Maple Syrup Day Saturday, April 1 8 am to 11 am Maple Syrup Day is a fundraiser event for Iowa State University Xi Sigma Pi, a national forestry honor society.  Guests can enjoy pancakes, sausages, and breakfast drinks. Learn about the syrup-making process, watch a woodturner make bowls, see timber sports demonstrations, and experience other […]

Ephemeral Walk Saturday, April 8 1 pm – 3 pm Join David McKinney, Curator of Collections & Grounds, for an in-depth walking tour of spring-blooming ephemeral plants across our 80 acres of native woodland. Learn about plants like hepaticas, trilliums, Dutchman’s breeches, and more! Hike will be close to 1.5 miles long and will cover […]

Ephemeral Walk Wednesday, April 12 1 pm – 3 pm Join David McKinney, Curator of Collections & Grounds, for an in-depth walking tour of spring-blooming ephemeral plants across our 80 acres of native woodland. Learn about plants like hepaticas, trilliums, Dutchman’s breeches, and more! Hike will be close to 1.5 miles long and will cover […]

Kenton J. Seth is based in Western Colorado and is a garden designer and plant junkie. Specializing in cutting-edge gardens and landscapes, his national and international work has been crevice gardens, including a book about them in 2022 titled 'The Crevice Garden'. He specializes in dry, native, and ecological gardening in an effort to create […]

5k/1-mile Walk/Run Saturday, April 29 Check-in:  8 am Start time: 9 am Join the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens for a beautiful scenic 5K or 1 mile Family Walk/Run on well-maintained trails. In addition to hosting the race, we will also be having Arbor Day activities that will take place after the race. Registration includes a […]

Celebrate the “Year of Trees with a tree planting ceremony and kids tree climbing activity sponsored by the Iowa Arborist Association. Free tree seedlings will be given away during the event. Educational talks held that morning include Trees for the Iowa Garden, Planting Trees, and Tree Care. Open to the public.

Plant Sale Members only May 5th 4 pm-6 pm, May 6th & 7th 9 am-4 pm. Perennial plants will include anything from Cottage Garden Plants, to Natives and Pollinator Plants, to rock garden and alpine species. Shrubs will include Lilacs, Hydrangeas, and some evergreens. Here is the plant list for the sale. Genus Species Cultivar […]

Garden Social and Auction Saturday, May 5 Plant Sale for attendees and members – 4 pm to 6 pm Silent Auction, Social Hour, and Music – 5 pm to 6 pm Dinner – 6 pm to 7 pm Auction – 7 pm to 9 pm It is time to attend the gardening social event of […]

Plant Sale Members only May 5th 4 pm-6 pm, May 6th & 7th 9 am-4 pm. Perennial plants will include anything from Cottage Garden Plants, to Natives and Pollinator Plants, to rock garden and alpine species. Shrubs will include Lilacs, Hydrangeas, and some evergreens.   Here is the plant list Genus Species Cultivar Achillea New Vintage Violet Achillea […]

Spring Flower Walk Saturday, June 3 9 am to 11 am Join David McKinney, Curator of Collections & Grounds, for an in-depth walking tour of spring and early summer blooming trees, shrubs, and perennials across our 40 acres of gardens. Explore plants like mock-oranges and hydrangeas, buckeyes, and magnolias.                Members: $10 per person (each […]