Create your own mini-ecosystem using materials from your home and yard! Explore the plant world in your own backyard as a family with this at-home summer activity. Did you know...a terrarium is a closed or mostly-closed container with soil and plants in it. In this container, a mini-ecosystem is at work. [...]
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden celebrates Arbor Day with a special tree planting. Representatives from Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the City of Des Moines Parks & Recreations, and other area organizations at the tree planting. This April, representatives from the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, City of Des [...]
View the Des Moss Skyline at the Botanical Garden Last winter, the holiday train made its last tour of the season through the east end of the Gardeners Show House. Comfortable seating and the familiar journaling seat have returned, in addition to a brand-new art installation comprised of wood and colorful [...]
Filmed and edited by Brent Roske p.g.a. of Roske.tv. Frond Farewell to the Cuban royal palm After spending more than a decade in the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s collection, the Roystonea regia (Roy-STOH-nee-uh REE-jee-uh), also known as a Cuban royal palm, will be removed from its home in the conservatory. The specimen [...]
5 Historic Black Figures in Horticulture, Gardening and Plant Sciences You Should Know The Black community is responsible for many contributions to horticulture, plant sciences, gardening and nature. Here are five Black historical figures, some well-known and others lesser known, and their connections to the plant world! 1. George Washington Carver [...]
Learn to manage humidity for your houseplants with Senior Horticulturist Leslie Hunter. Humidity is a measurement of water vapor in the air (and is usually the culprit of bad hair days), but it's very important to plants, especially houseplants. Houseplants appreciate a humidity level between 60 and 80%, which would be difficult to [...]
How to Plant and Care For Orchids Tropical orchids are not like most houseplants. They are epiphytes, which means they do not grow in soil but by hanging on to the bark of trees. This unique growing environment means they will not survive the same soils and watering regimens as your typical houseplants. [...]
How to Plant and Care For Amaryllis When planting your amaryllis bulb, it is best to choose an unglazed terra cotta pot with a drainage hole, that is about two inches bigger around than your bulb. This should allow about one inch of space all around your bulb once planted in the pot. [...]
Protecting Native Bees with Ecological Horticulturist Ryan Drake Earlier this summer, I cut a dying bloom from Ipomopsis rubra (Texas plume) in the Dorothy and Max Rutledge Conifer Garden. Not long after, I noticed that a Ceratina sp. (Small Carpenter bee) took up residence in the cutting and started a brood nest to [...]
Fall Gardening with Senior Horticulturist Leslie Hunter Learn how to protect your gardens—and your houseplants— from the cold temperatures while encouraging the best possible spring blooms. Roses At this point in the season, you can leave your roses alone and allow the blooms to form rose hips while growth slows. Typically, we do [...]
