Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Five-Star Experience! The Botanical Garden’s Christmas Light Experience was absolutely wonderful and truly magical. From start to finish, it felt like stepping into a Christmas fairy tale. The displays were stunning, beautifully arranged, and perfect for all ages. The pricing was very appropriate for adults—and the fact that kids were free made it even better! Our whole group loved it, from the youngest to the oldest. It was such a warm, joyful experience that really put us in the holiday spirit. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something festive, beautiful, and family-friendly. We will definitely be back!

The small climatron is nice, but the best areas are outside, where they have divided up the garden into smaller, well-landscaped spaces. It was spectacular in summer, but I have included photos from October to show the great variety of flowering plants still seen. The restaurant is unusually good - a nicely designed space with foods ranging from gourmet to hamburgers, and a good wine list.

It's a bit pricey to get in, IMO, but there's a beautiful variety of plants inside. Not very large, but the more you walk around the same areas, the more you notice because there are so many different things packed in there. It's pretty temperate inside and there's a coat rack you can leave heavier outerwear on if visiting in winter.

This place was beautiful and I am so glad we went! For $12 admission (lower for seniors and kids) I think it was well worth it. Just to see a monstera (a few, actually) with fruit in person was amazing! So many beautiful plants and the koi fish are amazing as well. And the gift shop had some wonderful things, though very expensive.

I’ve managed botanic gardens for decades and I will tell you with authority this is a very well-run garden. The dome is loaded with uncommon and well-tended tropicals, subtropicals and container plants with plenty of seating. The water garden, perennial gardens and annual borders are stunning and offer a beautiful selection of colorful and textural plantings. Whoever assembles the mixed containers outside is an artist. While this garden may be on the smaller side, it’s 100% worth the price of admission and does the capital city proud. I’ve seen so many public gardens I can sometimes get bored by the same old- but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and found so much to love. Great job!

My first experience with the Botanical Gardens was 45 years ago. It has been improved upon so much. Beautiful outdoor water gardens. The children's play area was delightful. My grandkids loved it. My favorite thing outdoors was sitting on a bench under the waterfall. There are many sitting areas you could enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Lovely experience. I highly recommend.

Beautiful little place. We saw lots of nice plants, and trees... had a wonderful volunteer Jill tell us about the living wall, and which way to go in the indoor gardens. There was a proposal on the bridge over the koi fish pond.

Second visit for my wife & me to this very well laid out and maintained Botanical Garden, this time during their annual BOOtanical Garden Trick or Trees Halloween-themed event inside the glass dome Conservatory. Many of the staff members were dressed in Halloween costumes, interacting with the young costumed visitors who were fascinated by the unique decorations & being exposed to simple concepts of nature in a family-friendly atmosphere. The Greater DSM Botanical Garden is a beautiful downtown facility along the Des Moines River, suitable for all ages and enjoyable in all seasons.

Great botanical garden in a rather small city. The Dome is a haven - especially during winter. There were lots of parents with small children visiting in early March - which was great to see. The Flora Cafe has only been open a short while but needs major rethinking. The prices are high and the portions are really tiny. My chicken salad sandwich had barely a teaspoon of chicken salad! The side soup wasn't enough to feed a bird. Disappointing.

Enjoying a beautiful indoor garden on a wickedly cold and windy mid-winter night was a fun visit. We attended one of their "Dome After Dark" events, a regular Friday theme that lasts from 6-10 PM for a separate, after-hours admission. On-site parking eases the arrival, and obtaining online tickets in advance enabled us to have an easier entry with a timed admission. It's a lovely winter getaway, with tropical plants as your focus despite the outside temps. It is well-lit, cute gnomes, and I suggest going upstairs to enjoy the view. We loved Joel Ryser's "Hot Glass Inc" glass work! Flora, their dining option, was open, and staffer Shea informed me about their menu and events. I enjoyed their ToGo apple pie and ice cream! I'm returning for lunch sometime, and I look forward to visiting the riverside venue on a nice day.

