You’re driving down University Boulevard in Ames, and suddenly, there’s this 15-foot-tall concrete gnome staring you in the face. Honestly, it's kinda jarring if you aren't expecting it. This is Elwood. He’s the self-proclaimed "World’s Largest Concrete Gnome," and he guards the entrance to one of the most underrated spots in the Midwest.
Most people think Ames Iowa Reiman Gardens is just a pretty place for Iowa State students to take graduation photos. They aren't wrong, but they're missing about 90% of the story. It isn't just a park. It’s a 17-acre living laboratory that’s basically a fever dream for plant nerds and butterfly obsessed families alike.
The Butterfly Wing is Actually a High-Tech Fortress
If you walk into the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing expecting a casual stroll, get ready for the humidity to hit you like a physical wall. It’s kept at a constant 80°F and 80% humidity. Why? Because the 800 or so butterflies living there are tropical royalty.
You’ve got species from six different continents flitting around. It’s beautiful, sure, but the "what most people get wrong" part is the security. This place is basically a biological Fort Knox.
Because many of these insects are non-native, the USDA has strict rules to make sure nobody hitches a ride out. You have to pass through a series of "vestibule" doors. You can't open the second door until the first one is shut. There are mirrors everywhere specifically so you can check your back for "hitchhikers." If a tropical butterfly escaped into the Iowa cornfields, it would be a major regulatory nightmare.
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- Pro Tip: Wear bright colors like yellow or pink. The butterflies actually mistake you for a giant flower and might land on your shoulder. Just don't touch them; their wings are made of chitin scales that are way more fragile than they look.
2026 at Reiman Gardens: Big and Small
Every year, the gardens pick a theme. It isn't just a marketing gimmick; they actually redesign huge chunks of the landscape to fit the vibe. For 2026, the theme is "Big and Small." Basically, they’re playing with scale. Think massive, towering floral installations positioned right next to "fairy doors" and miniature hidden details that you’ll miss if you’re scrolling on your phone while you walk. It’s a nod to the fact that nature works on both a microscopic and a massive level.
They’re kicking things off with Orchid Fest in February. If you've never seen a corpse flower bloom (the "Stink Floyd" incident of 2025 was legendary), you know this team loves the weird side of botany. The 2026 schedule is packed with stuff like the Spring Enchantment Festival in April, where they plant over 50,000 tulips and daffodils.
The Dr. Buck Connection (A Midwestern Legend)
You can't talk about Reiman Gardens without mentioning the roses. But these aren't your high-maintenance, "please don't breathe on me" roses.
Ames is the home of the Dr. Griffith Buck Rose Collection. Dr. Buck was an ISU professor who had a very specific mission: create a rose that could survive a brutal Iowa winter without being pampered. He succeeded. He bred over 85 varieties that are disease-resistant and "Iowa hardy."
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If you visit the Helen Latch Jones Rose Garden, you’re looking at plants that can handle a -20°F wind chill and come back looking like a million bucks in June. It’s horticulture for the real world.
Why the Architecture Looks Like a Frank Lloyd Wright Sketch
If the buildings feel "horizontal" and sort of melt into the landscape, that’s intentional. The architects used the Prairie School style. It’s all about those broad overhanging eaves and natural materials.
It’s meant to look like the Midwest. Roy and Bobbi Reiman, the primary benefactors, wanted the space to feel like a gateway to the university. Roy actually graduated from ISU in 1957 with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. He went on to build a publishing empire (think Country and Farm & Ranch Living), and he basically built these gardens as a "thank you" to the school that taught him he could make a living with his mind instead of his back.
Sustainability Isn't Just a Buzzword Here
Honestly, a lot of public gardens just spray everything with chemicals to keep them looking perfect. Reiman is trying to move away from that. They’ve joined something called the Climate Toolkit.
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Check out these goals they’re actually working toward:
- Electric Gear: They want 25% of all their mowers and blowers to be electric by 2028.
- Water Use: Cutting municipal water use by 25% through smarter irrigation.
- Clean Fertilizer: Moving toward fertilizers that aren't derived from fossil fuels.
They also run the Iowa Butterfly Survey Network. It’s a citizen science program where they train regular people to go out and track butterfly populations across the state. They even helped develop an app called "Flutr" to make the data collection easier. It’s real science happening in between the flower beds.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
Don't just show up and wing it. Here is how to actually enjoy the place:
- The "90-Minute Rule": If you want to see the Butterfly Wing, the conservatory, and the outdoor Sycamore Falls (which is stunning), give yourself at least an hour and a half.
- Check the Tuesday/Thursday Schedule: From April through September, they stay open until 8:00 p.m. on these days. The "Golden Hour" light hitting the sculptures is worth the trip alone.
- The "Hitchhiker" Check: Seriously, look in the mirror before you leave the butterfly house. If you walk out with a butterfly on you, the staff has to confiscate it, and it's a whole thing.
- Parking Hack: Since it's right next to Jack Trice Stadium, never try to visit on a home football game day unless you want to fight 60,000 people for a spot.
Next Steps:
If you're planning a trip, check the bloom tracker on their official site before you drive. If the tulips are at "peak," you need to get there early. Also, grab a membership if you live in the area—it pays for itself in three visits and gets you into about 300 other gardens across the country for free through the American Horticultural Society's reciprocal program.