Posts Tagged ‘Des Moines Botanical Center’
September 19, 2012Greater Des Moines Garden Transformation
In a few months, the Des Moines Botanical Center, an iconic fixture in the Des Moines landscape, will begin to transform to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Under the care and management of Des Moines Water Works since 2004, the Garden’s management will transition to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, a 501(c)3 nonprofit on January 1, 2013.
Over the course of the summer, the City of Des Moines has relined the sanitary sewer between the University Avenue and I-235 bridges in preparation for the transformation of the facility. The City has also been in the process of relocating and enhancing the John Pat Dorrian Bike Trail in the Botanical Garden’s vicinity. The new trail will have riverside views and the benefit of a 10-foot-wide trail and generous shoulders. The bike trail will be completed later this year.
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s phase one improvements to the facility will be underway from early 2013 through late summer 2014, in order to plant the expanded landscape at the most optimal time for the plants. The building improvements will include a new café overlooking a terrace and water garden, a new garden shop and reconfigured lobby, an office suite for the staff, and upgraded meeting and rental spaces. The phase one exterior additions will include a shade tree allee, a celebration event lawn surrounded by gardens, a water garden and a series of specialty gardens. The expanded landscape will have a diverse plant palette and year-round interest.
During the transformation, the geodesic domed conservatory will remain open from January-June 2013. From July through the early part of September, the facility will be closed to the public as the garden’s interior and exteriors are transformed.
Be sure to mark your calendars for some of the beloved programs that you have grown to anticipate including: A Celebration of Champagne and Chocolate on November 16, 6:00-8:00 pm; Botanical Blues from 1:00-3:00 pm, every Sunday in January and February; Learn on Saturday Lectures from 10:00 am-12:00 pm every Saturday in January, February and March; along with seasonal floral displays, and so much more.
If you are interested in supporting the transformations of the Botanical Garden or becoming a member of the Garden, please contact the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s Membership and Development Manger, Amanda Jordan at (515) 323-6265 or ajordan@botanicalcenter.com.
Successful Gardening in a Drought
As drought conditions continue, it is essential to monitor your trees, shrubs and plants to avoid losing them for good. As a general rule, most plants require a minimum of one inch of rain a week to remain healthy. This can be obtained by either rainfall or watering. Watering should be done in the early morning or early evening to avoid the hottest part of the day and evaporation. Adhering to Des Moines Water Works stage 1 water conservation guidelines, it is also requested that any watering be done every other day.
Trees, shrubs, and perennials should be watched for either curling leaves or flagging (yellowing of the leaves). A periodic, heavy watering is more beneficial than a light, daily spraying on these plants. A bucket of water with small holes in the bottom allows water to slowly release into the soil giving a more uniform watering. Using a two-inch thick layer of mulch around these plants will also help retain moisture levels in the soil and reduce water evaporation. Trees that have been in the ground for less than five years should have priority over older trees.
Vegetable, annual and container gardening dry out much faster than other plants and watering should be done in the morning or late evening. Vegetable crops will likely be smaller than normal due to the heat. They tend to use the energy from water and sunshine just to flower and stay alive and don’t have enough extra energy to produce the crop.
Most brown grass is considered dormant, not dead. Applying a fertilizer would not be recommended in these conditions. Fall aeration and over-seeding would be better money spent. Under DMWW stage 1 water conservation guidelines, it is requested that residents and businesses in the Des Moines metro area cease or reduce lawn irrigation. If you must irrigate (new sod), do so early morning or late evening, and every other day.
A Growing Botanical Center
The Des Moines Botanical Center will grow next year to feature new outdoor gardens, tree-lined walkways, a water garden, and a botany lab. The renovation also involves a new name. Effective January 1, 2013, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, a nonprofit foundation, will assume the center’s lease with the City of Des Moines and oversee the expected $11.6 million in renovations. Also included in the makeover are a new cafe, an event lawn, updated meeting and event rooms and an expanded parking lot. Phase one construction is expected to begin early 2013.
Des Moines Water Works has operated the Botanical Center since January 2004, and will continue to support the new Botanical Garden with annual in-kind contributions.
Des Moines Water Works Celebrates Earth Day
Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is gearing up for a special Earth Day weekend full of activities that promote watershed protection and wise use of Earth’s resources.
