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| Garden Tour FREE GARDEN ADMISSION |
| The Prairie Pedlar is a family-owned garden business in rural NW Iowa, established in 1985. Our business moved 1/2 mile down the road to 1609 270th Street in 1997. Today, more than seven acres are grounds for 75+ display gardens, a large refurbished bow-truss barn, a country school house, and several other buildings. While visiting the Prairie Pedlar, customers enjoy browsing through the potting shed lined with empty urns, planters and containers waiting to be filled with flowers. A small utility barn serves as a retail gift shop and three greenhouses are bursting with colorful blooming flowers from April - June. Amid cornfields and bean crops, a splash of color has transformed the acreage into a magical place where the simple joys of nature are shared and appreciated. The Prairie Pedlar has become a haven for Iowa tourists and another peaceful retreat for area visitors. |
| A Garden Folly serves as a nostalgic retreat for visitors who would enjoy a rest stop in the flower garden. Here they will find comfort on the porch swing and quilt-laden lawn furniture. |
| The Prairie Pedlar gift shop is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11:00 to 4:00 pm and on Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm from April through mid-October (excluding holidays). Visitors are always welcome to browse through the gardens and enjoy self-guided walks during these hours. Every Sunday afternoon in July and August, weather permitting, we offer a guided lecture/tour at the Prairie Pedlar. We share plantlore, identify theme gardens and flower varieties, and explain the history of our gardens. In addition, visitors can view the drying rooms and see the everlasting flower harvest in progress. The tour begins at 2:00 pm and is free to the public. (Reservations are not necessary, but appreciated-especially if group is large.) Guided lecture/tours are also available for groups/organizations of ten or more, from late June until frost. There is a $2.00 charge per person (with a minimum of $20.00). Reservations are necessary (712-668-4840). We would prefer that appointments be scheduled for early mornings or late afternoons to avoid customer interruptions, however we will try our best to accommodate the group's scheduling plans. Please allow one and one-half hours for the complete tour. The gardens generally reach their peak of color in mid-to-late July and remain colorful throughout the growing season. Many of the perennial flowers are in full splendor by late June, but the annual varieties (including many of the everlasting flowers) bloom later in the month of July. No tours are recommended after September 15th. Charter buses are welcome. Restroom facilities and a picnic area are provided. |
| More than seventy-five display gardens are neatly arranged into charming theme beds that delight visitors throughout the summer. Each garden plot is a history lesson that explores the utilization of plants spanning generations. Whimsical and primitive accents will amuse you, while informative signs are posted to help guide you through the gardens. |
