Mission, Vision & History

Our Mission

Exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants.

Our Vision

Our vision for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is to be a cherished community resource, known for enriching quality of life in our region and state through education and stewardship of the vital connections between plants, people and the natural world.

Our Values

We are a community of growers who are curious, committed, and kind.

We are a community of people welcoming all to join us in caring for one another and the plant communities that make up our Garden.

We are growers who, with many hands, cultivate and nurture a thriving ecosystem filled with plants and people.

We are curious and passionate about the natural world, and we are dedicated to doing our part to sustain and protect it for future generations.

We are committed to creating and tending gardens where joy is experienced, curiosity is cultivated, and lifelong memories are made and cherished.

We lead with kindness in all that we do to create an environment that promotes growth of our plants, our people, and our community.

Our Impact

Our Commitment to Diversity

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden stands as one team devoted to learning and practicing anti-racism, inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility, such that the Garden can be a vital resource and advocate for our diverse community. Public gardens and community green spaces have an essential role in bringing our diverse community together. We believe the Garden is a platform for a hopeful and peaceful future. Together we will dedicate ourselves to the active work of listening, learning and breaking down barriers and inequities.

A New Beginning

  • 1929: The Des Moines Garden Club and the Des Moines Founders Garden Club plant seeds in the spring. The stock market crashes in October halted progress. 
  • 1956: Members of the same garden clubs revive the idea of a botanical garden which was tied to the construction of two new swimming pools. The pools are built but the garden remains a dream. 
  • False starts ensue in 1960 and 1964. 
  • 1966: The City of Des Moines secures a 14-acre brickyard that will eventually become the site of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. 
  • Oct. 1, 1969: Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center, the facility’s first governing group, is officially incorporated. 
  • 1971-1977: The Friends raise $85,000. 
  • August 1977: Economic Development Work Project donates $2,577,000 to build the domed conservatory and the City of Des Moines contributed $700,000 to build the production greenhouses. 
  • Oct. 29, 1977: Ground is broken for the geodesic domed conservatory. 
  • October 1979: The conservatory receives a truckload of tropical and subtropical plants, a gift from Longwood Gardens. 
  • Dec. 15, 1979: Grand opening day is bitterly cold — the poinsettias in the lobby are frozen stiff from the doors being opened so many times. 
  • 1988-1991: A capital fund drive by the Friends funded the construction of the North Wing, new meeting rooms, additional production greenhouses, a reorganized entrance, and gardens along the river. 
  • 2003: Declining revenues and increasing expenses lead the City of Des Moines to consider closing the facility, at which point Des Moines Water Works offers to assume management. Subsequently, the City of Des Moines contributes $600,000 for updating infrastructure and repair work completed by Water Works. 
  • December 2007: The Gardeners Show House featuring frequently changed seasonal displays opens in one of the production greenhouses and has an immediate positive impact. Funded by Friends and built by Water Works employees, it is maintained by the Iowa State University Extension Polk County Master Gardeners and Botanical Garden volunteers. 
  • 2008: Des Moines leaders — J.C. “Buz” Brenton, Janis Ruan, Tom Urban, and Fred Weitz—in collaboration with the City of Des Moines, lay the groundwork for rebranding the existing Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and forming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to assume management of the Botanical Garden. 
  • 2009: Following a nationwide search, Landscape Architect Doug Hoerr, principal at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architecture of Chicago, begins developing a vision plan. 
  • 2010-2011: Work continues to secure operating support, including $245,000 a year for 10 years by Bravo Greater Des Moines, $200,000 a year from the City of Des Moines and $200,000 in-kind operating support from Des Moines Water Works. 
  • May 2011: The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden assumes the 501(c)(3) designation formerly held by Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center and signs a 28E agreement with the City of Des Moines for the lease, operation, management, and maintenance of the Botanical Center. A governing board of directors forms and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden capital campaign committee begins its work. 
  • June 2011: DuPont Pioneer (now Corteva Agriscience) announces a $3 million contribution to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s “A New Beginning” capital campaign. 
  • September 2011: Following a nationwide search, Stephanie Jutila is named the first president and CEO. 
  • June 2012: The original site master plan developed by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architecture is approved by the Des Moines City Council. 
  • Jan. 1, 2013: The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden lease with the City of Des Moines begins, marking a new era of leadership, operations, and management. 
  • March 2013: Robert D. Ray Drive closes north of the Botanical Garden’s parking lot to make way for new outdoor gardens. 
  • July 2013: Construction on outdoor gardens, interior renovations begin. 
  • September 2013: A 265 sq. ft. living wall designed by Simonson & Associates is installed by GSky Plant Systems Inc. The wall is the first of its kind in the state of Iowa. With this installation, interior renovations are complete. 
  • Fall 2013: Planting in new landscape areas begins along with the kickoff of fundraising for the $6.2 million phase II of the original site master plan. 
  • Spring-late Summer 2014: Planting in new landscape areas continues as phase I of the original site master plan nears completion. 
  • Spring-Summer 2014: Phase II construction begins. 
  • April 4, 2015: New outdoor gardens (seven acres) open to the public for the first time. 
  • July 25, 2017: The  Amorphophallus titanium (corpse flower) blooms in the conservatory, the first of its kind in Iowa. The Botanical Garden welcomed 4,636 visitors the day of the bloom and 11,843 total visitors between July 13-31, 2017 
  • Feb. 3, 2018: The Botanical Garden receives Bravo Greater Des Moines’ Encore Award in recognition of the organization’s longstanding and exceptional contributions to the region’s cultural landscape. 
  • Jan. 1, 2019: The Botanical Garden joins the Museums for All initiative, providing free admission to EBT card holders. 
  • June 2019: The Botanical Garden adopts its next strategic plan, Increasing Our Relevance. 
  • September 21, 2020: The Botanical Garden unveils the new Ruan Reflection Garden featuring two 12-foot-tall sky frames, a reflection pool, and fountain. 
  • November 20, 2020: Botanical Garden launches the We Grow Together program, an initiative to strengthen connections between the Garden and community organizations and businesses. 
  • April 2021: Following an extensive search, Kim Perez is named the Botanical Garden’s president and CEO. 
  • Summer 2021: More than 20,000 plants are installed in the newly expanded Robert D. Ray Asian Garden. 
  • October 2021: Plant Pet Program launches in partnership with Des Moines Public Schools and By Degrees Foundation. The program brings houseplants and plant education to Des Moines elementary and middle school students.  
  • November 1, 2021: The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden begins stewardship of the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden. 
  • December 2021: “Threshold,” a 16-foot-tall steel sculpture by Spanish artist Juanjo Novella honoring former Des Moines Mayor Tom Urban, is installed in the anticipated Founders Garden after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • May 2022: The Founders Garden and Hiller Family Rain Garden open to the public. These gardens feature a naturalistic planting style reflecting ecologies found in the state of Iowa while highlighting sustainable gardening and water management practices. 

Today, the Garden is constantly evolving as our gardens mature, and we envision future development. Explore the Gardens.