What’s in Bloom
See our Garden change, evolve and mature month by month, season by season, year by year. Click each month for a gallery of images that capture the Garden’s best and most interesting during that time.
August 2019
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Soft, hazy plantings fill the boxwood parterre on the Principal Belvedere on Aug. 4.
A glimpse of the billowing borders in the Koehn Garden on Aug. 4.
Candy colors and textures exude from the crisp bed lines of the Wells Fargo Rose Garden on Aug. 4.
Cirsium rivulare ‘Trevor’s Blue’ (Trevor’s Blue plume thistle), a non-weedy thistle, growing in the belvedere beds on the Principal Belvedere.
A panoramic shot displaying the lush green conservatory landscape.
A painted lady butterfly comes to rest on Phlox paniculata 'Jeana'.
Colorful Dahlia 'Groovy' steals the show along the annual border in the Koehn Garden.
A series of amaranths and celosia form a colorful weft through this summer’s lush planting on the espalier wall in the Koehn Garden.
A cluster of pink lilies look as perfect as a painting in the August water garden landscape.
Buddleia 'Grand Cascade' takes center stage on the Principal Belvedere this August.
A view of the late-summer water garden looking toward the Lauridsen Savanna.
Butterflies abound in the Lauridsen Savanna throughout August.
The Gardeners Show House planting scheme invites visitors to take a seat and collect container gardening ideas during any season.
A gray-skies vignette of the water garden facing the Rutledge Conifer Garden.
A sun-soaked view of the water garden from the Lauridsen Savanna walking path.
Another look at the planting designs in the boxwood parterre on the Principal Belvedere.
A walk along the August hillside garden reveals a variety of grasses and hydrangea blooms.
Lovely pink hardy hibiscus flowers unfold in the Koehn Garden.
Summer lush plantings glow in evening light in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden.
The sublime contrast between Artemisia lactiflora ‘Elfenbein’ (Elfenbein mugwort) and the walls of the Koehn Garden.
The Wells Fargo Rose Garden on Aug. 4.
July 2019
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A look at this season's hot colored planting design in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden.
Sunlight filtering through lily blooms in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Lychnis coronata 'Orange Sherbet' adds pops of bright orange along the sidewalk in the Koehn Garden.
Stunning 'Claret' sunflowers stand tall as they catch the sunlight along the Espalier Wall.
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) blooms in fluffy plumes in the Rutledge Conifer Garden.
This cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) looks like a thistle and produces neon-purple blooms. Located along the Koehn Garden's Espalier Wall.
A monarch butterfly comes to rest on vibrant pink phlox blooms inside the Koehn Garden.
Lush greens on the hillside garden created a stunning backdrop for the Rutledge Conifer Garden this July.
Clusters of pink coneflowers in the Koehn Garden attract countless bees and other pollinators.
A look at Spectral Liberation surrounded by wild planting schemes in the parking lot garden.
Stokesia ‘Rozanne’ adds a cluster of texture and purple hues to the perennial Koehn Garden.
Coneflowers and lilies intermix with vibrant colors in the Koehn Garden.
Agastache rupestris 'Glowing Embers' coral blooms add texture and spectacular color to the mostly green Rutledge Conifer Garden.
Pastel yellow lilies bloom beautifully and fill the Koehn Garden with their sweet, floral scent.
A blue-skies view of downtown Des Moines over the water garden.
Canna 'Intrigue' stuns in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden. This coral color is a sight to see in person!
A layered, textural planting design in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden complete with verbena, bee balm, alliums and more.
June 2019
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Stachys hummelo paints the parking lot garden landscape with magenta blossoms.
Our Opuntia humifusa displays vibrant yellow blossoms in the Rutledge Conifer Garden.
Punches of pink and purple compose this playful vignette in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
A group of Gaillardia flowers blooming in the Rutledge Conifer Garden.
A 2019 Spring Garden Festival plant sale feature, Still Waters™ Clematis, began flowering in in early June.
A variety of Echinacea flowers were planted in our Principal Belvedere planters this June.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas take their turn to bloom after the spring irises along the Ruan Allée.
A single sunflower takes center stage in front of a group of Alliums in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Distant Drums Buck roses glow in hues of pink and peach after a spring rain.
Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge' stuns with its complex structure and eye-catching color.
The water garden came to life in spectactular color mid June.
The first of many Asiatic Lilies to bloom in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
A vibrant view overlooking the Rutledge Conifer Garden toward the hillside garden.
A group of pink roses stand out against their greenery backdrop in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Zinnias planted in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden offer pops of color in shades of orange, yellow and pink.
Even as they dry, Alliums demand attention in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Delphinium blooms show off their bright indigo color in the sunlight of the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Pale peach Serendipity Buck roses added to the colorful variety of blooms in this June's Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Layered Penstemon add complexity and color to the early June Rutledge Conifer Garden.
Cheery sunflowers bloomed along the walkway to the front entrance in late June.
A colorful vignette in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden is complete with Zinnia, Clematis, Salvia, Apple Jack Buck roses and more.
