Polk County Master GardenersIowa State University Extension and Outreach in Polk County |
Discovery Garden
Visit the Discovery GardenLocated on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, on the south side of the Agricultural Building. 1207 E Iowa St., Des Moines, IA 50317 Contact us at: discoverygardenpcmg@gmail.com Join the Discovery Garden Facebook Group |
The Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fairgrounds is a cooperative effort between the Polk County Master Gardeners and the Iowa State Fair. It began in 1983 as a small bed of annuals named "The Children's Garden" planted on the south side of the Agricultural Building. In the mid-nineties, care of the area was assigned to the Polk County Master Gardeners. Under our guidance, the Discovery Garden has grown into a beautiful spot maintained by volunteers and visited by thousands each year! Here are a few highlights you can check out at the garden:
- About 5,000 square feet is replanted each year and over 80 Polk County Master Gardeners maintain the beds from early April through the first snow. All plants and beds are marked for the fairgoer's ease of information
- New and unusual plant material including; annuals, perennials, tropical plants, natives, ornamental grasses, hardy roses, dwarf conifers and bushes.
- Plants and beds are labeled during the Iowa State Fair
- Our famous children's tunnel made of gourds and other climbing vegetables and flowers for children of all ages to run through.
- A landscaped pond with a bog and rapids
- Composting areas
- A rainwater harvesting system
- Unique garden design techniques
While the intent of the Garden is to peak at the Iowa State Fair, it provides interest, color and a place to relax throughout the season. There is rarely a time when the Garden isn't in use whether by wandering gardeners, families with children interested in crawling through the tunnel, wedding parties, or someone just looking for a place to eat lunch or read a book. It is also a favorite place for photographers who value the variety of colorful borders which make up the Garden.
After nearly thirty years at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, our Discovery Garden was in need of renovation. Our proudest accomplishment is a hardscape pathway, which provides easier and safer access to those with disabilities and assists in nutrient load reductions to water resources. Other renovation phases include: a gazebo and shade structure upgrade, hardscape edging around our perennial bed garden, educational signage, along with project funding partners and donor signage, and new perimeter fencing. An urban conservation project continues in our Native Perennial garden where we introduced rain garden plant materials to further reduce our nutrient load and runoff. The significance and value of this renovation project is the unique opportunity to educate tens of thousands of people on new ways to manage rainfall, reduce runoff and pollutant delivery to receiving waters with permeable pavement and how the home gardener may adopt this practice. The pathway materials offer an opportunity to educate the home gardener on how to use recyclable and plant- based materials for their pathways. |
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WHAT IS PERVIOUS PAVING
Pervious paving allows water to infiltrate into layers of crushed stone below the paving and then into the soil and groundwater below. By infiltrating most of the storm water on-site, the amount of water and pollution flowing into storm sewers and directly to rivers and streams is greatly reduced. This, in turn, protects water quality, maintains more stable base flows to streams, reduces flood peaks and reduces stream bank erosion. With infiltration, groundwater is recharged and streams are replenished with cool, clean groundwater in a more natural way. Pervious paving:
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| CONSERVATION RESOURCES AND EDUCATION The environmentally friendly pervious paving in our pathway allows rainwater infiltration onto stable and firmly fixed surfaces. Rainwater is absorbed quickly and can seep directly into the ground or be redirected into a drainage facility (e.g. canal, retention basin, or rain water storage vessel). It also absorbs hydrocarbons such as engine and gear oil and fuel residues. The risk of freeze-thaw damage and the need to repair cracks and replace wear is greatly reduced when compared to conventional pavements. Our Native Perennial garden bed features rain garden plant materials which further reduce our nutrient load and runoff. Many native plants work best in a rain garden and seedlings are easier to establish than direct-sown seed so you don't have to worry about the seed washing away. For that reason, native plant plugs work better than seeds. The Discovery Garden used native grasses and sedges in the Native Perennial bed garden because those plants possess extremely deep root systems. |
In addition to rain garden plant materials, you will see attractive plantings throughout the Discovery Garden which promote and increase pollinators and beneficial insects in our garden beds. The beneficial insects, also known as the “good bugs”, perform valued services like pollination and pest control. To attract the “good bugs”, you may want to plant a row or border of fennel, calendula, coriander, dill, and cosmos which are all considered good plants for attracting beneficial insects.
A SINCERE THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS
The Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fairgrounds’ Renovation Project would not be possible without these generous contributors. Project funders and donors are recognized on permanent, on-site signage at the Discovery Garden, and the Discovery Garden's Facebook page. Thanks to the generosity of these individuals, companies, corporations, organizations and foundations for making the Discovery Garden Pathway to the Future a success! Thank you!
$10,000 and up Blue Ribbon Foundation Gabus Family Foundation Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) Urban Conservation Grant Iowa State Fair Prairie Meadows $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 Alliant Energy Foundation Board of Supervisors Polk County Robert Brownell, Angela Connolly, Tom Hockensmith, John F. Mauro, Steve Van Oort | $1,000 to $ 5,000 Anderson Erickson Dairy Des Moines East & South Chamber of Commerce Eric J. Faust Hy-Vee Corporation Iowa Farm Bureau Iowa Pork Producers Jean and Harvey Koch Metro Waste Authority Mid-American Energy Foundation Family of Paul and Margie Rosenberry West End Architectural Salvage | Friends of the Discovery Garden Amy M. Alexander Elizabeth A. Alexander Association of Iowa Fairs, Inc. Bette and Elliot Bell Nancy and Frank Bodine Roddy and Dean Brand Mary Brown Mehalovich Sue Cornick Tracy L. Corsello Kathleen DeCarlo Lynn Ethington Gerry and Fredrick Fuller Katherine Howsare Jon Hrabe Hummel's Nissan Iowa Heart Foundation | Friends of the Discovery Garden ISU Extension and Outreach Office-Polk County Kirke Financial Services-Wild Rose Entertainment William C. Knapp Charitable Foundation Meredith Corporation Foundation Stephanie McAdam Karen McGregor Christine K. Page Jean and Rudy Roe Jolene Runkel Patrick J. Schmitt RS Welding Studio, Artist Randy Schnebbe Jerry Swinton Marje and Nels Turnquist |
Interested in the plants growing at Discovery Garden? Here, you will find a sampling of annuals and perennial designs created by the Master Gardeners themselves. The following links are the most complete lists of all the plants in the plants in the Discovery Garden. These lists are sorted in various ways for your convenience. Last minute changes to the beds are not accounted for. Note* Updated 2023 lists will be available August of 2023. Discovery Garden Plant List 2024 - Plant list only sorted by garden beds, no images. Discovery Garden Plant Book Alphabetical 2024- Names and small photos, sorted by common name. Discovery Garden Plant Book By Bed 2024 - Names and small photos, sorted by bed. Discovery Garden Containers 2024 - Containers displayed during the fair. |
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| Discovery Garden Roses - List of Roses in the Rose Bed Discovery Garden Trees and Shrubs Discovery Garden Trees and Shrubs - Trees and perennial shrubs/bushes Discovery Garden Conifers - List of Conifers in Bed Z1 Discovery Garden Grasses - List of Ornamental Grasses in Bed I Discovery Garden Hostas - List of Hostas in Shade Bed B Discovery Garden Natives - List of Native Perennials in Bed T Discovery Garden Perennials - List of Perennials in Bed M Only |