We took our six-year-old Granddaughter to see Dome for the Holidays. The gardens were decked out in festive lights throughout. I think it was more appreciated by adults but we were given a scavenger hunt which made it somewhat entertaining to look for 50 gnomes (found 36), the train, sixteen stars (found all of them) as well as some other things. After about an hour, she had had enough so if you are taking young children, that would be my recommendation. Beautiful way to enjoy the holidays!

Loved our first-ever visit to the Des Moines Botanical Gardens. We visited early on a Friday afternoon and stayed about 1.5 hours. I would say we were moving at a leisurely pace. Parking was free and admission was $12/adults. I really liked the Master Gardener area, Garden Quote Walk and the waterfall. The grounds were beautifully maintained. The volunteer who was working, Donna I think her name was, was a hoot. She told us all about the living wall in the lobby, and where things were located. Don't miss the gift shop on the way out. Really fun things! They also have a restaurant that's open from 11-2, so we didn't try it. Multiple people have told me good things about it. A must-see if you're visiting DSM.

We attended "Dome for the Holidays." It was fun to explore the Botanical Gardens in the evening. It was magical actually. It wasn't too crowded and something everyone should checkout. They have their own parking lot which is free and they have a bar area if you want to still and sip on a little drink. This is open nightly until Christmas from 5-9pm

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a peaceful spot right in downtown Des Moines, offering a quick escape amidst the bustling city. It's reciprocal to the Missouri Botanical Garden so I swung through for a quick walk around. It's a lush 12-acre garden along the river. Stepping into the garden, you walk through their conservatory which is so peaceful. The indoor and outdoor gardens showcase so many plant species from around the world. The outside gardens have multiple pathways including up one side of the waterfall and down the other. It's very well laid out. Initial seeds were planted and the plans for the garden were laid out in spring of 1929 but the stock market halted progress that fall. Finally in 1966, the city of Des Moines secures a 14-acre brickyard that will eventually become the site of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

After dark is a cute family friendly activity. Hard to see the plants, so if you're into the plants specifically, visit during the day. If you're there for the vibe and a place to grab a drink, this is a great spot. There are fun activities too like plant crafts if you sign up in advance. It was busy with lots of families with littles there the night we went, but still a fun visit.

Beautiful botanical garden. Easy map to navigate with a Q-Code on your phone. It's way bigger than it looks. Spacious & well-organized. Friendly staff! Parking lot has plenty of room.

Well-worth a visit. If I lived in the area, I would drop in a few times a year, since they have the grounds set up so pleasantly and have a very nice cafe. I visited in April and there was a lot of construction going on. In addition, the water features were turned off, but I could get a sense of how nice it must be when they are running. Their show room was very interesting. It was set up so you had the feeling you were walking through the backyards of several people, making it a great place to pick up ideas to take home. I did not think they had much in the way of plants from around the world, but I think they had a nice collection of plants that most people could grow on their own, making the experience feel very practical and useful. It is a bit small, but then again, most botanical gardens grow over time.

Trying to escape a windy day in Des Moines, my family visited this lovely garden! It's not a huge place for $10... but definitely has a ton of different plants to look at; so much variety and cute photo opportunities. The glass dome has a beautiful inner lining that provides an aesthetic backdrop! Many wedding photos are taken here. The Gardener's Showroom was my favorite area tucked away in the back of the garden. Lots of air plants, succulents, and seating areas inside. It gets really warm in here, so it's nice they provide coat hangers by the gift shop! They aren't liable if your coat gets stolen though.

One of the most inspiring places! I loved my visit to these gardens. I'm only posting a few pics which don't come close to doing justice to the beauty of these gardens. I was able to take my time and stroll the outside and inside. So much to see and appreciate! I was especially inspired by one of the interior rooms - I can't recall what it was called? Such a comforting and restful space. I didn't get to try the restaurant. Perhaps next visit. And that's the appeal of returning: gardens like these are a unique experience at different times of the year; they're continuously expanding and changing. Each time you visit will be a new and different experience. Whether you're visiting or call Des Moines home, I encourage you to patronize this oasis in the city!

