Growing a Garden for Everyone
A botanical garden is more than a beautiful collection of plants. It’s a place to explore, connect, learn, and discover something unexpected.
At the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, that means creating opportunities to experience the wonder of the plant world, whether you’re wandering beneath the tropical canopy on a winter afternoon, discovering something new in our outdoor gardens or gathering with friends and family.
Our mission is simple: Exploring, Explaining and Celebrating the World of Plants with people. But the impact of that mission reaches far beyond the plants themselves.
Finally, each year, Champagne & Chocolate gives us an opportunity to celebrate that impact and invite our community to help shape what comes next.
Celebrating What Makes the Garden Grow
Champagne & Chocolate is more than a sparkling start to the holiday season. It’s an evening dedicated to celebrating the Garden, the people who make it possible, and the opportunities ahead.
Guests are among the first to experience Dome for the Holidays, enjoy an unforgettable evening together, and discover how their support helps the Botanical Garden continue to grow.
Proceeds from this annual gala support the Garden’s living collections, educational programs, experiences for all ages, and initiatives that make the Garden more welcoming and accessible to our community.
From inspiring curiosity in young learners to providing a peaceful place to reconnect with nature, these investments make a difference every day.
Explore Our Annual Impact Report
A Taste of the Tropics
One particularly exciting opportunity at this year’s Champagne & Chocolate celebration is the chance to help expand the Garden’s tropical edible plant collection.
Imagine seeing tropical fruits growing right before your eyes, perhaps varieties you’ve enjoyed at the grocery store, but have never seen growing on a plant.
Our goal is to create more opportunities for visitors to discover where food comes from, explore the science behind how tropical fruits grow, and experiences plants that aren’t typically found growing outdoors in Iowa.
With the addition of locally crafted, Versailles-style cedar planters, these tropical edible plants will become part of an engaging living display that combines horticulture, education, and discovery.
Guests at Champagne & Chocolate will have an opportunity to support the collection by sponsoring plants or contributing toward the new planters. It’s a tangible way to help grow something that thousands of future visitors can enjoy.
Rooted in Welcome, Gather, Grow
Just as a thriving garden requires thoughtful planning and care, so does a thriving organization.
This year, the Botanical Garden launched a new three-year Strategic Framework. Welcome, Gather, Grow, building upon the vision of our successful capital campaign of the same name. Developed with input from staff, volunteers, members, community partners and our Board of Directors, the framework focuses on three priorities:
- Creating Unforgettable Experiences Continuing to elevate the visitor experience through inspiriting horticulture, engaging programs, signature events, and improved accessibility.
- Building Stronger Connections Deepening relationships through education, volunteer engagement, community partnerships, and opportunities for people to connect with one another and the natural world.
- Sustaining Our Future Investing in the people, resources, facilities, and practices that will help the Garden thrive for generations to come.
Together, these three priorities provide a roadmap for how we’ll continue welcoming people, creating meaningful connections, and growing our impact.
Explore Our Strategic Framework
What Does This Mean for You?
Whether you’re a first-time visitor, longtime member, volunteer or supporter, our vision for the future is centered on creating a Botanical Garden that continues to offer something meaningful for everyone.
That means new and refreshed programming, beautiful and engaging horticultural displays, improved facilities and stronger community connections. It also means continuing to make room for moments that matter: discovering a plant you’ve never seen, introducing a child to the wonders of nature, gathering with friends or simply enjoying the beauty of slowing down.
Every improvement, program and new experience is part of a larger commitment to keeping the Botanical Garden a vibrant, welcoming destination throughout the year.
Help Us Keep Growing
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden thrives because people believe in the value of connecting our community with the world of plants.
Whether you join us for Champagne & Chocolate, become a member, volunteer, make a gift or support the Garden through a corporate partnership, you play an important role in what we can accomplish together.
Discover Ways to Support the Garden
Thank you for helping us welcome new visitors, gather our community, and grow a more vibrant Botanical Garden for generations to come.
