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.
October 2020
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Vibrant container planting on the Principal Belvedere. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Containers featuring the draping stolons of Stenotaphrum secundatum ‘Variegatum’ (variegated St. Augustine’s grass) on the Principal Belvedere. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Light filters through Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) leaves in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
The espalier wall erupted into crisp, hot colors in October. Photo by Kelly Norris.
The Koehn Garden shows off varied shapes and textures in October. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Seedheads hover in Eragrostis trichodes (sand lovegrass) in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Crisp whites and vibrant reds dominate this end of the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield’s Pink’ presents countless blooms in the October Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
An artful, wild planting in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Another look at the planting layers -- and artwork -- in the Rutledge Conifer Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Bold red dahlias demand attention in the October garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Senna lindheimeriana (Lindheimer’s velvet-leaf senna) glows in the sunlight on the Principal Belvedere. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ (Solar Cascade Short’s goldenrod) and Silphium terebinthinaceum (prairie dock) combine beautifully in the parking lot garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
A stunning purple salvia blooms in the middle of October. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) and Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ (Northwind switchgrass) combine for a hazy planting. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Dahlia ‘Smiling Don’ along the annual border. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Symphyotrichum laeve ‘Bluebird’ (Bluebird smooth aster) reflects the stunning afternoon light. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Dahlias, salvias and much more combine for a dynamic, colorful and eye-catching annual display. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Tropical textures add interest on the Principal Belvedere. Photo by Kelly Norris.
The Wells Fargo Rose Garden keep stunning blooms and colors well into October. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Another Salvia, Salvia leucantha, leans beautifully along the espalier wall. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Amsonia hubrichtii (threadleaf bluestar) offers a hazy view in the parking lot garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
A pastel vignette in the mid-October Wells Fargo Rose Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Celosia spicata ‘Flamingo Feather’ (Flamingo Feather spike celosia) and Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage) boast incredibly vibrant hues in the Koehn Garden. Photo by Kelly Norris.
Another look at the stunning tropical textures on the Principal Belvedere. Photo by Kelly Norris.
September 2020
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August 2020
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Argemone albiflora (Bluestem pricklypoppy) glows in the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden.
The annual border in the Koehn Garden filled in with plenty of pink and purple dahlias along the espalier wall.
Layered, colorful plantings come into focus this month in the Koehn Garden.
A butterfly visits the ever-popular Phlox 'Jeana' in the Koehn Garden.
A lush, inviting entrance to explore the hillside garden from its winding path.
Hibiscus 'Perfect Storm' (Rose Mallow) shows off a massive bloom accented by textured greenery in the Koehn Garden.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Ginger Love' sways in the breeze along the Koehn Garden's walking path.
Morning light filers beautifully through the lilies in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Soft morning light makes for a sunning and welcoming view of the Koehn Garden's waterfall.
The towering, billowing perennial border in the Koehn Garden shines in late August.
Dahlia 'Vassio Meggos' stands tall along the Koehn Garden's annual border.
Another look at the dynamic, complex plantings along the Koehn Garden's espalier wall.
Grand lotus blooms continued to evolve in the water garden throughout August.
July 2020
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June 2020
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A vibrant June vignette in the Rutledge Conifer Garden.
Layered plantings continue to come to life in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden this month.
Lavandula x intermedia 'Phenomenal' adds a pop of purple to the EMC Insurance Companies Entry Garden.
Allium seedheads stand tall among the greenery in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
Peonies continued blooming into June along the Koehn Garden path.
Water lilies and lotuses begin to bloom against the backdrop of the Koehn Garden and Ruan Allée.
Look for creative container plantings at the entrance to the Ruan Allée this summer.
Another look at the Rutledge Conifer Garden's allium and coneflower blooms.
May 2020
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Geum Cocktail™ ‘Mai Tai’ flowers speckle the Rutledge Conifer Garden with peach-colored blooms.
Beautiful purple chive flowers bloom in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden and the Koehn Garden this spring.
The Dorothy and Max Rutledge Conifer Garden comes to life with greenery and plenty of small, colorful blooms this time of year.
Gentiana acaulis 'Maxima' stuns with this gorgeous shade of deep blue.
The Prairie Meadows Living Wall is growing into its new display for 2020. This wall contains more than 1,300 individual plants!
'Spiderweb' Iris blooms get their name from the intricate purple designs.
Shades of purple make up this layered, dynamic display along the edge of the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
The Garden's waterfall cascades from a lush, green hillside garden.
'Mount Everest' Alliums stand tall as the first of many Alliums to bloom in the Garden.
A single iris blooms in beautiful shades of purple and orange in the Dorothy and Max Rutledge Conifer Garden.
Peony 'Chief Wapello' adds a punch of pink to the Wells Fargo Rose Garden's spring display.
A cozy seat in the Gardener's Show House to soak in the lush greenery.
Our Chatty Cathy™ hibiscus blooms are as bright as ever in the conservatory.
Clematis 'Sugar Sweet Blue' begins to climb in the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.
April 2020
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March 2020
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Small but brightly colored orchids captured attention along the conservatory path.
These Giant Crinum Lily blooms resembled fireworks in the conservatory.
A colorful grouping of blooms from the conservatory's desert garden.
A new interactive display for children to explore during their next visit to the Botanical Garden.
An intricate display of succulents and air plants in the conservatory's desert garden.
A punch of red from this hibiscus flower adds a splash of color to the Gardeners Show House.
The first signs of spring at the Garden arrived in cheery yellow shades.
A new dynamic display of container plants in the Gardeners Show House.
Our Jade Vine flowered in vibrant color this month.
The conservatory view from the Garden Commons shows multiple Jade Vine blooms under the stairwell.
Another look at the Jade Vine in bloom.
February 2020
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Eye-catching, colorful flowers and foliage bask in the conservatory sunlight.
Dombeya burgessiae ‘Seminole’ stuns with bright pink flowers against the conservatory greenery.
Discover leaves of all shapes and sizes inside the Gardeners Show House.
Tiny, brightly colored blooms unfurl from a succulent in the conservatory's desert garden collection.
Giant crinum lily blooms sprawl open like fireworks along the conservatory path.
Deep purples and lime greens make up this inflorescence from Managave 'Spotify' in the conservatory's desert garden.
Look for creative topiary and other unique plants inside the Gardeners Show House.
These stunning pink blooms are hard to miss from our desert rose plant. Located in the conservatory desert garden.
A relative of shell ginger (A. zerumbet), look for these striking blooms from this Alpinia sp. plant near the North Gallery entrance.
This African violet's deep indigo hues pop against its green, furry leaves.
The conservatory collection glows in the sunlight on a cold winter day in Iowa.
Dioon spinulosum, or giant dioon, stands tall along the conservatory path.
A collection of Mangave and cactus absorb the sunlight on the conservatory balcony.
A gravity-defying Tillandsia display is suspended by ropes in the Gardeners Show House.
January 2020