Not a large place, but interesting. There's plenty of sections that provide "moments" - moments of tranquility, moments to sit and people watch, photo-op moments/moments for the Gram... - there's an upstairs cafe, but for some reason it was closed while we were there (pre-covid). And then a break-away section that was more like a nursery in lay-out, but just another manner to experience some botanicals. Quaint in space, but held an element of charm. All-in-all, a pleasurable activity... and i am NOT a "plant" person. Don't have a green thumb - more like a black thumb - and not super "earthy" either. I'd say a nice place to experience nature without some of the unsavory parts!

I was in town for a bit and decided to go to the botanical gardens here. It's only about $10 and they are all really helpful inside and really sweet. Once you are inside with people love talking to you about everything without you even having to ask, which I thought was really nice because it shows that they really love their job and they really care about the gardens. And it's not like you paid for a tour so I really really liked the people here. I went during winter so I couldn't go outside, I definitely wanna go back during the summer to see the outside part. The inside though is really cool! I actually did learn a lot here! They also have some other rooms where you can see other kinds of plants. They have the most Coleus of all the botanical gardens here. There's over 650 different species and they display 50 at a time. They also have a good orchid collection. As well as desert type plants which surprised me because I'm from Vegas. I didn't think they would have that here. They even have a separate room where you can make your own plants! If you were in the Des Moines area, I highly recommend you stop by here.

was out mid-west with the cutest of chicks and needed to stretch our legs and get some fresh air and sunshine and that kind of stuff so where better than the Botanical Gardens in the heart of Des Moines in October? getting in from the expressway is just a matter of following the signage through a series of right turns; easy breezy and you'll pass the asian garden on the way in (but you can stop by just as easy on the way out.) a big crazy spray of flowers greet you as you walk up to the front doors: mostly roses in the rose garden and even this late in the fall lots of blooms and color and most of them are sniffy and there's a mess of tall prairie looking specimens along with. I got no idea what they are but they sure are pretty. $10 american to get in and have a look around is more than fair since there's so much garden to take in... a half dozen or so bonsai on the patio overlooking the water garden full of lily pads and reeds and frogs... the Koehn Garden features an espalier wall literally crawling with edibles... across the lawn a rather fancy water feature comes off a hillside covered with evergreens and mostly greens and bunnies... continue to another fountain spewing water mightily into the midday sky keeping a tree-lined promenade moist and green and happy. then we're back to the conservatory for a bite of lunch before having a quick peek at the succulents and orchids and other succulents and everything else under the dome. way too much to see all at once and there's something brewing out past the ruan allee so yeah, this should really be savored in small doses over several days (or maybe even a lifetime.)

I got really into houseplants over COVID, and I never had interest in the gardens before this year. I was honored to shoot a wedding, and decided I had to find a way back to visit. If you want a pleasant stroll through tropical plants, take a visit! Tickets are a tad pricey if you don't plan to spend more than 30 minutes looking around, but if you take your time it's very refreshing! Best times to visit are in the winter since it stays warm and humid. They also have plenty of events for families, and the summer outside has some great gardens. I realized after this last visit I didn't even see everything outside and I can't wait to go back!

It took us about 45 min to stroll through the botanical gardens. Lots of beautiful and unique plants and trees both indoors and outside. A beautiful waterfall and fountain outside make for a peaceful environment. Nestled by the river, you can stroll afterwards down to the Asian gardens, over the walkable bridge to the expansive skate park.

Beautiful. The first words out of my mouth. I hadn't been here for years. I went for a wedding. What a beautiful backdrop for a perfect day. After the ceremony we were able to walk around the gardens. The event was beautiful. The staff seemed to be very attentive. I wish I had gotten photos of the inside gardens. The views outside were amazing

I personally went during the coldest month, and got to see the indoor botanical garden, with tropical, arid, and desert plants. I enjoyed it tremendously. Although I didn't get to see the place in the summer, I love palm trees and tropical plants, which this place has tons of them indoors. I've been to many parts of Florida, and this place has many great tropical species. It's a very relaxing experience to visit when there's still snow outside. The staff were friendly, and although a smaller area it was packed with lots of life.