The Wells Fargo Rose Garden blossomed in early June with roses in a variety of colors.
May 2019
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Colorful layers of salvia and roses paint the Wells Fargo Rose Garden in late May.
This 'Lavon' peony bloomed with delicate, pink petals in late May.
The Principal Belvedere is sprinkled with pink, purple and yellow tulip varieties in early May.
Alliums (ornamental onions) and irises make for classic companions in late May in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
A brightly colored Iris unfurls in the Rutledge Confier Garden in early May.
Pink, red and orange tulips line the Espalier Wall in early May, during Spring Garden Festival.
Gymnocalycium horstii (Spider Cactus) shows off pink blooms in the conservatory's desert garden.
A Rosa ‘Prairie Sunrise’ Buck rose looks striking after rain in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
A creative hanging display for vibrant green container plants in the Gardeners Show House.
Alliums, salvia and irises in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden on May 30.
Roses weave through perennials and bulbs and form artful vignettes in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
This English Rose 'Desdemona' blooms in late May in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
A clear-skies view across the budding water garden on May 13.
Peach-colored Geum flowers bloom one-by-one in the Rutlege Conifer Garden throughout the month of May.
Peonia Ostii ‘Phoenix White’ offers its showy blooms on the hillside garden.
This hot pink 'Tea Cup' Peony demanded attention this May.
Erigeron pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ sprinkles the hillside garden with daisy-like flowers.
Rosa ‘Queen Bee’ (Queen Bee Buck rose) glows against the complementary colors of nearby perennials in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
This ‘Tranquil Dove’ Peony catches the sunlight in the Koehn Garden.
Vibrantly colored tulips open in the sunlight along the fence on the Principal Belvedere.
The Wells Fargo Rose Garden bursting with color on May 30.
A bunch of Bananas bloom above the conservatory staircase in mid-May.
Penstemon, commonly known as beard tongues, stand tall in the Rutledge Contifer Garden.
Pink Aquilegia (Wild Columbine) flowers opening in the late-spring Garden.
Chive blooms open against a green backdrop in the Koehn Garden.
Alliums (ornamental onions) star in late May in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
April 2019
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Brightly colored tulips on the espalier wall in the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 20
Iris pumila ‘Spring Beacon’ (Spring Beacon miniature dwarf bearded iris) in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 18
Lindera benzoin (spicebush) in flower in the hillside garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Narcissus ‘Fortissimo’ (Fortissimo daffodil) in the parking lot garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Corydalis solida (appleblossom fumewort) in the hillside garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Sign wall tulips in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 20
Fritillaria uva-vulpis (fox grape fritillary) in flower in the hillside garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Helleborus ‘Walhelivor’ (Ivory Prince hellebore) in flower in the hillside garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Iris ‘Rosa Brooks’ (Rosa Brooks miniature dwarf bearded iris) in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 18
Candy colored tulips on the Espalier Wall in the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Encore’ (Encore magnolia) in the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Ostrya virginiana (ironwood) flowering in the Meredith Cafe Terrace on April 20. Photo by Kelly Norris
Narcissus ‘Katie Heath’ (Katie Heath daffodil) flowering in the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Salix alba (weeping willow) leafing out along the water garden edge. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 16
Uvularia grandiflora (merrywort) flowering in the hillside garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 20
Iris ‘Alpine Lake’ (Alpine Lake miniature dwarf bearded iris) in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 20
Sign wall tulips in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris, April 20 (2)
March 2019
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Our rare jade vine had plenty of inflorescences this month, demanding attention with its gorgeous turquoise hue.
A closer look at the unique Strongylodon macrobotrys (jade vine) flowers.
These beautiful lilac-colored crocus flowers signaled spring's welcome beginning this month.
Agave desmettiana inflorescence in the conservatory.
An Albuca spiralis flower in an early stage of bloom.
These bright orange Asclepias curassavica flowers are small but striking in the conservatory.
This Pachystachys lutea (golden shrimp plant) flowered beautifully this month in the conservatory.
Another stage of Justicia brandegeeana flowers in bloom.
These blue irises brought the first signs of spring to the Garden.
These white iris flowers added cheerful pops of yellow to the Dorothy and Max Rutledge Conifer Garden in early spring.
The conservatory landscape looked especially striking with numerous shades of green and accents of pink this month.
Native to southern India, this Thunbergia mysorensis (Indian clock vine) is blooming now in our Gardeners Show House.
The conservatory greenery provided a tranquil view from the waterfall bridge.
Bright orange and pink hibiscus flowers brought vibrant color to the Gardeners Show House in March.
Along the edge of the conservatory, these small pineapples can be found growing from terra cotta containers.
These delicate white and pink flowers bloomed from a scented geranium plant in the Gardeners Show House.
This variegated bougainvillea plant attracts attention with intricate leaf detail in the conservatory.
These blooming canna flowers added classic pastel shades to the bright conservatory landscape.
February 2019