Reiman Gardens

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Reiman Gardens is situated on a 14- acre site located immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State University (ISU) campus in Ames, Iowa. Reiman Gardens (pronounced Rye-Men) is a year-round facility that has become one of the top ten attractions in Central Iowa. It is open seven days per week, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, with extended hours in the summer season and extended evening hours for its annual events. The Gardens are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Reiman Gardens consists of a dozen distinct garden areas, an indoor conservatory and an indoor butterfly "wing", butterfly emergence cases, a gift shop, a cafe called Hazel's Kitchen and several supporting greenhouses. ISU students and their classes are admitted free of charge, as are the Gardens' members, known as CoHorts. An admission fee is charged to the public. Reiman Gardens is free for clients of United Way of Story County agencies.

[edit] Construction

Iowa State University has had a horticulture garden since 1914; Reiman Gardens is the third location for these gardens. Today's gardens began in 1993 with a gift from Bobbi and Roy Reiman. Construction began in 1994 and the Gardens' initial five acres were officially dedicated on September 16, 1995. The landscape design was created by Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects. The Gardens added a 25,000 square foot conservatory building that opened in November 2002. The new building made the Gardens a year-round facility with an indoor plant conservatory, a glass house filled with tropical plants and exotic butterflies, an auditorium for classes and events, a cafe, gift shop, and parking.

[edit] Facilities

Primary facilities at Reiman Gardens currently include:

Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing - a 2,500-square-foot indoor tropical garden containing exotic and native butterflies from six continents. This is named for Roy Reiman's mother, Christina.

Conservatory Complex - a 5,000-square-foot conservatory of tropical plants and seasonal plant displays that change six to eight times annually; an 88 seat cafe serving Tues-Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., a gift shop, restroom facilities and other guest amenities including free use of wheelchairs and an electric chair donated by the Town and County Kiwinis Club.

Dunlap Courtyard Garden - bulb plantings and catalpa trees.

Roy and Mary Amos Smith Hardwood Forest

Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center - Named for ISU horticultural professor John P. Mahlstede, this building houses staff and The Speer Room, where many classes and events are held. It is thought to be one of the most beautiful rooms in Iowa with sweeping views of the Gardens pictured from glass walls that extend from ceiling to floor.

Helen Latch Jones Rose Garden - over 2,000 rose plants, representing 254 different varieties. This garden received the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) President's Award, given annually to a single public garden. Iowa State University's own Buck Roses, that are disease resistant and winter hardy, are displayed and a central part of Reiman Gardens. There are also 300 varieties of heirloom, hybrid tea, and shrub roses on display. For 2007, the Gardens' staff has designed one of the country's first sustainable rose gardens that will be installed in the spring and dedicated in the summer of 2007.

Class of 1955 Hillside Garden - This area has been named for the ISU Class of 1955 and planting plans call for this area to be planted upon completion of a new master plan. The footprint of this garden gives sweeping views of the entire outside areas as this garden climbs up against Beach Avenue. This area has been planned to display some of the Gardens' collection of dwarf conifer varieties in an alpine garden setting.

Joey and Jesse’s Herb Garden - a geometric garden of herbs in raised beds, with tulips in spring and a summer display that changes each year.

Lake Helen - over 12 species of hybrid Victoria waterlilies and two Euryales.

Margaret E. Penkhus Campanile Garden - a 50-foot steel structure with an electronic carillon. This area has a spring tulip display and changes each year to reflect the Gardens' theme.

Patty Jischke Children's Garden - Iowa farmstead theme, including a stock tank, scarecrow garden, covered bridge, corn crib pavilion and stream garden.

South Field - Each year, this area changes to reflect the Gardens' annual theme. In the past, there have been fourteen 14’ by 14’ quilt patternss grown from bedding plants including vinca, coleus, curry, bugleweed, sweet potatoes, and ornamental peppers. Quilt patterns include Wedding Ring, Maple Leaf, Weather Vane, Grandmother’s Fan, Double Pinwheel, and Windmill’s Crossing. The 2006 display featured the Special Olympics Cauldron; in 2005 there was a 9 foot topiary globe planted to describe the "Global Garden" theme. In 2007, Reiman Gardens will build a miniature replica of central campus with a minature train (and maybe a Dinky) running between the buildings.

Stafford Native Plant Sanctuary - sycamore trees (planted circa 1920s), with wooden boardwalk and wetland bog garden. This area is planned to hold many species of native Iowa grasses and plants.

Town and Country Garden - 12 demonstration gardens for common gardening uses. This area is anchored by the Hunzkier Garden Home, named in honor of Marge Hunziker. The surrounding gardens include the Ross Formal Lawn Garden, the Outdoor Living Room, The Front Yard Garden, The Sunny Side Yard, The Naturalist Garden, The Deck Garden, The CoHorts' Pattern Garden, The Walled Courtyard, The Suburban Back Yard, The Paving Court, The Home Production Garden and the Prairie Vista Garden.