JOHNSTON, IOWA (February 2, 2021) — Anticipation is growing for Iowa PBS's latest gardening special. Gardening with Steil 2 premieres on-air and online Saturday, February 20, 2PM, as part of Festival 2021. The program will be rebroadcast Sunday, February 21, 12PM, and Saturday, March 13, 4PM, on statewide Iowa PBS.
Following the success of the first installation of the program, which premiered on Iowa PBS in March 2020, Gardening with Steil 2 will bring even more gardening goodness to viewers. Host Aaron Steil, the assistant director of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University, and co-host Cindy Haynes, associate professor and consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University, explore vegetable and shade gardens, morel mushroom hunting, fairy gardens, the Plant a Row for the Hungry initiative, and more.
“We're excited to continue the work we began with the original special,” said Iowa PBS Executive Producer Andrea Coyle. “Our goal is to highlight gardening trends that are accessible and fun. From the novice to the most experienced gardeners, viewers will find the inspiration they need to dig into their own projects!”
Haynes will first venture into the woods to learn best practices for morel mushroom hunting. Steil will then introduce viewers to fairy gardens and how to create a tiny garden world of their own and tour a garden art display of larger-than-life frogs.
Gardening with Steil 2 viewers will also explore two very different styles of shade gardens and Steil will demonstrate how to make a mixed container that is a perfect companion to a shade garden-display.
The special will also highlight Plant a Row for the Hungry volunteers who are helping provide vegetables to Iowans in need. Steil will explain why containers can be a good option for growing vegetables and introduce a young gardener who is passionate about growing his own food.
Simultaneous with its statewide broadcast premiere, Gardening with Steil 2 will premiere live on Facebook, allowing viewers to ask questions of experts using the live chat. Following the premiere, the program will be available for free on demand for a limited time on iowapbs.org, YouTube, and the PBS Video App.
Gardening with Steil 2 is presented by Iowa PBS as part of Festival 2021, Iowa PBS's only extended pledge drive of the year. With programming airing on Iowa PBS .1, Iowa PBS WORLD .3 and Iowa PBS Create .4, Festival 2021 takes place February 20-21 and February 27-March 14.
In addition to its statewide broadcast, Iowa PBS .1 is available to livestream on iowapbs.org/watch, pbs.org/livestream, the PBS Video App, and YouTube TV. Iowa PBS programs, behind-the-scenes extras and more can be enjoyed on iowapbs.org, Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers can also stream their favorite shows on demand using the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, and many streaming devices.
Learn more at iowapbs.org.
As Iowa's only statewide television network, Iowa PBS's mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans guides its quality, non-commercial programming that tells Iowa's stories like no one else can. Four statewide, public channels offer programs of lasting value to Iowans, regardless of where they live or what they can afford: Iowa PBS .1, Iowa PBS KIDS .2, Iowa PBS WORLD .3 and Iowa PBS Create .4 on Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, and Davenport; Channel 36, Red Oak. More information can be found at iowapbs.org.
