Central Gardens of North Iowa

Central Gardens of North Iowa A beautiful public garden located on 2.75 acres near downtown Clear Lake, Iowa. Free and open daily May 1 through October 31, dawn to dusk. Come and enjoy!

Meeting space available for rent year round for corporate meetings, family gatherings, and more. The Gardens close for the season beginning on November 1st and the gates re-open on May 1st. The Nature Education Pavilion on the Garden grounds will still be available for rental during the off season.

Central Gardens is honored to host the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s spring meeting. 4-H has been a longtime partner with Centra...
06/19/2026

Central Gardens is honored to host the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s spring meeting. 4-H has been a longtime partner with Central Gardens, and it is great fun to show the statewide Officers our lovely gardens.

☕ Start your Friday morning at the Central Gardens pavilion patio with complimentary coffee and light refreshments durin...
06/17/2026

☕ Start your Friday morning at the Central Gardens pavilion patio with complimentary coffee and light refreshments during our signature event, Fresh on Fridays.

☀ Relax, connect with others, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the Gardens (thanks to a lovely volunteer PEO group) as you ease into your day.

Join us at Central Gardens this Friday, 9--11 a.m.

🪏 Spend an evening with fellow volunteers at Central Gardens! 🌾Tonight the Down and Dirty crew meets to do routine garde...
06/16/2026

🪏 Spend an evening with fellow volunteers at Central Gardens! 🌾

Tonight the Down and Dirty crew meets to do routine garden chores with guidance from someone on the design team. 🌼 Children are welcome to come volunteer with adults as well. If you enjoy a bit of heavy lifting or hauling, we can find jobs for you, too!

Can't make tonight work? Stop by Central Gardens tomorrow morning (9 a.m.) to work with another Down and Dirty crew!

📆 Save the Date! Central Gardens Garden Party will be on August 29! 💐This year’s Garden Party is designed as an elegant ...
06/15/2026

📆 Save the Date! Central Gardens Garden Party will be on August 29! 💐

This year’s Garden Party is designed as an elegant summer social experience where guests can relax, connect, and celebrate the beauty of Central Gardens. Attendees will enjoy an evening of live music by Jimmy Clark and Fiddle Band, dancing under the summer sky, delicious hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and the opportunity to bid on unique silent auction items.

Set among the Gardens’ vibrant blooms and welcoming atmosphere, the event offers a memorable night out with friends while supporting the continued care, programming, and free public access that make Central Gardens a treasured community destination.

Tickets available soon!

👀 Wake up on Friday morning this week with flowers from Central Gardens! The delphiniums are blooming🪻The roses are unfo...
06/15/2026

👀 Wake up on Friday morning this week with flowers from Central Gardens!

The delphiniums are blooming🪻The roses are unfolding🌹These flowers and more could grace YOUR dinner table! Talented volunteers create stunning arrangements sold at very reasonable prices every Friday morning. Bouquets were the Fresh on Friday foundation that has blossomed to include complimentary refreshments as well as activities for kids.

Stop by this Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.!

Join us Fridays from 9–11 AM in the Bee Happy Discovery Garden for hands-on activities, garden fun, and opportunities fo...
06/09/2026

Join us Fridays from 9–11 AM in the Bee Happy Discovery Garden for hands-on activities, garden fun, and opportunities for kids to discover, learn, and grow.

Check out our June programs below, and bring the kids for a morning of exploring at Central Gardens! Thank you to our wonderful community partners!

What an exciting morning for “Fresh on Friday”! We have the “Conservation Station” and our friends from Iowa State Exte...
06/05/2026

What an exciting morning for “Fresh on Friday”! We have the “Conservation Station” and our friends from Iowa State Extension Service talking about chickens.

🌿 It's Fresh on Friday! 🌷Join us this morning at Central Gardens of North Iowa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Garden Explore...
06/05/2026

🌿 It's Fresh on Friday! 🌷

Join us this morning at Central Gardens of North Iowa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Garden Explorers and the Conservation Station, refreshments in front of the NEP, and arrangements for purchase at the workshop! It's SUMMERTIME! 😎
https://www.waterrocks.org/conservation-station

🌿 Volunteer Opportunity: Garden Explorers at Fresh on Fridays! 🌿We’re looking for a few extra helping hands in the garde...
06/04/2026

🌿 Volunteer Opportunity: Garden Explorers at Fresh on Fridays! 🌿

We’re looking for a few extra helping hands in the garden during Fresh on Fridays to support our Garden Explorers program.

Garden Explorers creates an interactive garden space where youth can explore, learn, and develop a love for nature. Volunteers help with simple but important tasks like setting up activities, keeping water buckets filled, checking supplies, helping with food for the chickens, and engaging with kids and families in the garden.

You can sign up for the dates that work best for your schedule using the link below:

Fresh on Fridays Volunteer Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080944AEA62CA02-60433680-garden #/

Address

800 2nd Avenue N, PO Box 735
Clear Lake, IA
50428

Telephone

(641) 357-0700

Website

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