Botanical Garden Warm Weather Vibes All Winter Long

Let’s face it, Des Moines is an incredible city but the weather in winter can be a bit challenging. Tired of hunkering down to get through the cold? Got cabin fever from the frost and snow? Looking to get out from under all the heavy outer layers of caps, scarves, mittens and puffer coats? Visit the beautiful tropical oasis of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden! Wander the path under the dome that’s overflowing with greenery, floral scents, the soothing sounds of water, friendly koi and more all within an always friendly climate. Choose what will help you Find Your True Nature: from a way to light up your Friday nights, to how to become a better gardener each Saturday morning, to the best way to enjoy live blues concerts every Sunday.

Light up your Friday nights at Dome After Dark

Had a tough week at work? Ready to get the weekend started? Looking for an ideal date night spot that features (per the Des Moines Register) one of the best new restaurants in town within a breathtaking botanical location? Got kids who need some space to roam? We got you!

Make plans to pop over to Dome After Dark Friday nights at the Botanical Garden until March 28, 2025 for a sure thing no matter your winter woe. Every evening from 6 – 10 p.m. you can hang out in a warm greenspace filled with the glow of lights, a soundtrack of ambient music, the clink of drinks enjoyed with dinner or while meandering around plants, people, Hot Glass sculptures and a gallery of art featuring Jenna Brownlee until the end of January and then Kelsey Wilson until the end of March. Shop with purpose in the Garden Shop for something cute, something comfy or something unexpected. Maybe add in a Cocoa & Crafts class (preregistration encouraged) to level up the family fun for everyone.

Get your tickets today to Dome After Dark or buy them at the door.

Fridays, Jan. – March 28, 2025 | 6 – 10 p.m.
Flora serving 6 – 9 pm, menu can be found here.

Member – $6 off all ticket types
Adult – $12
Senior (65+) – $11
Active Military – $11
Children (2-12) $9
Children 1 and under – free
Museums for All (WIC and SNAP EBT card holders ) – free

Members from participating AHS Reciprocal Admission Program institutions are not eligible for member ticket prices.

Come and Learn on Saturdays!

Growing the Gardener in You is the focus for Learn on Saturdays 2025, an educational lecture series at the Botanical Garden. Spend your Saturday mornings January through March getting out from the cold and into learning from eight respected experts that will help you grow your gardening practices, understand sustainable gardening techniques, add more eco-friendly choices and keep your garden adapting to changing Iowa conditions. Come for the class, then spend some time enjoying the greenspace or consider having lunch at Flora, the Botanical Garden’s new café. Sign up on the website for the whole series, or classes that speak to your garden’s needs. Winter is the perfect time to dream big about your home garden!

Saturdays, Jan. 11 – March 1, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
10:30 – Noon presentation, Noon – 12:30 p.m. Q&A
Tickets include in-person, virtual, and recorded viewing options.

Season pass (includes all 8 weeks!): $100 member, $150 nonmember
Season pass holders also receive a hard cover spiral pocket notebook and pen.

Keynote single day: March 1, 2025 | $30 member, $40 nonmember
Single day: Saturdays, Jan. 18 – March 8, 2025 | $12 member, $18 nonmember

• Jan. 18: Natalie Ross – Garden Design with Native Plants
• Jan. 25: Brittany Latch and Kamryn Waymire – Healthy Lawns, Healthy People
• Feb. 1: Lisa Hinzman Howard Bees, Birds, Bats & Butterflies … oh my!
• Feb. 8: Lee Goldsmith – Native Trees: Working Smarter, Not Harder
• Feb. 15: Alan Kissinger – Heirloom Vegetables: Creating a Holistic Garden
• Feb. 22: Catherine DeLong – Stewarding Your Lawn & Garden for Water Quality
• March 1: Keynote Kim Eierman – Beyond Sustainability: Using our Landscapes as a Source for Environmental Change
• March 8: Dan Schutte – Growing a Greener Garden: Native Garden Implementation and Management

For a deeper dive into each speaker and their topics, please click here.

Shift your Sunday Mindset at Botanical Blues

There are quite a few places to take in live concerts around the region, but there is nothing like the view and the vibe of Botanical Blues at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in Downtown Des Moines. And it’s back for its 19th year in 2025! Welcome new and returning bands to the conservatory stage while enjoying refreshments from Flora, the Botanical Garden’s new café. Botanical Blues concerts begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., last an hour each and have a one-hour intermission between shows. Tickets for Botanical Blues will not be sold in advance but will be made available at the door until capacity is reached.

There is also no better time to consider membership because these concerts are complimentary for members of the Botanical Garden. Click here to join us and become a member and enjoy free admission to this series all winter long.

• Jan. 12: Bob Pace
• Jan. 19: Weary Ramblers
• Jan. 26: Heath Alan
• Feb. 2: Chuggaluggers
• Feb. 9 : Jodi Bodley & Dewey Cantrell
• Feb. 16: Local Ukesters Ukulele Band
• Feb. 23:  Soul Searchers
• March 2: Drama Kings
• March 9: Steve E. George
• March 16: Ducharme Jones
• March 23: “The Blue Two” Bob Dorr & Jeff Petersen
• March 30: “Grill & Kain” Cindy Grill & Dennis Kain

Supporting Sponsor Nationwide

Sundays, Jan. – March 31, 2025 | 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.

Member – free
Adult – $12
Senior (65+) – $11
Active Military – $11
Children (2-12) – $9
Children 2 and under – free
Museums for All (WIC and SNAP EBT card holders) – free

More Botanical Garden Programming

Make plans to make it out to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in 2025! We’ve got a wide variety of classes and programs on our MONTHLY CALENDAR including:

• Be Well this Winter! on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 and more: Walking Wednesday, Yoga in the Garden, Winter Candlemaking and Botanical Bath Bombs offer different options to keep you committed to taking care of yourself in new ways in the new year. Registration required. See calendar for dates and details.
• Toast to a Greater 2025! on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 and more: From Toast to Terrariums to Sip & Stroll to Cocoa & Crafts there’s a way for you to raise a glass with your friends or family this winter at the Botanical Garden. Registration required. See calendar for dates and details.

• Uplift your Creative Spirit! on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 and more: Ready to finally try Needle Felting? Looking to learn how to do Botanical Watercolors? Ready to get into a Book Club that combines botany with your love of reading? Register today. See calendar for details and dates.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or LinkedIn. Want to find out more? Go to dmbotanicalgarden.com. Questions? Email us at info@dmbotanicalgraden.com.

 

There are so many fun events specific to Downtown DSM. Attend annual events like the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, World Food & Music Festival and Holiday Promenade or find live music happening each week through the "Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a growing, vibrant community that offers the energy, sophistication, housing and attractions of a burgeoning city with a brilliant future. It’s also easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options. Find event information and follow @downtownDSMUSA on Facebook and Instagram for other news, tips and events happening downtown.