ANNUAL REPORT
2018
from the director 2018 at Reiman Gardens has been a significant year with many major projects completed. Let me review some of the highlights. Please read each department’s section throughout the report because there are far more listed. We have been busy!
• The Hillside Water-wise Garden was selected to be part of an exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C.
• Elwood, the world’s largest concrete gnome, was replicated as part of an exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s exhibit on roadside attractions.
• We were
the first public garden in the Midwest to display the amazing George Sherwood Wind,
Waves & Light kinetic sculpture exhibit.
• We provided Iowa State University’s College of Design students with two projects that will give them client-based experience. Look for PRISMA in this report, and watch for news later in the year of our 2019 exhibit based on giant toys and games with nature-based play.
• We successfully applied for participation with the AmeriCorps program. Their volunteers spent a month helping us on three projects: building the DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden, installing porous paving paths between Hunziker House and Sycamore Falls, and rebuilding the Jones Rose Garden raised beds.
• We continue expanding science-based education. Look for details in the Education section. • We greatly increased the number of hand carved jack-o-lanterns at our Spirits in the Gardens event to almost 900 pumpkins, which helped increase attendance to nearly 5,000 people. Staff continued their professional growth in 2018. Jacqueline Venner-Senske, Education Specialist, was chosen to be a part of the American Public Gardens Association Program Selection Committee. Nathan Brockman, Curator of the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, and Anita Westphal, Butterfly Wing Assistant, both presented at the Invertebrate in Education and Conservation Conference. Finally, Communications Coordinator Maria Teply and Education Manager Sara Merritt presented programs at the American Public Gardens Association conference in California. The weather this year in Ames was certainly less than ideal, but we rallied as staff and powered past any issues. The excess rain did cause some delays and dilemmas with our construction projects. In the Hillside Water-wise Garden, another segment of wall on a higher tier collapsed. The repairs were completed in October, and the upper three tiers will be replanted next spring. The limestone facing of both of the two upper tier walls are now backed by solid concrete walls for stability. Sycamore Falls also experienced delays, mostly due to periods of excessive water. In addition, we had to re-pour some of the concrete walls because we want these projects to be exceptional and last many, many years. We are willing to accept these delays to ensure longevity and success of these projects! In 2019 look forward to 55,000 bulbs, the premiere of our new Nature of the Game exhibit, a truly opened Hillside Water-wise Garden, a spring flower show addition in the Hughes Conservatory and much more. All of this progress would not be possible without a staff that operates as a unified team, a dedicated and growing base of volunteers and support from our valued members and donors. We will continue to make you proud!
Ed Lyon, Reiman Gardens Director 2
contents 2 from the director
16 events
4 by the numbers
17 spirits in the gardens
6 director's notes
18
holiday displays
9 reiman gardens' staff
19
internship program
10 admissions; rentals
20 education
11 membership
22 horticulture
12
memorials
13
director's circle
26 volunteers
24 entomology
14 development; donors
28
prisma; gift shop
15
29
looking ahead
2018 theme & exhibit
3
Planted
76,050
55,000+
people visited Reiman Gardens
tulip bulbs for next spring’s display
in
2018
1,890+
guests attended the 13th Annual Garden Art Fair
The Gift Shop saw sales totaling
$312,197
Served
6,494
participants in educational programs
Donated
1,322
pounds of fresh produce to Plant a Row for the Hungry
Over
15,500 service hours were contributed by Reiman Gardens’ volunteers
Welcomed
4,762
visitors for Spirits in the Gardens
Carved
2,953 membership households
900
pumpkins for our annual Jack-O-Lantern Walk
Offered unique educational programs
198
Hosted
15,957 rental guests this year
18,958
Named “Best of Story County” Wedding Venue for the year in a row
3rd
individual butterflies flown in the Butterfly Wing
1st public
garden in the Midwest to feature Wind, Waves and Light by artist George Sherwood
director's notes Growing Pains It is interesting that an ISU Athletics project that adjoins our property in the South End Zone stadium parking lot has been misconstrued as a Reiman Gardens’ expansion over the course of its construction. Despite the project being officially named Reiman Plaza, it is our hope that when it opens, people will realize it is actually part of the athletic complex. When people ask me about it as an expansion of the Gardens, I tell them that we have 17 acres to make exceptional first, and we have no interest in expanding beyond the fence lines. We ARE growing, however. Growth comes in ways different than a property expansion. We are building new major garden spaces. We are bringing in world class exhibits. We are expanding events, programs, and opportunities. We are creating more partnerships that include AmeriCorps, Iowa State students, schools and community groups. We have a relatively new master plan with vision of grandeur.