DMWW is a sponsor for City of Des Moines’ 2012 Trash Bash on Friday, April 20. This year’s event is dedicated to improving Iowa’s waterways and water quality. Teams of volunteers will kick-off the event at Nollen Plaza, where DMWW will have an educational booth and debut the DSMH2O Mobile Water Station for visitors to fill up their reusable water bottles! Be sure to “check-in” to DSMH2O on Foursqaure to receive a free reusable water bottle or T-shirt! Trash Bash volunteers will then set out to pick up trash in various locations around the city, including Water Works Park. Last year, over 1,000 volunteers removed 6,000 pounds of trash, tires and recyclables.
DMWW will have an interactive booth at the Science Center of Iowa’s Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 21 at 11:00 am. Stop by for fun games, including fishing for pollutants! Be sure to “check-in” to DSMH2O on Foursqaure to receive a free reusable water bottle or T-shirt!
At both events, DMWW will be asking visitors to complete a Take Back the Tap pledge form, encouraging everyone to choose tap water over bottled water whenever possible, as well as support policies that promote clean, affordable tap water for all. Complete the pledge form and submit it to Des Moines Water Works by June 15 to be entered into a drawing to win a Des Moines Water Works prize pack!
Also, plan a visit to the Des Moines Botanical Center on Sunday, April 22. Enjoy FREE admission on Earth Day!
Life in the Tropics
Painted turtles, goldfish and koi call the Des Moines Botanical Center’s two ponds home. It is difficult to get an exact count of each, but we guess there are approximately 10 painted turtles, nearly 40 koi of all sizes and colors, and a couple dozen goldfish of various sizes.
The fish have a pretty easy-going day. Every morning, they feast on the fallen leaves inside the Dome and investigate anything found in the ponds left by visitors, including shoes, sunglasses and beaded necklaces. They then devour a not-so-gourmet blend of protein, fat and fiber. Between the two ponds, you can tell who is on a diet or a picky eater. The fish in the lower pond take their time making their way towards the food, while the fish near the waterfall pond have collisions with each other trying to get first dibs! The rest of the day consists of swimming with friends as visitors rain shiny coins on them like they are royalty.
The turtles have a different agenda. In the mornings, you can find them floating in the water, minding their own business. Most of them don’t seem to mind fish feeding time. As the fish franticly swim towards food, the turtles often get bumped into, and not surprisingly, sometimes get pushed under water, as a fish swim over them. They just bob back up and grab any remaining food that comes their way. When high-noon comes, you’ll find them in groups on the ledge of the ponds sunbathing. They are still as can be with their necks stretched out, soaking in the rays…possibly the ladies of the group gossiping over the gentlemen floating by.
Everyday life as a Botanical Center fish or turtle is what some of us might call a much needed vacation in the tropics!
Visit the Des Moines Botanical Center today to see the fish and turtles. The Botanical Center is open daily 9:00 am-5:00 pm.
Year in Review
From starting up our third treatment plant to educating more than 27,000 children and adults, here’s a look at the top 25 accomplishments in 2011 at Des Moines Water Works.
- Commissioned DMWW’s third water treatment facility, Saylorville Water Treatment Plant
- Responded to 300 main breaks
- Assisted 56,000 customers in the office and visited 42,000 customers in the field
- Launched Parkitecture competition for the redesign of Water Works Park
- Repaved roads in Water Works Park
- Hosted several events at Water Works Park, including HyVee Fishing Derby, Big Country Bash, weddings, charity walks, Des Moines Marathon and Jolly Holiday Lights
- Planted approximately 70,000 plants and flowers in Water Works Park and Fleur Drive medians
- Found $611,000 in process efficiencies throughout the utility
- Reaffirmed our strong Aa1 bond rating by Moody’s, second from highest attainable
- Redesigned new website with enhanced customer features, like consumption alerts
- Implemented electronic checks as a new customer payment option
- Awarded “Public Policy Champion of the Year” from Iowa Ducks Unlimited
- Implemented new Geographical Information System (GIS): DMWW’s water distribution staff is now using new GIS software that allows access of important information about the distribution system while working in the field.
- Established Enterprise Asset Management software: Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) at its most basic level is a work order system. But as an asset management software, EAM is a lot more than that. Asset management goes beyond creating work orders and includes planning and scheduling projects, tracking assets’ conditions, and forecasting asset replacement.
- Ended use of gaseous chlorine at all facilities: All water disinfection throughout the utility (three plants and six remote locations) is now being done with liquid hypochlorite. This effort brings a safer environment for our employees and community.
- Reported our greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry
- Contributed $19,286.28 to the United Way of Central Iowa through employee donations – a record year!
