Pollinator Plant We Love: Liatris

by Shay Magaraci | Jul 1, 2020 | Horticulture

July is for Pollinators It’s July and your garden is thriving, perhaps only with weeding and occasional watering to keep you busy. But this is the gardener’s sweet spot—the time of year when you can sit outside and reap the rewards of seeds sown earlier.   This month...

Tips for Growing Healthier Tomatoes

by Shay Magaraci | May 20, 2020 | Horticulture

Three Tips for Healthy Tomatoes The late-spring months of May and June provide ideal temperatures and conditions for planting tomatoes in Central Iowa. Whether you’ve grown food in your garden for decades, or if this season is your first attempt at growing your...

Botanical Tableau: A New Perspective

by Shay Magaraci | Apr 17, 2020 | Horticulture

Viewing the Garden in a New Way During our extended closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Botanical Garden team has used social media to share what’s growing and flowering in the Garden from week to week as spring progresses. Director of Horticulture and...

Roses: Garden Design and Pruning

by Shay Magaraci | Apr 16, 2020 | Horticulture

The Wells Fargo Rose Garden If you’ve visited the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden between spring and fall, you were first greeted by the dynamic, colorful Wells Fargo Rose Garden. We carefully design and organically maintain this garden to challenge the...

5 Tips for Healthier Houseplants

by Shay Magaraci | Mar 19, 2020 | Horticulture

Tips for Healthy, Happy Houseplants Houseplants are known to offer a host of benefits to their owners. Aside from adding bright, colorful décor, they also purify the air in your home and can boost your mood. Although the conditions in your home may seem stagnant...

Safe Spring Cleanup

by Shay Magaraci | Mar 17, 2020 | Horticulture

Spring Cleaning with Pollinators in Mind With warm weather and sunshine this early in spring, many gardeners are beginning their cleanup. While it can be exciting to finally be back in your garden after a long winter, the timing of these tasks is important for our...