Glasshouse gardener Alex Trouch turns the soil in a bed of spring flowers inside the Hughes conservatory at Reiman Gardens. Photos by Christopher Gannon.
The first exhibit of 2025 in the Hughes conservatory at Reiman Gardens ushers in spring several weeks ahead of the calendar. Instead of the usual tea party sweet treats, "Tulips and Tea: A Tea Party" features tulips, pansies, grape hyacinths, daffodils and a variety of succulents in oversized tea cups and tiered cake stand. It also includes begonias, various ferns and African daisies. The exhibit launches the gardens' 30th anniversary year and runs through Easter weekend, April 19-20.
Indoor visitors to Reiman Gardens this weekend (Feb. 8-9) also will experience its annual orchid festival, held in collaboration with the Iowa Orchid Society. Orchids are symbols of love, beauty and luxury. The festival includes exhibits and sale of several species and colors of orchids.
As recently announced, Reiman Gardens is now open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round. The butterfly wing closes each day at 4:30 p.m.
Sophomore marketing major Fayth Appenzeller chose a colorful, aromatic setting for her study session Monday, the Hughes conservatory at Reiman Gardens.
