Iowa Arboretum & Gardens

Garden Social & Auction
2023-05-05 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | IA
Garden Social and Auction
Friday, 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 the year. This year’s theme is “Year of the Tree”! As many of you know, event ticket holders have the first chance at purchasing the best plants at the spring plant sale (Saturday for the general public).
You will be treated to an evening featuring live music along with a delicious dinner. The live auction follows with hundreds of unique plants, garden-related items, and gifts to bid on. Auctioneers J&J Auction Company will set the stage for an entertaining and engaging evening.
Come early to buy plants and stay late to enjoy the festivities. Tickets are $75
Click on the button below to purchase your ticket or sponsor a table (8 tickets)

¡COMPRA TUS ENTRADAS AQUÍ!

Plant Sale (for members only on the 5th. Open to the public on the 6th & 7th)
2023-05-05 16:00
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

Achillea

New Vintage Violet

Achillea

Sassy Summer Taffy

Agastache

Blue Boa

Agastache

Poquito Orange

Ajuga

Catlin’s Giant

Ajuga

Golden Glow

Ajuga

Princess Nadia

Aquilegia
alpina
Blue Boa

Aquilegia
canadensis

Aquilegia

Earlybird Blue White

Aquilegia

Spring Magic Rose and Ivory

Aquilegia

Swan Burgundy and White

Artemisia

Mori’s Strain

Artemisia

Silver Mound

Artemisia

SunFern Olympia

Ascelpias
tuberosa
Hello Yellow

Caryopteris
incana
Pink Pavillion

Centranthus
ruber

Coreopsis
verticillata
Rosea

Coreopsis
verticillata
Zagreb

Delosperma

Granita Raspberry

Dianthus

Kahori Pink

Echinacea

Green Twister

Echinacea

Magnus

Echinacea

Mellow Yellow

Gaura

Siskiyou Pink

Geranium

Vision Violet

Heliopsis

Burning Hearts

Lavender

Phenomenal

Lamium

Pink Pewter

Monarda

BeeMine Lavender

Monarda

Jacob Cline

Monarda

Petite Delight

Oenothera

Sunset Boulevard

Papaver
orientale
Crimson Red

Papaver
orientale
Royal Wedding

Persicaria

Painter’s Palette

Phlox
paniculata
Famous Magenta

Phlox
paniculata
Famous Purple

Phlox
paniculata
Fashionably Early Flamingo

Phlox
subulata
Drummon’s Pink

Phlox
subulata
Eye Candy

Phlox
subulata
Oakington Blue Eyes

Physostegia

Crystal Peak White

Polemonium

Apricot Delight

Prunella

Lacy Blue

Rhubarb

Victoria

Rudbeckia

Goldblitz

Rudbeckia

Little Henry

Rudbeckia
triloba
Blackjack Gold

Ruta
subulata
Blue Mound

Salvia

Marvel Rose

Salvia

New Dimensions Blue

Saponaria
ocymoides

Stachys

Helen Von Stein

Verbena
canadensis
Perfecta

Veronica

Blue Skywalker

Veronica

Giles Van Hees

Veronica

Purple Leia

Veronica

Very Van Gogh

Bridal Open House & Venue Tour
2023-05-04 18:00 - 19:30
Bridal Open House & Venue Tour
Thursday, May 4, 6-7:30 p.m.
Who: Wedding planners and couples considering the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens as a venue for their nuptials and reception.

Free
Click Here to register if you plan to attend

Arbor Day Celebration
2023-04-29 09:00 - 12:00
The Iowa Arborist Association is sponsoring a tree planting ceremony and kids tree climbing activity to commemorate the “Year of Trees.” Attendees will receive free tree seedlings during the event. The morning will also feature educational talks on Trees for the Iowa Garden, Planting Trees, and Tree Care. The event is open to the public.

Run for the Trees 5k & 1 mile Run/Walk
2023-04-29 08:00
Come and participate in a scenic 5K or 1-mile Family Walk/Run on well-maintained trails at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. Following the race, there will be Arbor Day activities. Register for the event to receive a t-shirt, race bib, swag bag, snacks, and a tree seedling! Packet pick-up is scheduled for April 28th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 29th from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens.
Register online at getmeregistered.com
5k/1-mile Walk/Run Saturday, April 29
Check-in: 8 a.m. Start time: 9 a.m.