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Positive growth such as this comes with a cost. It requires more resources and staff. It is occurring as our 24-year-old infrastructure starts needing repair and renovation, and systems need upgrading. The University, which provides part of our budget, is experiencing budget cuts that are passed on to all departments. For all these reasons, we need to raise more revenue to continue our efforts towards growth. Some of the help we have received this year has come from the generosity of others. Examples of this support include the brand new DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden, a new sculpture, partial funding for the Hillside Water-wise Garden, six butterfly benches sold at a reduced rate, major donations to Sycamore Falls and a $1 million planned gift for future funding. We are very mindful of the need to increase our revenue, so we have thought very carefully about initiatives to accomplish this. One of our goals over the next three years will be directed toward increasing attendance. We have started that process by investing in major exhibits that most gardens our size cannot provide. We are building exceptional new garden spaces for increased draw outside of central Iowa. We are adding a spring bulb show to our current four Hughes Conservatory displays, and are slowly starting a winter light display. We continue to evaluate our events and programming to discover how to improve them, such as adding nearly 900 jack-o-lanterns to Spirits in the Gardens to expand audiences. We will continue to expand our offerings and improve our gardens with our mission first and foremost in mind. Above all, we will “Educate, enchant, and inspire an appreciation of plants, butterflies, and the beauty of the natural world."
Photos 1. A fall sunrise lights the Gardens 2. Children's Garden surface after May repair project 3. New butterfly benches arrive in August 4. Students using our bulb display as their classroom 5. AmeriCorps Volunteer group who helped with several
major projects this spring
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Sycamore Falls…continued In 2017 we announced our most ambitious new garden project in more than a decade, Sycamore Falls. At that time we presented conceptual images, several are included here. Since then we have broken ground, and the highly visible area is now easily recognized as an intensive construction site. As mentioned in the Director’s letter, the project experienced some setbacks that extended completion to late summer or fall 2019. Spring weather conditions will influence the completion date, so we are still not ready to announce it yet. We will be holding three informational presentations by spring for the general public, Ames business professionals and for our members and donors.
Toro Grant In spring 2018, Reiman Gardens applied to receive a new Toro Workman through the Toro Foundation. After a summer site visit and much anticipation, the Gardens received notification in late fall that our application had been awarded. Greg Overton and Dennis Tatman from MTI Distributing in Grimes delivered the new vehicle on November 2, 2018 to a crowd of excited and very grateful Reiman Gardens’ staff members. This is the first brand new utility vehicle the Gardens has acquired in 15 years. As expected, Horticulture staff are particularly thankful to have a dependable vehicle that will serve the Gardens for years to come, including our upcoming brand new garden space Sycamore Falls.
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staff Ed Lyon Director
Brenda Angell Custodial Manager
Nathan Brockman Curator, Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing
Katie Getting Grant, Sponsorship & Membership Coordinator
Amy Huff Communications Specialist
Kris Johnston Private Events and Tour Coordinator
Jessie Liebenguth
Marilyn Schnormeier
Jacqueline Venner-Senske
Glasshouse Horticulturist & Grower
Gift Shop Manager
Education Specialist
Sara Merritt
Lindsey Smith
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Education Manager
Collections Curator
Events Coordinator
Ed Moran
Aaron Steil
Anita Westphal
Senior Horticulturist
Assistant Director
Butterfly Wing Assistant
Sharon Rink
Lisa Stephany
Taylor Woodcock
Landscape Horticulturist
Funds Development Manager
Volunteer Coordinator
Renee Rule
Joy Stroud
Events Manager
Administrative Specialist
Sarah Rummery
Maria Teply
Manager of Horticulture
Communications Coordinator
Reiman Gardens staff members participate in an Ames/ISU scavenger hunt during a staff team-building day.
new faces Brenda Angell, Reiman Gardens' new Custodial Manager, comes to us from Iowa State University Department of Residence where she spent over ten years at Birch/Welch/Roberts Hall as a custodian and “house mom.� Before that, she had her own cleaning business. Brenda loves weekend trips, cooking, camping, helping others and spending time with family and friends.
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admissions This year once again proved that engaging, high quality exhibits, along with amazing horticultural displays, fun events, and informative programs all bring people to Reiman Gardens. 2018 was another good year for attendance at Reiman Gardens. Admission revenue was particularly strong since our new admission rates were introduced in May. Next year, an interactive exhibit inspired by toys and games and designed by Iowa State faculty and students should help us continue to attract even more visitors to the Gardens.
$285,586
92,064 $254,561
81,289
$243,051 $221,694
65,740
44,550
$169,033
2014
76,050
2015
2016
2017
2018
admissions income
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
attendance
rentals 2018 was another impressive year for rentals at Reiman Gardens. We hosted a wide variety of rental guests, including ISU departments, corporations, government groups, charities, as well as many private renters holding graduations, birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings. Reiman Gardens' reputation as a popular wedding venue continued to grow, and for the third year in a row, the Gardens was chosen as the Ames Tribune's "Best of Story County Wedding Venue." To help keep up with the increasing demand for all types of rentals, for the first time the Gardens added a Private Event Intern. To schedule a private event at the Gardens, contact Events Manager Renee Rule at 515-294-8994.
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weddings 10
321
total rentals
$123,163
total revenue
15,957
rental guests
membership Membership saw many changes for a second straight year in 2018. One big improvement took place in January with the implementation of a new, more-durable membership card. Since introducing the new card, fewer replacement cards have been requested which is a positive result for both members and the Membership department. In addition to new cards, membership level names were changed and a new level was created. The brand new Duo level, introduced in 2018, includes one named adult and one guest or two named adults. This level is great for people who love to visit the Gardens but want to bring someone different with them each visit!
