Jenny Gardens Iowa

07/31/2026

I’m pleased with the growing patchwork of native plants in my Des Moines, Iowa, front yard. The first photo was taken at dusk last night. How fun to see the evolution since this garden was photographed for Better Homes & Gardens in Spring 2024 and featured in the May 2026 issue (Second and third photos).

06/24/2026

Good for Irene and thank you for all the publicity, WHO! This is an important issue I recently addressed as part of my garden design and installation business in the reel below. I’m so happy that the benefits of native plants are getting more publicity and being prioritized by local cities. 

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The lawn watering ban is still in place across the Des Moines metro, but one family is doing their part to make sure they use less water while promoting native plants. Story link in comments.

06/24/2026

This is an issue I recently addressed in the reel below. I’m so happy it’s getting more publicity. Many Central Iowa cities will reimburse homeowners for installing native plants and other projects that limit stormwater runoff. Check out my website at Jennygardensiowa.com for more information about how I can help design and install these projects, or even stop by for a one-hour consult. 

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Flash flooding and water quality have been issues that have persisted in the city of Des Moines, and a city program hopes to get ahead of both -- and to give property owners cash. Story link in comments.

06/24/2026

Heading to the Des Moines Arts Festival this weekend? Check out the garden I designed and planted on the west side of 17th St. between Locust and Grand, just a couple of blocks west of the festival entrance. It is near summer peak. Worth a stop while you are downtown!

06/04/2026

It’s been fun checking some of the projects I’ve designed and planted for clients over the last couple years. This first one is in the Des Moines Beaverdale neighborhood as seen from the balcony of the client’s home. We had a fun time designing it around her fabulous birdbath. Swipe to see more.

Des Moines Waterbury neighborhood. Two neighbors collaborated to plant this strip between their driveways. I love the feel of these Taylor Junipers. The scale works so well and they echo the Mediterranean feel of the home shown here.

Downtown Des Moines, 17th Street between Locust and Grand. I designed and planted this naturalistic garden a few years ago. It’s almost fully native and brings so much wildlife into the city. It’s filling in beautifully. This picture shows the Penstemon digitalis. Many other plants are about to bloom.

Des Moines Waterbury neighborhood. This garden includes a matrix layer of Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed and Autumn Moor Grass, with many native forbs rising out of it throughout the growing season. The pop of burgundy, which echoes the stone and dark trim on the home, is provided by Little Devil Ninebark. It’s a little hard to see in the photo but a multi stem serviceberry will eventually arch over the path to the front door.

West Des Moines. These clients do a lot of entertaining and their large deck looks over this garden. I especially love the stepping stones that disappear into it.

05/04/2026

This works! I tried it last summer.