I went for a rain barrel making class. It was $55 for all the materials and to use their power tools. There were15 barrels there, fortunately only 14 people making barrels. The presentation made by Cody was very informative and I learned a lot from that. My issues start with the construction of the actual barrels. 14 barrels, 2 drills and 1 sawzall. Cody asked if I wanted to cut my own holes. I told him I would like to try. By the time they got to my barrell (last one), I think time was running out and the instructors were doing all the power tool work. I was impressed with the instructors, all women, using power tools, but I wanted to be a woman using power tools. They need less participants or more power tools, because it was a lot of standing around and waiting. Staff was good, except for when I was asked "What are you needing now," it came off as exasperated. I think they were just wanting the even t to be over with. I get that, but you offered me to make a rain barrel using power tools. You made my rain barrel for me. Anyway, I think more rain barrels will be in my future, but thanks to Cody and the girls I can do it myself. I'd like to check out other classes to see if they're run any better. It won't stop me from checking out another class, but I'll be more vocal nest time. The gardens are beautiful, I didn't get to spend enough time checking those out.

Beautiful and fun place to visit. There was so much going on in the conservatory, especially for being January. There were so many plants in bloom and so much to see. I really enjoyed the Gardeners Show House. It was full of beautiful plants and flowers along with cool sitting areas and other whimsical displays. I look forward to being able to visit during the warmer months when the outdoor gardens are alive and blooming.

This is a great place to have here is Des Moines. If you are a gardener of any fashion this is a must at least once. If you are looking for a unique meeting place, wedding location, stop along the bike trail this is it. I have been here before for different events. This stop was so unique. The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) was blooming! A must see because of the size of this plant and the smell! They had a line of people to check it out, smell and take pictures. The one thing a lot of people forget is that it is warm in the dome. It was already 90 outside. So it marched it inside. The staff did a great job getting people though and the flower was pretty cool. I love weird nature. I plan on biking out again and hopefully come back for another event.

Interesting place with lots to see. Garden views that can be enjoyed at any pace and a relaxing environment at the cafe.

Great staff, great plants, awesome building that reminds you of a time when cities invested in themselves!

A nice garden. It is a bit small compared to some I've been to. There was a nice variety of plants in a setting on the river and some very nice water features. Most of the gardens were wheelchair accessible. Being a plant nerd, it would have been helpful if the plant tags were available as quite a few varieties had no information that I could find. The main visitor reception area is small and staff seemed overwhelmed about the Mother's Day crowds. There were many people visiting - so much so that the main doors were blocked by people waiting to get in. Not a big problem but could have perhaps been managed a bit better. The Robert D. Ray Asian Garden which is just down the street and part of the Botanical Garden has a beautiful pagoda, a winding path and a boardwalk. It is wheelchair accessible with hard packed gravel paths & a wooden boardwalk. Information provided regarding the many immigrant communities in Iowa was quite interesting and enlightening. We would stayed longer if not for the rain.

What a fun way to spend part of the afternoon! When we came, only the outdoor portion was open, but it was an incredible sight. The gardens are well maintained and beautiful. The pond was entertaining with all the frogs, and it was a nice way to spend time outdoors! I would love to come back to see inside the dome.

I was so looking forward to eating here since it opened and I was so happy to be able to experience dining here. I enjoyed everything and highly recommend it. I'd love to come during the late spring or anytime actually as it really is lovely. The food was excellent and although I didn't have a dessert or a glass of wine, the options were excellent and looked beautiful. Although lunch is very busy, I sat at the bar and it was perfect as alas, John didn't accompany me on my vacation/business trip. I felt very welcome and comfortable dining here alone and I will definitely come again! Thank-you for the great idea of partnering with the Botanical Center too!

We were here for a dinner memorializing my parents. It's gorgeous. So much beautiful! See pics. Friendly staff. Family friendly. Clean. Lot parking. We didn't pay, so I don't know the pricing. The food here was very good. Nicely presented. Marcy'sDinerTantrumScale 5/5- NoScreamingKids.

