The first step in the development of the next seven acres of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Founders Garden showcases Botanical Garden horticulturists’ unique skills and demonstrates the transforming beauty of gardens. The dry meadow garden also commemorates the many forward-thinking individuals who brought the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden to life and is a tribute to Tom Urban, one of four individuals who endeavored to establish a renewed botanical garden in Des Moines. 

Representative of an Iowa sand prairie, the Founders Garden will feature a custom, native annual seed mix and native ornamental grasses incorporating wild-collected species from across the state of Iowa and beyond. The designed plant community will display resilient ecologies. As an ever-evolving natural landscape, the garden will change from season to season, and year to year as it reflects the beauty and grace of Iowa meadows and prairies.

The Founders Garden is made possible through the generosity of  friends of Tom Urban and his family.