News Service

7-5-07

Free admission to Reiman Gardens for annual Art Fair

AMES, Iowa -- More than 2,000 guests are expected at the fifth annual Garden Art Fair at Reiman Gardens on Sunday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The fair provides the public the opportunity to browse and purchase the works of more than 40 artists whose works draw inspiration from the landscape, gardening, flowers and butterflies in watercolors, paintings, jewelry, silk fabrics, glass and metal sculptures, pottery, photography and many other creations.

Keyboardist Ann Regnier will perform from 9 - 11 a.m. and the Bill Martin Group from noon to 4 p.m. Free activities for kids will also be available throughout the day.

While at the Gardens, the public can also see the Butterfly Wing, wander the Garden's 14 acres in bloom, enjoy lunch, visit the gift shop, and join the summer fun of the Gardens' celebration of Iowa State University's 150 year anniversary at the following:

• Garden Railroad Display (Patty Jischke's Children's Garden) featuring G-Scale railroad trains on four sets of tracks and with diesel, steam and electric engines traveling among replicas of several Iowa State University campus landmarks including the Campanile, the Marston Water Tower, Farm House, the Butterfly Wing and other familiar buildings. All models were conceived and constructed by local woodworkers.
• Cyclone Garden (Margaret E. Penkhus Campanile Garden) which will incorporate a unique variety of cardinal and gold flowers planted in mass for a memorable frenzy of color and texture to welcome visitors entering campus via Elwood Drive. This display funded by Country Landscapes, Inc.
• Zodiac Garden (Joey and Jesse's Herb Garden) which is inspired by the Zodiac Medallion in the main entranceway to the ISU Memorial Union. A pallet of white, in a moon garden-style will depict various signs of the zodiac according to elements of wind, fire, earth and air. Look closely to find your sign planted in these colors.
• Home Grown (Home Production Garden) will highlight fruits and vegetables developed at Iowa State University. To add a twist to the emergence of biorenewable technology, this vegetable garden will also be set among prairie plantings and biorenewable grasses.
• Bio-Fuels Walk (throughout the Gardens) will highlight some of the little-known plants and grasses that might be used as fuel for the bio-fuels industry. With a special gift from the Office of the President, Reiman Gardens is developing a walking bio-fuels tour to see the different types of materials that may be firing up your automobile in the future.
• Hixson-Lied Building's Roof Garden (Dunlap Courtyard), which will feature the striking design of the new Hixson-Lied building's roof, is a combined effort of the building's donors, the Sukup family, the ISU University Architect Dean Morton, and OPN Architects. The Gardens' staff selected Wood sorrel, Wallis fescue and the Polka Dot Plant to re-create the colors, lines, and textures of the roof.

Located across the street from the Maple-Willow-Larch residence hall complex, the Hixson-Lied building is one of the newest campus facilities and opened last spring. The Garden area is on the east side of the Mahlstede Building in the Dunlap Courtyard.

The Reiman Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Labor Day. The Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing closes at 4:30 p.m., lunch is available daily 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except Mondays) and the gift shop remains open until 6 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.reimangardens.iastate.edu.

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Quick look

Garden Art Fair

Reiman Gardens

July 8

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free