Member Only Event Attendance
240
Orchid Fest Preview Party
421
61
Wind, Waves & Light Preview Party
M.V.P. Event Member/Volunteer Appreciation
369
RG Express Preview Party
FY18 Information (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)
$229,924
Revenue
2,953
Membership Households
The Membership department looks forward to continuing to serve our vibrant and diverse member community in 2019!
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memorials In memory of their parents
In memory of Helen Sebring
Linda and Dennis Folden
Kelli Carlberg
For Reiman Gardens
In honor of Meg and Vaughn Speer
James and Virginia Arthur
William Baltisberger
In memory of Mary Lea Braem Mark and Rosalie Flaspohler
In memory of Brad Binder Dr. Sarah Binder
Alan and Susan Julius James and Lois Long John Tillo Vaughn Speer
In Memory of Ruth Swenson
In honor of their grandchildren Kellen, Zane and Annalise Chester
John and Jane Jacobson
John and Linda Schuh
Darrell and Janice Coy
In memory of Jerry Greving
In memory of Charlie Yoerger Larry and Leanne Findlay
Joyce Greving
Randal and Catherine Fitzgerald
In Memory of Olive Harrison
Linda Johnson
Heil Revocable Family Trust
Helen McRoberts
Edwin and Linda Lanctot
Gary and Judi Meyer
Paul and Joyce Heil
John and Jean Nevius
In memory of Brice Charles Janvrin Bruce and Diane Janvrin
John and Shirley Gilmore
Patricia Roth Dennis and Betty Sailsbury Christian and Ann Schwartz
In memory of Kent K. Kenyon
Karin Sevde
Deborah Dillon
Vaughn Speer
In memory of Norah Kinyon Alan and Annette Frederick
In memory of Beverly Koehlmoos
Ruth Stone Scott and Theresa Stone Claire Uldrich Dorothy Yoerger
Stacy Cullison
In honor of Jim and Joyce Kruig's 50th Wedding Anniversary Kent and Lou Ann Sandberg
able at the Gardens for your convenience. Simply send the tribute card to the family of the loved one
In Memory of Curt Lindholm
and your check/form to Reiman Gardens in the
Rose Miller
provided return envelope. These cards are available
In Memory of Harriet & Lyle Morse Deanna Morse
In Honor of Jim & Diane Patton
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Complimentary tribute/sympathy cards are avail-
on the brochure rack in the Reiman Gardens front lobby or by contacting lstephan@iastate.edu or 515-294-6356. Unless otherwise designated, all memorial gifts, will support the Gardens’ Fund for
Dinette Myers
Excellence (which helps purchase plants, flowers,
In memory of Geraldine Peterson
appreciated and are a great way to pay tribute to
Joylyn Cobb
someone special to you.
and butterflies). Memorial donations of all sizes are
director’s circle Great Impact from the Director’s Circle In the summer of 2016, Reiman Gardens implemented a new giving society, the Director’s Circle, which recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more annually. A gift at this level automatically qualifies donors to receive membership benefits at the Patron level, insider emails from Director Ed Lyon, and invitations to exclusive events including an annual donor recognition dinner. Gifts are added to the Gardens’ Fund for Excellence, unless otherwise designated, and count toward annual and lifetime recognition through Iowa State University’s Order of the Knoll. During the 2019 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018), Director's Circle members have contributed $310,068 to Reiman Gardens for plants, flowers and butterflies; educational programming; internships; and capital improvements.
Members of Reiman Gardens’ 2018 Director's Circle: Rick Bartosh
Stephen and Marty Penkhus
Dr. Sarah Binder
Max and Monica Porter
Don and Dee Draper
Bobbi and Roy Reiman
Randal and Catherine Fitzgerald
Charles and Norma Ricketts
Dennis and Linda Folden
Ruth Ann Robson
Joyce Greving
Bob and Dorothy Rust
Ruth Harris
Dean and Judy Sampson
Jeff and Susie Hemphill
John and Linda Schuh
Dr. David Hoffman
Jerry and JoAnn Sell
Al and Ann Jennings
Tom and Linda Sharpnack
Jerry and Sally Jones
Russell Snyder
Jane Lohnes
Vaughn Speer
Warren and Bev Madden
Clayton Swenson
Carroll and Fidella Marty
Toni and David Wheelock
Barbara and William Mengeling
Elizabeth and Robert Wych
Deanna Morse Please keep Reiman Gardens in mind when planning your estate and making your charitable contributions. To make a tax-deductible gift to Reiman Gardens, please visit www.reimangardens.com or send a check to: Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50011. For more information about including Reiman Gardens in your will/estate plans, contact Lisa Stephany at 515-294-6356 or lstephan@iastate.edu.
