(Atlantic, Iowa) – Local gardeners are invited to “Hop on the Bus!” and join the fun when the Cass County Master Gardener group hosts their annual bus tour again in 2023. This year’s trip is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, departing from the Cass County Fairgrounds in Atlantic at 7 AM and returning around 6:30 PM. The trip will be visiting gardens in and around Lincoln NE, with stops to include The Sunken Garden, the Hamann Rose Garden and the Backyard Farmer Garden on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Following lunch, and an optional ice cream treat at the UNL Dairy store, the bus will stop at several nurseries and greenhouses in the Lincoln Area before heading home. A boxed lunch will be provided to all participants with a choice of roasted turkey or ham and swiss sandwich.

The trip is coordinated by the Cass County Master Gardeners, but is open to everyone interested in touring and learning about gardening. Registrations are taken on a first-come basis, so register soon and be sure to reserve your spot on the bus! Registrations must be received by Thursday, June 1 to guarantee a lunch will be available. The cost for the tour is $65. 00 which includes transportation, meal and snacks. Registration forms are available at the Cass County Extension office, and can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. A full trip itinerary is on each registration form. Be sure to bring plant labels and boxes to mark the goodies you pick up along the way, and a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated while you learn and shop!

Other upcoming events from the Cass County Master Gardeners include a local garden tour on Sunday June 25 from 2-6 PM, educational activities at the Produce in the Park Market and other summer events, and their annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday September 9th.

For more information about Master Gardener activities in Cass County, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/master-gardener-program, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. In addition, you are invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening!