August 4, 2026

Creative Aging is the Art Center's monthly gallery program for adults 55 and older. A docent leads a collaborative discussion of one work from the collection, and guests then move to an informal social time over coffee and tea. The program's stated aims are community connection and cognitive health as much as art history.

Good to know: Free, but registration is required. Two start times are offered, 12 pm and 2 pm, each running roughly 90 minutes. Gallery seating is available.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 12:00 pm CDT, running about 90 minutes. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.

Source: Des Moines Art Center.

The Botanical Garden's herbal soap class works through the centuries-old cold-process method, combining plant-based oils with lye to produce a bar that is mild, moisturizing, and free of synthetic additives. Each participant mixes and takes home one pound of their own custom batch.

Good to know: $72 for members, $80 for nonmembers; registration required. The class sits inside Extended Summer Evenings, the Garden's late Tuesday and Friday hours, which run through the end of September.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 5:30 to 7:00 pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Flora Cafe pours a curated flight of several house-made salsas and walks participants through how each one is built, seasoned, and paired — the argument being that table salsa is the floor rather than the ceiling. Attendees leave with multiple recipes.

Good to know: $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers; registration required. Held during Extended Summer Evenings, the Garden's extended Tuesday and Friday hours.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 5:30 to 7:00 pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Dragons in the Garden is a five-day camp for students entering first through fifth grade, organized around plant-like dragons and dragon-like plants and how each adapts to deserts, mud, rain, and other environments. Campers design a dragon of their own and find a plant to match it. This is the midpoint of the August 3-7 session; a second week runs August 10-14.

Good to know: Five-day camps are $265 for members and $305 for nonmembers, and members should sign in at the top of the registration page to apply the discount. Days run 9 am to 4 pm. Registration covers the whole week, so the August 3-7 session is already under way — the August 10-14 week is the one still open to join from the start.

When: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm CDT, as part of the August 3-7 session. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Music in the Garden is the Botanical Garden's Thursday-evening outdoor concert series, staged in the walled Koehn Garden against its surrounding plantings. The August 6 date features The Crowfoot Rakes, one of the regional and local acts the series rotates through over the summer. Food and drink are available on site.

Good to know: Single-concert tickets run $7 adult, $6 senior, and $4 child for members, and $14, $13, and $11 respectively for nonmembers. Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the door.

When: Thursday, August 6, 2026, 6:00 to 9:00 pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Koehn Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

From June through September the Botanical Garden stays open late on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is no set program attached — the draw is unhurried access to the grounds in full bloom, with the paths and lawn open through golden hour rather than closing in mid-afternoon.

Good to know: Members and donors enter free; otherwise general admission applies. Runs through the end of September.

When: Friday, August 7, 2026, 10:00 am to 7:30 pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Story Sprouts is the Botanical Garden's Friday-morning story time for children roughly ages two to five, pairing a few stories with an activity on that week's theme in the gardens themselves. The August 7 theme is Let's Play Outside. Families can explore the indoor and outdoor gardens, including Nature Play, before or after the program.

Good to know: Included with general admission; members enter free. No separate registration is listed.

When: Friday, August 7, 2026, 10:30 to 11:00 am CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Part two of the Botanical Garden's introductory bonsai course, taught by members of the Iowa Bonsai Association: the history of the form, how to keep a specimen alive, and how to wire and shape it into a living sculpture. The fee covers both sessions, a starter bonsai plant, and Garden admission afterward.

Good to know: $90 for members, $100 for nonmembers — but the class is full. The Garden is collecting waitlist names for the next time it runs.

When: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm CDT. Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines.

Source: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.