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funds development Thank you to all who made a donation above and beyond membership this past fiscal year! Because of generous people like you, the Gardens was able to fund:
• Year-round beautification of the Gardens • Butterfly chrysalides (approx. 800 species are featured with new ones purchased every week) • K-12 educational programming and adult education opportunities. • Sustainability research and instruction while providing a living laboratory for Iowa State University students • Community events like Breakfast with Santa, Garden Art Fair, and Spirits in the Gardens • Top-notch annual exhibits like Wind, Waves & Light and the RG Express holiday train display • Day-to-day operations Since Reiman Gardens is a unit of Iowa State University, all private gifts are processed through the Iowa State University Foundation and are tax-deductible as allowable by law. Reiman Gardens is grateful for every dollar received. Gifts of any amount help the Gardens remain a top attraction in Iowa. Total private support raised in 2018: $332,327
donor spotlight Carroll and Fidella Marty Contributor is only one of many hats that Carroll and Fidella Marty wear at Reiman Gardens. They embody the meaning of philanthropy by giving of their time, talent, and treasure. From Fidella’s hand-made pillows and cushions to Carroll’s new raised beds in the Jones Rose Garden, they are an integral part of Reiman Gardens. And next time you visit, take time for a swing on their newest contribution in the pergola found in the northeast corner of the Gardens.
DeeAnn Drew In the summer of 2018, Reiman Gardens established the DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden. The new garden, made possible through a generous gift from her estate, features various shade plants and also serves as the home to the Reiman Gardens Volunteer Memorial Bench that honors our volunteers who have passed away. DeeAnn, a 1977 ISU graduate, was proud to be a native Iowan and loved Iowa State, Reiman Gardens, and the Cyclones.
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2018 theme & exhibit In 2018 Reiman Gardens explored the theme of movement. Visitors were moved by the extraordinary planting displays in every nook of the Gardens, from the cascading colors of 50,000 spring tulips and the vibrating textures of summer in outdoor beds, to the sway of ornamental grasses and autumn foliage waving and transforming with the forces of nature through time. Guests walked through hops in the Herb Garden, smelled the roses, and watched life continue to flow through the waters of Lake Helen. The Home Production Garden examined how our produce moves across the city to help feed those in need with Plant a Row for the Hungry. Visitors could play, discover and explore in the Children’s Garden, or take a moment to recharge amidst the beauty of the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing and the splendor of the Hughes Conservatory. Our 2018 exhibit was Wind, Waves and Light, by award-winning American sculptor George Sherwood. It featured 11 amazing kinetic sculptures designed to explore space, time, and the dynamic relationship of objects in motion. The choreography of each piece was governed by a set of basic movements, and facilitated by an arrangement of aerodynamic surfaces connected by rotational points. These sculptures were made of stainless steel, and their reflective qualities integrated each sculpture into its environment. Wind speed and direction, shades of light, time of day, precipitation, and seasonal color transformed the qualities of light and movement of the sculptures, mesmerizing visitors.
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events This year Reiman Gardens hosted more than 30 public events that ranged from family focused activities, such as Spirits in the Gardens and Breakfast with Santa, to four adult focused After Hours events, to special interest events such as Day of Insects, Orchid Fest, and the Rose Show. 2018 events kicked off with Family Movies in the Gardens. Each Saturday in January, we showed popular children’s movies including Cars, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled and Sing. The Ames Jaycees co-sponsored the Spring Egg Hunt with Reiman Gardens. Over 900 children joined the Spring Bunny to hunt for eggs and play lawn games. Spirits in the Gardens is a fall festival for families. Guests of all ages enjoyed crafts, owls and raptors from the ISU Wildlife Clinic, trick or treating, 900 jack-o-lanterns, storytelling and lawn games. Breakfast with Santa included a buffet breakfast with a visit from Santa to a nearly sold out crowd. Children enjoyed creating a tree ornament, storytelling and an opportunity to ask Santa for some special treats. The Gardens also hosted numerous shows for special interest plant enthusiasts including Orchid Fest and the Bonsai Show. The displays at these events were awe-inspiring. Every year, guests come to the Gardens to watch the Independence Day Fireworks display. This year, admission was free due to a grant from the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau. Guests enjoyed music from the Indigo Monks, activities throughout the Gardens and the beauty of a garden sunset before the fireworks. In July, the Gardens hosted the 13th Annual Garden Art Fair. More than 1,890 visitors browsed 60 booths and purchased garden-inspired art pieces including glass, watercolor, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, woodwork, photography, and fabric arts. Reiman Gardens displayed more than 120 garden-themed quilts at the 8th Annual Quilt Show. Over the three-day event, guests enjoyed intricate and beautiful quilts on display and voted for their favorite. After Hours is an adult-only event hosted four evenings each year. It is an opportunity to enjoy the Gardens with good food and live music. This event is growing as more visitors realize how beautiful the Gardens are after hours. Look for new and expanded events in 2019 that will serve a wide variety of audiences.
