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Last updated on 04 March 10

Reiman Gardens

  5.0/5 (2 ratings)
  • Butterfly Wing, Reiman Gardens Photograph © Reiman Gardens
  • Buck Rose, Reiman Gardens Photograph © Reiman Gardens
  • Lake Helen, Reiman Gardens Photograph © Reiman Gardens
  • Jones Rose Garden Photograph © Reiman Gardens
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Photograph © Reiman Gardens

Gardenvisit Editorial

Reiman Gardens is owned by Iowa State University. The garden dates back to 1914 and is currently in its third location. There is a herb garden, rose garden, arboretum and wetland garden. A conservatory complex opened in 2002, including a 2,500 square foot butterfly house.

History

Bobbi and Roy Reiman (rye-men) of Greendale, Wisconsin, are longtime supporters of Iowa State University. In 1995 their financial gifts enabled the University to move the horticulture gardens to the University Boulevard location, establish an endowment, expand and make dramatic renovations through the years. Memberships, admissions, rentals and sales provide more than half of the Gardens’ financial support. Annually, over 400 volunteers contribute more than 11,000 hours ; 40 students are employed here; 30 classes and 6,000 Iowa State University students visit for internships, classes and relaxation.

Now one of the largest public gardens in Iowa, the 14-acre Reiman Gardens is an educational resource for Iowa State University, a year-round facility and a major attraction for central Iowa. There are 26-distinct garden areas, an indoor Conservatory and Butterfly Wing with its own laboratory and viewable Emergence Cases.

Address - 1407 University Blvd, Ames, Iowa, USA, 50011
Opening times - Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended summer hours. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Admission - $7 for adults $6 for seniors ages 65+ $3 for children ages 3-17 years old Free for children under 3 years old Free for members Free for Iowa State University students with ID
Website - Visit the Reiman Gardens website

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Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

  • about 2 years ago Beth C. said

    The Reiman Gardens are fabulous! The best time to visit is during the Rose Festival in June, because the most significant part of the Gardens (in my opinion) are the rose gardens.

    The garden has the most complete display of Griffith Buck hardy roses in the world (Buck was employed at ISU in Ames for decades when he was developing his well-known cold-hardy hybrid tea roses). There is an ongoing search for the remaining ten or so missing roses that were lost -- just last year another one turned up in someone's garden, which was very exciting news.

    There are many different areas to the garden -- like the first reviewer mentioned, leave plenty of time to enjoy them all.

    One of my favorite (other than the roses) is the Town and Country garden, a series of 12 different small gardens surrounding a stone house, meant to show how home gardeners can design their own modest gardens.

    This is a garden well worth going out of your way to see -- perhaps the best in the state.

    (5.0/5)
  • about 2 years ago Jean said

    Wow, what a well-designed garden! The plantings are beautifully matched for color, height and texture and the walk brought us through so many different experiences. Plan at least 2-3 hours to be able to enjoy everything.

    (5.0/5)

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