold frame captures the sun’s rays to create a microclimate allowing the Siefers to enjoy early vegetables. Two stormwater retention features—the permeable patio and a rain garden—reduce runoff on their sloping lot. Amy Foster, Coralville stormwater coordinator, will be onsite to discuss the benefits of the city’s stormwater grant program.

^{Siefers Gardens}

Visitors can pick up a tour map at any of the local business sponsors that keep this activity free of charge to plan their route: Forever Green, Inc.; Hills Bank and Trust Company; Hy-Vee; Iowa City Landscaping; Lenoch & Cilek Ace Hardware; Rindy Inc.; Sanders Creek Company; and Urban Acres Real Estate.

Project GREEN Gardens is the headquarters for OGW. These splendid gardens complement the historic Ashton House, owned by the City of Iowa City at 820 Park Road. The gardens reflect Project GREEN founders’ interests. At OGW headquarters, visitors will meet volunteers and also find an assortment of attractive garden containers and garden art available for purchase with the proceeds from sales benefiting Project GREEN.