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spirits in the gardens In 2018, Reiman Gardens’ annual Spirits in the Gardens and JackO-Lantern Walk continued its impressive growth in popularity. Building on our efforts from 2016 and 2017 of carving 500 and 650 pumpkins respectively, this year tireless volunteers and staff members worked together to create an incredible display of 900 hand-carved, lit jack-o-lanterns. Iowa State students and community members came for a wide variety of reasons to help carve the pumpkins and create the display. Volunteer Kathleen Buchholz spent a great deal of time organizing all of the stencils into categories, and many volunteers cut stencils throughout the year. Volunteer Carroll Marty built a large wooden throne to display over 100 jack-o-lanterns. Professional carvers Suzy and Michael Rickels used their vast experience to carve six intricate jack-o-lanterns and shared their amazing foam carved pumpkins (known as funkins), which were displayed in the Speer Room. Before the pumpkins were lit at dusk, costumed guests young and old trick-or-treated throughout the Gardens and enjoyed Halloween crafts and activities. Visitors viewed jack-o-lanterns representing many social/cultural icons including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Disney princesses, Game of Thrones, movie monsters, super heroes, and traditional Halloween patterns of witches, bats and ghouls. The jack-o-lanterns were displayed on hay bales around Lake Helen, in the South Field, on the benches in the Bald Cyprus Allee and on the walls in the Hillside Garden. Reiman Gardens' staff had the opportunity to hear comments such as, “Look at all the details in this!” and “Wow, I can’t believe how much work went into this.” Building on previous years' success, attendance at Spirits in the Gardens increased from 2,538 in 2016, to 3,718 in 2017 to an impressive 4,762 in 2018. Plans are already underway for next year's event.
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rg express train display Once again trains attracted guests to the Gardens from November 17 through January 6 as the RG Express rolled into the Hughes Conservatory! Visitors young and old were enchanted by this custom-built garden-scale train. This unbelievably detailed display was created by Applied Imagination, an internationally recognized company whose train displays meld botanical design and architecture. Visitors could walk past, around, and under miniature buildings and bridges historically significant to Iowa State University and Ames' local history, rendered with clever use of natural materials and accented with a spectacular lighted waterfall.
holiday lights The Gardens added a colorful outdoor holiday lights display to our winter scenery this year. Horticulture staff worked hard to craft this beautiful display that captivated visitors with the magic of the season. Plans are to grow the display in future years as resources allow. The train display and beautiful holiday lights, along with extended hours on Thursday nights, helped the Gardens to set a record for attendance during the month of December.
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internship program The Gardens has hired 140 interns since 1995. These college students gain relevant experience and knowledge as they work alongside full-time staff over the summer months. This year a diverse group of students from Iowa State University represented majors ranging from education and horticulture to events management, animal ecology, and marketing. These students participated in various projects, went on field trips to places like Des Moines and Chicago, and took part in educational sessions with staff and other professionals providing experience and knowledge of what it means to work at a public garden. Additionally, this group representing various backgrounds working in many different areas of the Gardens teamed together to present their experiences to the public. Their blogs remain on the Reiman Gardens website. Check it out at http://www.reimangardens.com/intern-blog/ to see the great things these students accomplished!
name
internship area
major
Sara Abbott
Education
Biology
Lauren Banwart
Private Events
Event Management
Cooper Christensen Garden & Landscape Management
Horticulture
Jordan Christensen Glasshouse & Greenhouse Biology Production Veronica Crump
Entomology
Animal Ecology
Ross Curry
Education
Animal Ecology
Matthew Hughes Garden & Landscape Management
Horticulture
Mary Katherine Jones
Special Events
Marketing
Richa Patel
Plant Collections & Records
Landscape Architecture
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education Reiman Gardens’ education department is responsible for overseeing many things ranging from educational programming, to interpretation, to family tours and school programs. To help accomplish these tasks, the full-time Education Manager and part-time Education Specialist added a part-time ISU student intern to the team this year. The Education department is proud to share that Education Specialist Jacqueline Venner Senske was selected to serve on the American Public Gardens Association Program Selection Committee for the 2019 conference.
Education Snapshot: 2018 by the Numbers • Unique programs offered: 198 (134 adult, 64 youth) • Program attendees served: 6,494 (1,663 adult, 4,831 youth) • Program revenue: $18,383 (up more than 30% from 2018) • Tours provided: 185 (23 adult-guided, 49 youth-guided, 91 adult & youth self-guided, 25 free) • Tour participants served: 6,312 (590 adult-guided, 2,132 youth-guided, 2,833 adult and youth self-guided, 757 free) • Tour revenue: $35,376 • Total Revenue: $53,759 (up 16% from 2018)
Youth & Family Programs This year's programs in Youth & Family Education engaged new and larger audiences, primarily in arts and sciences. Summer Water Days were as popular as ever, with original water science activities for toddlers and kids, a giant slippery slide, free bottled water and education from the Ames Water Treatment plant, and more. During our summer-long adult/ youth horticulture program Plant Pals, 185 kids designed, planted, maintained, and harvested a section of the Children’s Garden. This July, intern Sara Lorraine Abbott planned and managed the first ever Ladies in Science event for over 50 women and girls of all ages. Participants rotated through hands-on science programs, and experienced face-to-face conversations and guided activities with female scientists from Iowa State University and the surrounding community.