Spring Woof Walk
2023-04-16 09:00 - 11:00
Come and join Nan Bonfils for the Spring Woof Walk, where you can revel in the beauty of nature with your furry companion. All attendees will receive wag swag, and dogs are welcome on leashes. You don’t need to bring a dog to enjoy the walk. It’s an excellent opportunity to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Registration is not required, so come and join us!
Sunday, April 16th
9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

Spring Fever Symposium- Speaker: Kenton Seth
2023-04-15 10:00 - 15:00
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 “future-proof” landscapes. Crevice gardens serve to elevate and host special plants in a novel way, representing natural rocky places. His native designs save water, money, and effort by uniquely being able to go completely without regular irrigation- the most ecological, economical answer for landscaped areas in the dry American West. His approach means long-term growth without chemicals and no landscape fabric while providing beauty to humans and service to wildlife like birds and pollinators. He also hunts wild plants and has a small nursery to grow special materials for his designs. Join us in learning from Kenton, about his professional work with crevice gardens, meadows, and native plant gardens. Glean crevice garden wisdom, design ideas, and inspiration as he talks about his numerous garden projects. Then listen as he shares his favorite plant recommendations for rock, alpine, and crevice gardens. His website: http://www.paintbrushgardens.com/ Fee: $55 for members & $65 for non-members Lunch is included and Kenton’s book will be for sale at the event. Crevice plants will be for sale at the symposium.
Click Here to Purchase Your Ticket

Ephemeral Walk
2023-04-12 13:00 - 15:00
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 uneven terrain.
Members: $10 per person (each date) Non-members: $15
*Walks occur rain or shine so come prepared!

¡COMPRA TUS ENTRADAS AQUÍ!

Ephemeral Walk
2023-04-08 13:00 - 15:00
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 uneven terrain.
Members: $10 per person (each date) Non-members: $15
*Walks occur rain or shine so come prepared!

¡COMPRA TUS ENTRADAS AQUÍ!

Maple Syrup Day
2023-04-01 08:00 - 11:00
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 educational activities. Funds raised from the breakfast will be used for future Xi Sigma Pi events and projects
Pancake Breakfast: $8 for adults, $5 for children, 5 years old and under are free (pay at the door)

International Waffle Day - Dad's Belgian Waffles
2023-03-25 09:00 - 11:30
Kick off International Waffle day by coming to the Arboretum to enjoy delicious waffles and all the fixings. Dad’s Belgian Waffles return to the Arboretum to serve up their mouth-watering waffles, sausage, whip cream, juice, coffee, and an assortment of syrups. You will fill your plate and your tummy.
$10 per person
Free – 5 and younger

¡COMPRA TUS ENTRADAS AQUÍ!

You may also purchase your ticket at the door.

Beekeeper Winter Seminar
2023-03-18 08:00 - 16:00

Tunes in the Trees - Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox
2023-03-13 08:00 - 17:00
About Chad Elliott
Midwest singer-songwriter Chad Elliott blends folk roots, swampy blues and soulful writing to deliver an original Americana sound. His live performances have been honed over a decade of being on the road performing more than 200 shows each year. Elliott is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance man” by Culture Buzz Magazine. He has penned more than 1,500 songs in his career while also cultivating his skills as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, and author.
About Kathryn Severing Fox
Kathryn Severing Fox is an active gigging musician in Des Moines, predominantly performing with Iowa Blues and Rock Hall of Famer, Bob Pace, as The String Prophets, as well as other local bands. She is Adjunct Faculty at the School for Music Vocations at Southwestern Community College, where she teaches aural skills, strings, and piano. Kathryn played on the Grammy nominated track “All My Tomorrows” with Kate McGarry.
Tickets are free for members and $7 for non-members (can be purchased the day of the event)
Bring your lawn chair. Food truck(s) open at 5 pm (serving dinner).
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, SEE TUNES IN THE TREES FAQ
