Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden
Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden
4.5
About
Right in the heart of the city is a half-block long blaze of beauty - Better Homes and Gardens' testing ground for various landscape designs that the company documents and photographs. The area is one large area made of many mini-backyards, complete with annuals, perennials, bulbs and typical backyard structures like fences and gates.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
49 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
10
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4
Poor
2
Terrible
2
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Minnesota90 contributions
Aug 2010
The test garden is not large, but it is very peaceful and beautiful and located near the lovely sculpture garden for an addition to your pleasant walk! Would sure be nice if they offered a bit of tea and lemonade on site since it's Better Homes and Gardens, but you'll have to grab that at a coffee shop across the street. The big con is they are only opened Fridays, noon-2 pm, May-October.
Written 1 July 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jameslouie
Decorah, IA338 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
The Better Homes and Gardens Test Gardens in Des Moines are a HIDDEN GEM in a city!!
The Test Gardens are only open to the general public from noon to 2 on Friday afternoons.
The Gardens are exceptional with plenty of staff and interns to answer any questions that you may have on the plants and flowers.
The end of May is perfect time to visit as the iris and peonies are just breathtaking!!
Take your time walking through this HIDDEN GEM!!
The Test Gardens are only open to the general public from noon to 2 on Friday afternoons.
The Gardens are exceptional with plenty of staff and interns to answer any questions that you may have on the plants and flowers.
The end of May is perfect time to visit as the iris and peonies are just breathtaking!!
Take your time walking through this HIDDEN GEM!!
Written 23 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anniemonb
Urbandale, IA11 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
I have lived in Des Moines for over 35 years and had no idea this garden existed until I looked on Trip Advisor.
The garden is hard to find but well worth it. They are peaceful and beautiful, perfectly maintained and right in the middle of the city.
Open on Fridays 12:00-2:00 PM, May-Sept or Oct. Just west of the Papa John Sculpture Garden between Grand and Locust. Enter on the south side, right in the middle.
My only complaint is they should be open more often.
The garden is hard to find but well worth it. They are peaceful and beautiful, perfectly maintained and right in the middle of the city.
Open on Fridays 12:00-2:00 PM, May-Sept or Oct. Just west of the Papa John Sculpture Garden between Grand and Locust. Enter on the south side, right in the middle.
My only complaint is they should be open more often.
Written 1 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R W
Lewisville, NC126 contributions
Aug 2023
When we went to the test garden it was closed. My rating would be higher if we were able to actually walk inside the garden. The hours were 12-2pm. From what we saw peeking over the walls and through the gates, the garden is lovely and would be a peaceful place for a stroll or lunch. The flowers were beautiful. It is across from the Pappajohn sculpture garden. Very easy to get to.
Written 8 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jelkberk
Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA33 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
This garden is nice but not exceptional. It is open to the public only 2 hours a week from noon to 2 pm on Fridays. Plants are well labeled but the garden is challenging to find, especially since a security officer in an adjacent magazine building sent me in the wrong direction. I'm glad I visited because if I missed it, I would have wondered what I skipped. The nearby Poppajohn Sculpture Garden is a more dynamic attraction.
Written 15 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve C
vernon NY46 contributions
May 2014 • Family
There is a very small window of time every week to actually see this attraction but it's worth it if you enjoy exceptional gardening and unique flora. Great place to sit and eat your lunch, hard to believe it sits in the middle of downtown.
Written 3 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah A
Des Moines52 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
Are you looking for a really original place to visit? Just west of the Des Moines sculpture garden is the BH & G garden. It is open over extended lunch hours and is the perfect place to picnic. It is on the trolley line so you can get back to you office or hop on the trolley to other downtown attractions. I almost don't want to review it because I don't want to let the secret out!
Written 2 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
efsch
Chicago, IL347 contributions
Good demonstartion garden near the Sculpture park just west of downtown. Check hours before going there -- usually closed. Free
Written 17 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather M
Porterdale, GA54 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
I made my husband take a special trip with me to see these gardens, because I really wanted to visit here. Not knowing that these gardens are only open to the public on Fridays, we went to the gates that were open, so we naturally walked in. We were quickly run off by a grumpy gardener that said we can't be there. Since we are flying out early Friday I guess I'll never be able to see these gardens. It's too bad because from what I could see the gardens were beautiful but the experience really left a bad memory, The garden is small and literally could take 5 minutes to walk around. (Granted, I'm a gardener myself and would love to spend much longer) but it seems she could have been friendly and let us at least quickly see the gardens since we were there. I understand rules and don't want to make others make an exception just for me, but she was just unfriendly and it seemed like she could have handled the situation better. I like Better Homes and Gardens magazine, but like it a lot less now.
Written 12 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
qtntraveler
Madison, WI19 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
I was luckily visiting Des Moines on a Friday and was able to visit in the short viewing hours of 12-2pm. As a long-time reader of the magazine I was excited to see the garden in person. It was fascinating to see the wide variety and design elements throughout he garden. It's hard to find, look for the grey walls surrounding it, on the same side of the street as the sculpture park. Paring in the area is easy on the street, but be prepared for meters. Once we got there we enjoyed the quiet, beautiful spot in the city.
Written 3 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One review says to make sure of the hours of operation bit I didn't see any times listed.
Written 21 May 2019
Where do you park and where is it in relation to the Meredith Building?
Written 9 August 2018
tedgaul
Des Moines, Iowa
We have relatives in town this Thursday April 27th. May we visit in the afternoon?
Written 22 April 2017
Diane M
West Des Moines, Iowa
Hi I'm with Link Associates and would love to bring my group and another to see the test gardens and would like to know the cost per person and if we get a discount for a certent amount oif people.
Written 22 June 2015
As far as I know no charge, but call first. ENJOY!!!!
Written 23 June 2015
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