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Homeschool Days Education staff, along with volunteers and local guest expert instructors, hosted three Homeschool Days this year, serving a total of more than 100 youth. The focus of the three events was Plant Science, Insects, and Art & Movement. Some favorite comments from attendees:
“It engaged all the senses, activities were appropriate for all ages, brought in people from the community,
well-planned, and affordable.” – Adult, “I LOVED TODAY SO MUCH!!!!” – Youth, age 9
Wind, Waves and Light Through imaginative interpretation and guided tours, George Sherwood’s Wind, Waves, and Light exhibit offered edifying opportunities for youth and adult audiences alike, it challenged them to move like schools of fish and flocks of birds, explaining the science behind the iridescence of many butterflies’ wings, connecting patterns in nature through mathematics, and even educating about the parts of the brain involved in memory.
Science Communication Fellowship As part of the 5th year of the Portal to the Public Science Communication Fellowship, we tested our comfort zone by training a record 20 scientists, ISU researchers, and faculty in informal education and science communication. Meet-A-Scientist events this year engaged thousands of visitors of all ages and backgrounds in hands-on activities and games, exploring a variety of scientific research.
Adult Education Adult Education, presented fewer programs, but achieved greater class participation. 2018 trends in attendance showed a propensity for recurring staff-led programs, as well as a heightened interest in hands-on botanicalbased projects socially lubricated by the responsible inclusion of alcohol. Our most popular programs:
• M ore than 12 B.Y.O.B. Crafty Cocktail Nights (some involving fire) and new Botanicals & Booze led by various staff • Orchids 101 with Jacqueline Venner Senske and Ed Moran • Floral Design: Hanging Air Plant Terrariums taught by volunteer instructor Sandy Gossman • Ed Lyon’s Sinister Plants presentation • P runing; Plant Propagation; and Vegetable Gardening with horticulture staff; and a first venture into a Plant Walks series with Lindsey Smith
• Veteran instructor Mark Stoltenberg’s multiple offerings of Beginner Photography • New instructor Jan Verploeg’s Soap Making Workshops • Behind the Scenes tour of the Wind, Waves, and Light exhibit with Sara Merritt • Aaron Steil’s Wreath-Making Workshops Thank you to instructors, and to all of our wonderful volunteer tour docents, story readers, program greeters, curriculum development collaborators, data collectors, floral processors, presenters, teachers, and activity leaders who have contributed thousands of hours and countless talents to our education department. We succeed directly because of you.
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horticulture The 2018 growing year did not start out with ideal weather. Cold, wet, or snowy weather continued well through April followed by unseasonable 90degree weather in mid-May. A “traditional” spring season never occurred. The extreme weather compressed the bloom duration of the 53,000+ tulip bulbs from the intended four weeks into around two weeks, and several cultivars exhibited stunted growth and poor vigor. Despite these challenges, the horticulture staff, volunteers, and student gardeners forged on, planting nearly 17,000 annuals, representing 404 unique cultivars or species, in the Gardens. The slow start to the season also affected overall produce harvest and the contribution Reiman Gardens made to Plant-a-Row-for-the-Hungry (PAR). Down about 400 pounds from the previous year, the Gardens’ Home Production Garden and Trial Garden yielded 1,322 pounds of fresh produce, representing about 15% of PAR’s total produce distribution.
Plant Sale Extravaganza The 2018 Plant Sale Extravaganza was the most successful to date! Reiman Gardens; Story County Master Gardeners; ISU Horticulture Club; ISU Graduate Society of Horticulture Students; and ISU Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Graduate Students partnered again to offer high-quality, diverse, and desired plant material. Over 800 shoppers with twice as many event attendees purchased nearly 5,500 plants during the 2.5-day event. Total sales for all plant sale partners set a new event record. Revenue from the sale directly benefits: (1) student groups’ ability to participate in national organizations, events and travel, (2) Master Gardener’s support of continuing education and scholarship, and (3) the Gardens’ horticulture budget and garden renovation efforts.
Conservatory Displays Horticulture staff, volunteers, and gardeners presented four beautiful displays this year in the Hughes Conservatory, all tied to our Movement theme year. “Up In The Air” immersed visitors in tropical foliage and carefully suspended orchids with varying monochromatic magenta hues. “Botanical Balance,” a zen-garden inspired
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display featuring bamboo, raked gravel, and George Sherwood’s Watercolor sculpture, encouraged visitors to slow down and find calm and relaxation. The fall conservatory display arrived like a cyclone, literally! “Fall Floral Frenzy” featured innovative thinking by staff and volunteers who reimagined and engineered an 18-foot “poinsettia-tree” frame UPSIDE DOWN into a fall-floral cyclone! Finally, the RG Express garden railroad chugged into town for its fourth annual appearance. The railroad display was recreated with the help and support of the Central Iowa Garden Railroad Society and Just Add Water.
Pathway Renovations Hardscape renovations continued this year, advancing our strategic goal to upgrade aging features. Horticulture staff and volunteers, with tremendous help from AmeriCorps NCCC’s Oak 5 team, dramatically changed the primary circulation gravel path of the Town and Country Gardens to a PorousPave® path. Over two long, hot, and labor-intensive weeks, the small but mighty team removed, replaced, and hauled over 110 tons of gravel, lifted 350 50-pound bags of recycled rubber and 350 5-gallon buckets of binder, all to create 4,500 square feet of hard surface path. While grueling and seemingly endless at the time, the accolades from visitors in the months that followed made the effort worthwhile. We are hopeful the PorousPave® product will hold up to foot and vehicular traffic and snow removal as successfully as reviews claim. If successful, we have another tool in our toolbox for continued garden improvements.
