Reiman Gardens is located at
1407 University Blvd in Ames, Iowa.
Click the Gnome ↑ to check out Reiman Gardens’ Page!
We had a blast visiting Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa on our way to an event in Minnesota! It was such a cool stop with tons of interesting things to see. Honestly, we only paid to get in to see Elwood, The World’s Largest Concrete Gnome. But we were amazed by everything else we discovered for the super affordable price of $12.
The Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing
Our first stop was the Butterfly Wing! We waited just inside the first door for a quick instructional about how to enter and exit the wing. Once inside, we were greeted by butterflies fluttering everywhere. We took a moment to sit at a pretty bench, hoping one would land on us. Finally, one did, but only for about 0.18 seconds before taking off again. We also had a nice chat with one of the guides about the giant moth we saw. It was a fantastic addition to our visit!
Hughes Observatory
After taking a quick walk through a hallway filled with different kinds of plants, we found the Hughes Observatory. We have visited many botanical gardens, but this observatory has a unique sense of peacefulness. It was warm, yet comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling tropical plants featuring some of the largest leaves we have ever seen. Each area was set up to be serene and calming, and there were many areas to chose from!
Garden Playhouses
We set out from the conservatory to find the adorable exhibition of Garden Playhouses. They had different styles and themes, and I just couldn’t get over how cute they all were! The best part is that they are all for sale after the exhibit ends. I think it would be so cool to own one of these! My personal favorite was the Polycarbonate Cube – it looked and felt like a greenhouse, which I absolutely love. Each playhouse was so unique and beautiful! As it turns out, it is also Zach’s favorite 😍
Lots of Random at Reiman Gardens!
In between the playhouses, we stumbled upon the most fantastic gardens, sculptures, and a bit of delightful randomness. We absolutely adored the shady areas, but honestly, all the spots were just so well-planned and beautiful! There were cute little birdhouses, massive structures, stunning flowers, and an array of amazing metal sculptures (Zach totally loves those!) My personal favorite was the scarecrow, and I can’t really explain why 😜. Anyway, Reiman Gardens is home to so many beautiful plants, which is a huge part of why we adore places like this. We find being around plants incredibly therapeutic, so wandering through any garden is totally our thing!
WAIT! WAIT!!
I can’t forget the MOST important reason we went to Reiman Gardens: Elwood, the World’s Largest Concrete Gnome! He was truly massive. I love how they chalked in “Concrete” on his sign. Does that mean he used to be The World’s Largest Gnome? Maybe someone else made a gnome that was bigger and made out of some other material. Is that the story behind him becoming The World’s Largest Concrete Gnome? I need to investigate!
Reiman Gardens Round Up
Overall, we would return here! We love that they have exhibitions that change! I’d also love to visit during different seasons to see how the gardens change. I’m not sure we’ll be in Minnesota in the winter, so maybe spring 😆
We explored more of Ames, Iowa after the Gardens! Find out what we saw here!
Traveling around or live in Minnesota? Check out our page about Things To Do in Minnesota!