Last weekend I taught a fairy gardening class at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.  Reiman Gardens is a 17 acre public garden that is located on Iowa State University’s campus with a children’s garden, rose gardens, herb garden, pond and many other gardens to explore.   After I was done teaching class I took a few hours to meander through the gardens, here are a few photos from my tour.

There were several mass plantings of Millenium Allium in the gardens that were breathtakingly beautiful.  I’m definitely planting some in my gardens next year.

I absolutely loved this small courtyard garden.  The formal boxwood plantings and peeling wall with the subdued colors of white and purple made me feel like I was in European garden.

This formal herb garden was my favorite spot this trip.  It was so peaceful with the beautiful shades of green and the garden art in the center of the garden.  The tall plants you see in the garden are columnar basil and they were quite fragrant.

Tucked into the herb garden was this beautiful collection of scented geraniums including scents like rose, lemon, mint and pineapple.  I was in seventh heaven!  I’ve had an obsession with scented geraniums ever since I was seven years old and first visited the Botanical Center (now Botanical Gardens) in Des Moines.  There is something magical about rubbing a leaf and having a scent appear that smells like a fruit or flower.

This formal garden was beautiful with the water streaming toward the Campanile art form.

This green tunnel was covered with wisteria vines, it was beautiful and cool inside despite the summer heat.

A mass planting of celosia in Iowa State colors, Go Cyclones!

Trial gardens for filled with many types of annuals including petunias, angelonia, sweet potato vines, coleus, cannas and vegetables.

Spectacular colors with a combination coelus and sweet potato vines.

Gorgeous bed with purple angelonia, coleus, millet grass and lantana.

The peachy orange colors of these dahlias are gorgeous and I love their pretty blooms.

Another garden that ties in the Campanile art piece.

Upright prairie coneflower which is an Iowa native.

Lotus water plants in full bloom, quite a spectacular site.

This planter is beautiful in it’s simplicity-baby tut grass, petunias and diamond frost.

This adorable setup is the entrance to their potting shed area and near by to their vegetable gardens.

Joe Pye Weed, love this Iowa native.

Three tables were setup in the conservatory, each with a different garden themed party. The old fashioned string lights were a nice touch to the party atmosphere.

Reiman Gardens also has a beautiful room called the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing that houses hundreds of butterflies.  Here are a few photos of the beauties that I was able to capture.

Take time this week to slow down and marvel at the beauty that surrounds you.