in Cedar Rapids / Linn County on March 11. This year’s workshop was the fifth in five years and coincided with the 25th anniversary of Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection Program. The audience received a variety of information related to plant health care and function.
Workshop presenters included Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware; Greg Houseal, Program Manager for the Natural Selections Program at The Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa; Tivon Feeley, Forest Health Program Leader with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; and Kyle Finke, Field Supervisor with The Davey Tree Expert Company. The workshop theme was “Bringing Nature Home,” borrowed from Dr. Tallamy’s 2007 book of the same title.
Dr. Tallamy discussed his research of plant and animal interactions and the importance of native plants in our landscapes.
Sponsors for the program included the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund, ITC Midwest, Alliant Energy, Trees Forever, Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards, Linn County Master Gardeners, Linn Soil and Water Conservation District, Iowa Native Seed Growers Association, Cedar Rapids Audubon Society, Linn County Pheasants Forever, Cedar Rapids Garden Club, Iowa Association of Naturalists, Kirkwood Parks and Natural Resources, Linn County Conservation Department, the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, Iowa Woodland Owners Association, Iowa Women in Natural Resources, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Linn County, Linn County Engineering and Secondary Road Department.