2025 garden calendar features perennials

AMES — For many Iowa gardeners, herbaceous perennials are some of the most colorful and beautiful additions to the landscape. There is a perennial for any spot in the garden, from sunny spots to shaded areas, and moist to dry soil.

The theme of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 2025 Garden Calendar is “Perennial Beauty,” which features these garden favorites.

“The calendar makes an excellent gift and can be purchased from the Extension Store for $9,” noted Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Steil said this year’s theme was inspired by the wide use of these plants by home horticulturists.

“Perennials are some of the first colorful plants home horticulturists plant in their landscape when they start gardening. Every year, we try to have a different garden-related theme for the calendar, so this is a great topic to explore more deeply,” he said.

“Perennials live year to year, dying back to the ground each fall and returning in the spring from their root systems. Many are easy to care for, and when you select a diverse mix of perennials, there will be something blooming in your landscape from spring to fall each year.”

The calendar is a collaborative effort between ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturists and the Agriculture and Natural Resources communications team, and features extension resources, tree care tips and seasonal garden reminders, in addition to 12 different perennial plant images.

Despite perennials being a popular group of plants, Steil said this is the first year the garden calendar has featured their selection and care.

“I was a little surprised we had not focused on the beauty and versatility of perennials in the last 40+ years Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has been producing this calendar,” Steil said.

To produce a high-quality final product, the preparation begins early. “We start almost a year in advance,” said Steil.

“Once we have our theme picked, we determine what tips or information we will include for each month. We try to make sure that the information we present aligns with what is going on out in the garden for that month.

“For example, May features recommendations for planting perennials, since many gardeners plant most of their perennials in spring.

“One of the nice things about the garden calendar is that it has tips throughout the year, so we try to add those next and make sure we have an even distribution of different topics spread throughout the year,” Steil said.

As the holidays approach, Steil said the calendar is an ideal gift for gardeners of all experience levels. It also can serve as a garden journal.

“It’s often good to write notes about what’s going on in your garden throughout the year, which you can refer to in future years to know what to expect,” Steil said.