This Beautiful 40-acre Botanical Garden In Iowa Is A Sight To Be Seen
By Ben Jones|Published April 13, 2021
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
In Waterloo, Iowa, a gorgeous arboretum and botanic garden is connecting people with the wonder of the natural world, one blossom at a time. The Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens are located just east of the Hawkeye Community College and they are incredible. From stunning perennial beds to groves of blossom-laden trees, the gardens are a wonderland you have to see to believe. Here’s a look at what you can see and experience at the gardens.
In the spring, the garden's flower beds burst with color. The daffodils and tulips are stunning! There are also raised bed displays that provide inspiration for people who are thinking about creating a garden in a compact space.
The facility has award-winning children's gardens that are filled with learning opportunities for little ones. For example, there's a fish pond that's home to 25 koi. It's visited by many insects and pollinators like bees. Adults enjoy the area too!
The gardens have many varieties of flowering trees. There's a Master Gardener's Orchard that's a fruit orchard filled with a big variety of pear, cherry, plum and apple trees. Honey bees are kept on site to help the trees thrive. Visit the orchard in the spring to see all the blossoms.
There are different things to see throughout the growing season. If you love natural beauty you may want to plan more than one trip to the gardens. Allow 1-2 hours to stroll the walking paths and take in the whole experience. Before you leave, be sure to check out the gift shop in the welcome center.