Plant Collections The Plant Collections program was right on track again this year. Lindsey Smith, Curator, put the finishing touches on our new Plant Collections Management and Development Plan. This useful document will help guide how we approach and ultimately accomplish our plant collection goals. We look forward to sharing the Gardens’ Management and Development Plan and Plant Collections Policy documents on our website, so they can be a resource to others. 289 accessions, unique record identifiers assigned to plant specimens or groups, were added to the plant collection in 2018, the majority of which are part of the new DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden.
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entomology Monarch Zone Our captive rearing and release program for monarchs continues to grow as a summer project for the entomology staff. There were over 500 caterpillars in the Monarch Zone this summer and the milkweed produced a good crop of leaves to help hungry caterpillars thrive. OE, Ophryocytis elektroscirrha, is a parasite that infects monarchs. To ensure that we are releasing healthy butterflies into the environment, we OE test all of our reared individuals. Adults transfer the spores from the outside of their bodies to the eggs and milkweed plants, infecting the next generation as they consume leaves. Mild OE infection causes development of weak adults with shortened lifespans and hindered flight abilities. Severe infections cause poor or no emergence from the chrysalis.
Monarch Tagging Since 2015, the entomology staff has offered a public education program about monarchs focused on tagging. Tagging monarchs during migration is part of Monarch Watch, a research and conservation initiative based at Kansas University. The tags collected in the South and Mexico during spring help determine where the monarchs have migrated. Participants in our program learn about monarchs and migration. They conclude the program with tagging a monarch and releasing it so it can begin the trip to Mexico. We typically tag about 25 individuals during the program and another 75 during the fall migration. This fall, two tagged monarchs were caught at Reiman Gardens. One was tagged by us a few days prior, but one was tagged elsewhere. In the spring when the 2018 tags are posted to the website we will be able to determine where this butterfly originated.
IBSN The Iowa Butterfly Survey Network is a citizen science program managed by Reiman Gardens’ entomology staff with the purpose of tracking butterfly populations across Iowa. This summer marked IBSN's 13th year with volunteers surveying butterfly populations across 61 sites. For the 2018 survey season there were 680 surveys conducted and 777 volunteer hours spent in the field. Our volunteers identified 53 of 120 native species and 26,857 individuals. This summer was a great year for the monarch population. Volunteers recorded 6,996 butterflies compared to 2,035 in 2017. American snout, meadow fritillary and little yellow were other species recorded in higher than average population numbers.
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New Invertebrates Except for a couple of short-termed exhibits, the only invertebrates that have been represented at Reiman Gardens have been those from the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). We started keeping other invertebrate colonies for educational activities and display purposes. This year visitors were able to observe New Guinea Walking Sticks (Eurycantha calcarata) and Jungle Nymphs (Heteropteryx dilatata) in the center window of the Butterfly Lab. Beetles, tarantulas, cockroaches and other invertebrates are also being housed in the Lab and will go on display as exhibit spaces are created.
Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference New ideas and procedures are regularly being developed and tested in the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, Butterfly Lab, and as part of our axillary programs. Sharing ideas with others in the industry can bring about real, positive change. At the Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference this year, the Entomology staff gave a paper talk, conducted a workshop and presented two poster talks. The two previous years, the Entomology staff gave two paper presentations and four poster presentations. That is a lot of shared knowledge.
Butterfly Wing Fun with Numbers Each year a large number of butterflies arrive from around the world to go into the Butterfly Wing, and this year was no exception with 18,958 individuals representing 139 species. While large numbers of butterflies are always fun, sometimes it is the small numbers of less common species that can really get people excited. This year we had two new species that we have never flown before in the Butterfly Wing, the Mexican Kite-Swallowtail (Eurytides epidaus) and Procilla Beauty (Panacea procilla). The Madagascar Moon moths were also a big hit, even though it wasn’t the first time we received them.
Butterfly Wing Docents People visit the Butterfly Wing to see butterflies and while doing so spend time visiting with the Butterfly Wing Docents. What most visitors don’t realize is just how important those individuals are to the Butterfly Wing. Per our USDA regulations we are required to have trained individuals in the Wing at all times when we are open. This requires at minimum enough individuals to cover eight shifts a day for 362 days a year. Last year, volunteer Butterfly Wing docents covered 4,092 hours in the Butterfly Wing. So on your next visit remember to thank the Butterfly Wing docents for making it possible for you to visit the butterflies.
Butterfly Blizzard This year marked the 10th anniversary of Butterfly Blizzard. Over the years we have had 322 groups that have released 1,122 butterflies in the Butterfly Wing. This event allows people to purchase butterflies, learn about the species, and how to properly handle them. They get up-close and personal with their butterfly as they release it into the Wing. This is a great family activity for a winter day.