This place is amazing, especially in the winter!!! It was -3° today and we needed to get out of the house and a friend was here recently and so we decided it was more than worth admission to warm up and see some amazing plants!! A lot of others had that idea, it wasn't packed but fairly busy for just opening around when we showed up!! Everything was awesome as usual and everyone was so helpful!! It is a great gem in DSM and I'm happy it's still here! I have many fond memories from my past from going to shows in high school in the classrooms and seeing the plants when I was little, it felt good to bring our son here! Thanks for the cheer up on this freezing day, Botan!!

Took my little (Big Brother Big Sister Program) here and neither of us had been before. They recommended you buy tickets online ahead of time but were still selling tickets on site as well. The flowers and trees were beautiful they have such a great variety. The outdoor plants had withered so we plan to go back when they are in full bloom next spring. Would definitely recommend as an activity to do alone or with friends or family where you can still practice social distancing.

What a great place to take a family! We love coming here to learn and just to sit and enjoy the lush gardens. There's plenty to learn for both kids and adults, even if you grew up with a certified master gardener for a mom like I did. Buy a membership, you won't regret it! Great way to kill the winter blues.

This locale is a true gem in Des Moines. Magnificent plants all over with a extra Touch Of beautiful sculptures. A special place not to be missed

This is such a pretty place! A must see when visiting Des Moines. They offer lots of fun classes & events too. One of my favorite events is the Valentine's Day dinner. It's a romantic, special experience that beats the usually dinner night out. This year was the first year I came for The Earth Day Tour- another free, family friendly event. Trellis is a lovely place to have lunch. My mom and I spent the day here wandering around and ended our journey at Trellis where we enjoyed a beautiful, nutritious lunch. I am also very found of gift shops and theirs is certainly one to write home about. There's a little bit for everyone here, lots to learn, and lots of beauty to take in. If you're looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday, this is it!

What a beautiful little escape in the middle of the city! For a mere $10 per adult, you can view plants, flowers, gorgeous layout of the dome. We didn't really bother to go outside, as it's still 30-40 degrees outside recently, but I can't wait to come back when things are blooming. Someone please invite me to an event here--I think it would be a gorgeous venue! Notes: Dress in layers; it's warm & humid in the dome. Allow at least 60-90 minutes (probably more time if you walk the outdoor gardens). Have fun :-) PS: be prepared for major Pauly Shore Bio Dome flashbacks.

If you are into botany, gardens and/Or design then check this place out! $10 for adults yo get in and plenty of parking. There's a large outdoor garden and water garden, a large good one which was really cool and a smaller greenhouse type place with many smaller houseplants and tropicals along with design features. The dome is really cool. We saw actual bananas hanging and a host of other rainforest plants and trees!

This is such a beautiful way to spend a relaxing few hours. The waterfalls are so soothing and so is the outdoor water feature. I love the dock like system that walks you around to different water garden arrangements. The plants are very well maintained and they are each in their own climate, it would be nice to have more tags to tell you more about each species. Admission wasn't bad, $8 for adult $7 for my husband who is active duty military. There wasn't a lot of people which was nice, we were able to take our time! It was great to be able to sit outside and enjoy the scenery. Which is like another world in the middle of Des Moines! Staff was super friendly and willing to point us in the direction if we were looking for something in particular. Maps were also provided.

Walk-in wedding option is perfect for a COVID-conscious ceremony. The setting is unbelievable, and in the middle of winter, the warm, open-air dome made for memorable photos. The Events staff was fantastic throughout the process in responding to our needs and allowing for some personal touches - shout-out to Brenna! We could not be happier with how everything turned out. I can't wait to return for a visit when we have a full day to see the entire Garden.

A big glass ball in the middle of downtown Des Moines... That's how I was first told about the Botanical Center.. Years ago I started going to the Botanical Gardens, for Punk Rock Shows! Yes they have class rooms here that were the epicenter of the Des Moines Music Scene in the early 2000's! I played and saw some great bands here... Everyone from the Mountain Goats, to John Vanderslice, to Moony Suzuki, Dressy Bessy, Elf Power, as well as countless local bands. When the music scene moved to clubs around town the Botanical Center become known in my mind for it's beautiful flowers, butterflies, and rain forrest like temperatures! I recommend going here in the winter to get some heat on your Iowa bones! For under 10 bucks you can visit another world right here in Des Moines. Now it's not that easy to get here.. So follow precise directions.. It's north of I-235 but you actually have to enter from south of I-235, it's weird but worth the adventure trying to get there! The staff is super nice, and no one really bothers you while you walk around! If you are in the need of a little nature, even in the death cold of Iowa winter this is a beautiful museum of the wonders of the world.

