Inside Iowa State

Dec. 12, 2008

Reiman Gardens open daily this winter

by Anne Krapfl

Have no fear about the next four months. No matter how low the mercury goes, the temperature in the Reiman Gardens conservatory will hover at 80 degrees, with humidity to match. The gardens will maintain daily 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. public hours through the winter and spring, all the way to Memorial Day, when summer hours begin.

The only change this winter is that the butterfly wing will be open by appointment.

"It's very labor-intensive to staff the butterfly wing," explained gardens director Teresa McLaughlin. "There may be times when we just don't have anyone available, but we'll be happy to open it -- for example, for special classes or civic groups or grandkids who are in town visiting -- if people can give us a week's notice."

She said there is no minimum group size for which they would open the butterfly wing.

Holiday schedule

The gardens will close for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It will be open regular hours Christmas Eve Day and New Year's Eve Day. The current conservatory exhibit, "A Christmas Carol," ends after the new year.

Next up, by mid-January, is "Dinosaur Epidermis," a selection of plants -- primarily begonias -- that remind us of the texture of dinosaur skin. It is a precursor to "Land Before Time," a dinosaur-themed outdoor exhibit opening at the end of April. "Land Before Time" will include large -- some life-size -- anatomically correct dinosaur models created by Guy Darrough, a fossil preparation expert and founder of Lost World Studios in suburban St. Louis.

Gift shop

The gift shop at Reiman Gardens is open when the gardens are open. A few special sale days are coming up during regular shop hours:

• Last Chance sale (store-wide discounts), Dec. 21-24
• After Christmas sale (all Christmas merchandise marked down), Dec. 26-31

Purchases will be gift-wrapped for free upon request. At both events, guests could receive a special discount or a free gift. The gift shop also has its own gift certificates, good year-round.

Reiman Gardens will maintain daily
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. public hours throughout the winter. The only change this winter is that the butterfly wing will be open by appointment.