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volunteers Every single day volunteers generously donate their valuable time and skills to positively impact our visitors, our community, and our staff. Whenever they are in the Butterfly Wing, out in the gardens, or giving education tours, volunteers bring with them their enthusiasm, skills and dedication. Our success would not be possible without their time and talents.
Value to the Community • Volunteer hours for 2018 are valued at over $356,000 as in kind contributions. • The number of hours contributed is equivalent to 7.5 full-time employees.
By the Numbers • Over 15,500 service hours were contributed by 327 individuals and 72 service groups. • 15 individuals contributed between 100-199 hours and 14 individuals contributed over 200 hours. • Many service groups from Iowa State University, the Ames community and throughout the state spent time volunteering at the Gardens. Some of these groups included Ames High School, Barilla America, numerous county conservation boards, Story County Master Gardeners, American Heritage Girls, Mary Greeley Medical Center, ACE Mainstream Living, Kingland Systems Corporation, Farm Credit Services of America, Central Iowa Garden Railroad Society and numerous Iowa State University fraternities, sororities, clubs, and student organizations.
New Opportunities This past year we added several new volunteer opportunities within multiple departments. Projects included assisting membership with weekly mailings, photographing garden displays and special events, and caring for the Conservatory plantings. More opportunities, including leadership roles, are being developed for 2019.
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Americorps This spring we hosted a group of AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) volunteers. Seven volunteers, all between 20-25 years old, spent four weeks with us. They assisted our horticulture staff with major construction projects, which included building and planting the new DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden, installing a series of new pathways, and building raised beds for the rose gardens.
Volunteer Memorial Bench In September volunteers and staff members unveiled the Volunteer Memorial Bench in the DeeAnn Drew Shade Garden. With this memorial bench, we honor all of our dedicated and talented volunteers who have passed away.
Service Enterprise Training This fall our staff and several volunteers went through a series of training sessions with the Volunteer Center of Story County. These thought-provoking sessions are part of the Service Enterprise Initiative, a national change-management and capacity building program that transforms the way organizations engage volunteers to better meet their missions. This training will continue into the new year, and once this intensive process is completed, Reiman Gardens will apply for national certification, which shows proficiency in leveraging volunteers to the Gardens’ mission and goals. With Service Enterprise Reiman Gardens hopes to: strengthen the bond between staff and volunteers, increase purposeful communications, empower volunteers with additional training opportunities, find the right fit for each individual volunteer, leverage technology, support volunteer leadership, share the deep appreciation staff has for volunteers, help volunteers feel fulfilled and blissful, and increase the number of volunteer opportunities at the Gardens.
The Volunteer Impact Report for 2018 will be available on our website at the beginning of February 2019.
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prisma For a second time, Reiman Gardens had the opportunity to work with ISU Architecture students on an innovative project that has become an inviting new attraction at the Gardens for visitors of all ages. PRISMA is a 1,300-square-foot outdoor structure designed and built by 77 students in the ISU ARCH 202 studio. PRISMA incorporates playful interaction with woven hammocks, climbing nets and wind-driven, spinning iridescent panels. The structure's tumbling forms are inspired by the plants, animal life and natural forces on the site and developed over several weeks of consultation with Reiman Gardens. The goals for this studio class were to introduce students to the experiences of design-build — developing skills in design, documentation, construction and teamwork — in addition to public outreach and engagement with the community. The instructors included lecturers Roman Chikerinets, Reinaldo Correa, Leslie Forehand and Ayo Iyanalu as well as assistant professor Nick Senske.
gift shop Guests to Reiman Gardens find a hidden gem inside when they visit the Gift Shop. The selection of merchandise appeals to all ages, and whether they have traveled from near or far, there is something to pique their interest and take with them as a memento of their experience. We pride ourselves on offering unique items, many of which are made by local and Midwest artisans. In 2018, we saw 16,702 transactions, totaling sales of $312,197!
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looking ahead Come play at Reiman Gardens during our 2019 theme of toys and games! This year, each season brings new toys and games based opportunities for all ages to learn about the wonders of nature. Revel over more than 55,000 tulips in the spring display, stroll through the Conservatory for an orchid show that’s sure to surprise, frolic amidst orbs of herbs, and enjoy special events and programs teeming with revelry. Finally, bring the family out for cooperation and competition, fascinating finds, hands-on horticulture, pleasurable puzzles, and active art, as we host an exciting new exhibit created by Reiman Gardens in collaboration with the ISU Department of Architecture. Beginning April 27, Nature of the Game will be featured throughout the Gardens. Help us celebrate ecology through play with this new collection of larger-than-life outdoor games that puts an ecological and artistic spin on familiar favorites. Rotate between oversized tile puzzles, gorgeous hidden picture sculptures, giant food web chess and more. Have fun playing games that demonstrate the balance, beauty, and connectedness of nature.
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1407 UNIVERSITY BLVD AMES, IA 50011 EMAIL: reimangardens@iastate.edu PHONE: 515.294.2710 WEBSITE: www.reimangardens.com
“Educate, enchant and inspire an appreciation of plants, butterflies and the beauty of the natural world” Reiman Gardens’ mission