A beautifully unique experience in Des Moines. We have taken a few out of town guests here, and it's always a good time. Prices are decent, and it's a peaceful way to spend an hour or two. If the Café is open when you're there, definitely check it out - food is amazing.

Most other businesses are at least trying during covid. To charge regular prices for the smallest Botanical gardens I've ever seen, it is an embarrassment to Des Moines and a waste of money. This was a complete joke.

I haven't been here in years, it was too chilly to check out the outside garden, I will have to come back when it warms up. Otherwise the inside is essentially the same as it always has been. It is still interesting to look around at all of the plants and flowers. However we did discovered the Garden show room. It was cooler than the main dome and they some nice potted plants in there. Definitely go and check it out.

This is an amazing place to visit. However, it is a short visit. The new outside area really did improve the quality and value of the botanical center. Especially for events. The food is actually very good.

$10 per person for non-members. Easy to locate, and walk to during the summer time. Beautiful, vibrant foliage. I wish more plants were labelled.

I had been wanting to visit the botanical gardens for a while now, but never got around to it until today. The dome looks bigger outside than it feels inside; but it's definitely not lacking! There are plenty of plants to look at, including the corpse plant. I can't wait until it blooms! There are also giant leaves too. Very impressive! Also the gardens are heated, so it was nice to not be cold in November, lol.

Super Cool place to visit all Year Long. The Gardens are all elaborately maintained and full of hidden surprises in the ways of flora of the local variety, desert cactus, and tropical trees of the most beautiful kind. The flowers are exquisite and there are always events and show plants to see interesting varieties like bonzi trees. Also the Trellis Cafe is an awesome place to enjoy a fabulous lunch within this great atmospheric dome, warm all winter and cool all summer. The Cafe is all made from scratch meals with local ingredients and full of flare set in a boutique style. Nice Place for the whole family.

Went on a Wednesday afternoon and there weren't many people there, which was pleasant. They've dropped their admission prices. Now it's $6 per adult. The glass dome area was my favorite. It's definitely a good place to come during cold winter days.

Ever seen that weird space ship looking bubble from the highway when driving through Des Moines? Well, that is the Botanical Gardens! A peaceful retreat for plant lovers and really anyone visiting the area. You'll see several different varieties of plants inside as well as outside on a sort of nature walk with waterfall. They also have a large pond that has beautiful lily pads and much more to gander. Highly recommend if you are into this sort of thing, if not, I still recommend as you may be pleasantly surprised. Afterwards grab a bite at the little restaurant Trellis right inside. They have some of the best food in town.

Our visit to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden was great! Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and the grounds were looking incredibly beautiful in late May. I honestly couldn't ask for a better botanical garden experience. Even some larger ones I've visited didn't offer as much as I found here. Five stars with ease. I felt the entry fee was not bad at all considering the work that goes into maintaining something like this! It's also next to a bike trail that welcomes walkers and joggers.

This is the smallest botanical garden I've ever been to and the most expensive. It took me 20 minutes to get through it all, and that was with slow meandering and shade breaks (it was a hot day). There's not much to see and I've been to gardens in smaller cities that have a lot more. One sculpture out front and maybe 1 inside. The outside of the garden was much more interesting than the inside. It looks like there may be some expansion in the future, but for now, this was not worth the time for me personally.

I attended a wedding at the botanical gardens. It was a beautiful setting for a wedding. The ceremony was in front of the waterfall in the garden which was the perfect backdrop for the exchange of vows. The cocktail hour was inside and was also a nice setting. Dinner was a disappointment. The room was too hot and the doors had to be open which caused the tables near the doors to put on their coats. The food was unimpressive. Overall great setting for the ceremony but not so good for the reception.