# Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (known as the Des Moines Botanical Center until 2013) is a 12-acre (5-hectare) botanical garden located near downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States, on the east bank of the Des Moines River and north of I-235.

## History

Interest in a Des Moines botanical center began in 1929. A city greenhouse was acquired on the west side of the river in 1939, which served the city as a production and display greenhouse until the Botanical Center was completed in 1979. From 2004 to December 31, 2012, the facility was operated on behalf of the city by Des Moines Water Works. On January 2, 2013, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden opened for the first time as a nonprofit organization under the leadership of president and CEO Stephanie Jutila and the governance of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Board of Directors. The institution is undergoing a dynamic renewal funded by a successful capital campaign to raise $12.6 million for the Phase I expansion of the outdoor gardens and improvements to the existing conservatory and building.
The conservatory has over a 1,200 different taxa from around the world in artistic settings designed to explore, explain and celebrate the majesty of the plant world. Future outdoor gardens, designed by the Chicago-based landscape architect Doug Hoerr, will include a new rose garden, entrance garden, nearly 0.5-acre water garden, maple allée, belvedere overlooking the Des Moines River, celebration lawn and walled perennial border, conifer and gravel garden, a hillside garden, and an annual and bulb parterre. These gardens reflect the institution's commitment to developing gardens as forms of public art. The gardens will feature rich annual color designs conceived around artistic concepts inspired from music, history, art and pop culture, using plants as the ingredients for exhibitions.
From 1986 until the mid-2000s, the Botanical Center was a used as music Venue.
According to a contest on the WHO Radio Van & Bonnie morning show on June 21, 2011, the dome is constructed of 665 plexiglass panels.
In September 2020, CEO Stephanie Jutila resigned and was succeeded by Kim Perez in March 2021.

### March 2021 planned improvements

In March 2021, the Botanical Garden revealed its plans for the development of an additional 7 acres (3 ha) which will include improved connections to both I-235 and the riverfront, an additional exterior entrance to the Flora Café, a willow garden near the river with water and sand areas for children and families to enjoy, a River Cafe with edible fruit and vegetables planted nearby, restrooms, an amphitheater located in natural topography with a dry garden overlooking the amphitheater, and an elevated pathway through a canopy of trees in the rolling hills of the heavily wooded space.

## Dining and events

There is Flora café inside the Botanical Garden.
Events at the center include a summer concert series which starts in June.

## Nearby recreational trails

Located between the Botanical Garden and the Des Moines River in the greater Des Moines trails system, the Neil Smith Trail and the John Pat Dorian Trail connect just north of the Botanical Garden along the eastside of the Des Moines River. Portions of these trails may be underwater when the Des Moines River is 13 feet (4.0 m) above flood stage between the Saylorville Dam and downtown Des Moines.