- Reduced employees’ metabolic syndrome risk factors by 18% from 2010 to 2011
- Awarded two safety recognition awards
- Received a Proclamation from Mayor Cownie during Drinking Water Week, recognizing DMWW’s contributions to the community
- Assisted DMACC with a new water/waste water curriculum
- Received a book and dedication from Ankeny first graders illustrating the importance of clean rivers
- Celebrated the importance of water with over 2,000 Iowa 5th grade students at the Iowa Children’s Water Festival
- Reached 27,800 people through classroom presentations, tours and special events conducted by the Urban Environmental Partnership.
- Hosted 237 meetings/social events and 53 weddings at the Des Moines Botanical Center, including 10 weddings on 11/11/11! The Botanical Center also welcomed 255 tour groups for a total of 9,560 people
Des Moines’ Best Kept Dining and Shopping Secrets
Riverwalk Café
You already know to visit the Des Moines Botanical Center to enjoy the warmth from the tropical plants, but did you know the Riverwalk Café inside the Botanical Center offers a delicious and affordable lunch menu? No admission to the Botanical Center is required to dine at the Riverwalk Café! Enjoy sandwiches, wraps, grilled sandwiches, pasta bowls, homemade soups good for the soul, and filling salads. The house specialty, and I do mean specialty, is the steak or chicken quesadilla, you will love it! I am ready for lunch, how about you? The kiddos will favor the chicken strips or grilled cheese sandwich, served with chips and a drink. Top off lunch with a delicious homemade cookie, a sweet slice of sour cream coconut cake or a yummy brownie. Eat in or call ahead and take it with you. Groups of 10 or more: check out the delivery menu that includes breakfast packages, box lunches and signature tray packages.
Garden Gate Gift Shop
With less than two weeks to buy it, wrap it and tag it, you need to get shopping today! We invite you to visit the Botanical Center’s Garden Gate Gift Shop for unique gifts for everyone on your list. Find a splendid inventory of jewelry, books, plants and keepsakes. Surprising and fun gifts for kids and tweens, practical and meaningful gifts for mom and grandma. Funny gifts for a coworker, friend or that compulsive University of Iowa and Iowa State fan. Pick up a scarf or a Christmas Cactus or two – one for me, one for you! No admission to the Botanical Center is required to shop at the Garden Gate Gift Shop!
Fall Gardening Tips
Now is the time to start thinking about putting your garden to bed for the winter. September is an opportune time to start cleaning up beds by cutting back perennials and pulling out annuals that have quit blooming for the year.
By October, you should dig up and store tender bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, caladiums and elephant ears. You should cut off the foliage and store them in 50-65 degree temperatures until spring. Spring flowering bulbs should be purchased and planted outdoors at this time. Other plants that benefit from fall planting include evergreens, peony, phlox and bearded iris.
Before a hard freeze you should remove plants from containers, cut roses back to 18 inches and mulch, and continue cutting back plants in the garden that the frost has affected. Leaving old plants and plant debris in the garden over the winter is the best way to promote diseases in the spring, so remove them as soon as they are cut back.
Also remember, the best time to prune is after the trees and shrubs have gone dormant usually late December-February.
Looking for a Unique Location for Your Next Meeting?
Does your group or organization need a unique space for meetings, seminars or annual banquet? Something different is at the Des Moines Botanical Center. The Botanical Center offers free parking, on-site catering, several well appointed meeting rooms that are clean, well lit and can be set up to accommodate any size group… and wireless Internet in every room! Not to mention, the scenic location east of downtown and along the beautiful Riverwalk, makes the Botanical Center a very convenient and picturesque location.
Whether it’s a seminar, wedding or banquet, the Des Moines Botanical Center is the unique setting you are looking for. Call an event coordinator today at (515) 323-6290 or visit www.botanicalcenter.com to find out more! Take a look and book today!
The Botanical Center – It’s More Than Just Plants
The North Wing Gallery and Show House Corridor are mini art galleries which are open to the public to enjoy while they view the beautiful dome and lush outside gardens. This art work changes every few months and is for sale with the proceeds benefiting the Botanical Center.
Currently in the North Wing Gallery is a display of 40 large color photographs by Friends Director, Elvin McDonald. Elvin has had the opportunity to visit professional and amateur gardens all over the world which has resulted in a wonderful portfolio of photographs. The images he chose for this display best tell the story of his life in the garden.
The Show House Corridor is showcasing the delightful flower images of Omaha artist April Kelly. Her art represents beauty, energy, and light; her work is refreshing and happy. April’s work is acrylic on canvas and she uses a special finish to give the work an illusion of a glass coating.
We hope you look for this art work when you visit the Botanical Center.