Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

The last thing we did before leaving Des Moines was visit the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. At first glance, the geodesic-domed conservatory doesn't look like it could house a very big collection, but the 80 foot tall, 150 foot wide Plexiglas panels house a variety of plants ranging from lush tropical vines and trees, delicate orchids, and colorful coleus, to desert succulents, and everything in between. Every 6 weeks the Master Gardeners are given a concept to use as a springboard for creating a new horticultural display. "High Flight" was the theme when we were there, based on the poem of the same name by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. The poem was the inspiration for suspending gardens and plants in the air and structures that raise an endless variety of plants to eye level and above. We were delighted and amazed at all the creativity! Here are some of the pictures from the gardens.