Reiman Gardens, Botanical garden in Ames, United States
Reiman Gardens is a botanical garden in Ames spanning about 17 acres with diverse themed gardens, a conservatory building, and a butterfly wing dedicated to tropical species. The butterfly wing houses hundreds of butterflies representing more than 80 species in a warm, humid setting designed to replicate their native environment.
The gardens began in 1994 as part of Iowa State University and grew from a small research area focused on plants into a large public garden open to everyone. This transformation started at the university but expanded to become a destination that draws thousands of visitors annually.
The gardens serve as a living classroom where students from Iowa State University work directly with plants and develop skills in plant science. This blend of education and public space creates a place where learning happens through hands-on experience with real vegetation.
The gardens have walking paths throughout, with some flat sections and others that include gentle slopes, so comfortable shoes are advisable for exploring. The butterfly wing maintains a warm, tropical environment year-round, so you may want to budget extra time if you visit during winter when outdoor sections are less active.
The butterfly wing operates with a breeding program that maintains the flying population by raising new specimens to replace those that complete their life cycle. This continuous breeding ensures that visitors always see active butterflies year-round, rather than a declining population during certain seasons.
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