Past the tall and looming buildings of downtown Des Moines sits a spectacle of lush beauty encapsulated by a dome of glass, stepping through the doors past the gift shop feels like you have been transported to another world untainted by pollution.
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens was first opened to the public on Dec 15, 1979, although the first day was frighteningly cold their success would not be halted, and they would continue to impact the East side, Des Moines community to this day. Many students here at East High School do volunteer work at the botanical gardens giving them opportunities to earn their silver cord hours. The vast majority of the people who work at the botanical gardens are volunteers, these are people who truly care about nature and better their community through the work they do at the gardens.
The botanical gardens are not just dedicated to their plants but also spreading kindness to the community through informing the people of Des Moines about horticulture; the study of cultivating and maintaining gardens as well as the importance of protecting the environment through personal dedications.

They offer a variety of classes that help people in the community learn and cultivate their skills and interests in botany and horticulture. Some of the activities they offer teach you about gardening throughout the year, and in the winter, they hold various lectures about gardening and cultivation. They also offer many different types of body wellness activities to help you learn about improving your physical and mental health. If you want to host an event there then you can, there are rooms in the gardens with beautiful scenery as well as privacy, many people have their wedding receptions and ceremonies there.
The general admission fee for a trip to the botanical gardens is $12 for adults 13 years and up, for children 12 and under the price is $9. There are various discounts for different groups, for example active military and senior citizens pay $11, and those who qualify for EBT or SNAP which is essentially food stamps can qualify for free tickets for up to four people, exclusions may apply. These discounts are beneficial for people who really want to go to the gardens but cannot afford tickets.
The hours they close are varied but they always open at 10 a.m except for on weekends they open at 9 a.m so there are plenty of opportunities to find time to visit the gardens. If you enjoy a nice and calm environment, surrounded by beautiful plants then you should take a visit to the greater Des Moines botanical gardens.