AMES, Iowa -- Reiman Gardens will begin winter hours on Nov. 1. The Gardens will be open to the public from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed weekends. The Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing will be closed for the winter. Hours are effective until April 1, 2008, when Reiman Gardens will resume its seasonal, daily operations.
The facilities will continue to be available seven days a week to rent for private programming and events.
"We have created a multi-year plan that requires us to use our resources wisely," said Teresa McLaughlin, director. "Attendance patterns show that spring, summer and fall are our best months. We have few visitors in winter so it makes sense for us to conserve resources and close on weekends during that time."
The 2008 theme year for all Reiman Gardens displays, education and events will be "A Novel Garden," which interweaves both popular scenes and characters from literature into the Gardens' displays. "Moby Dick," "Peter Rabbit," "Little House in the Big Woods" and "The Color Purple," are among the novels that will be featured.
The full schedule of 2008 seasonal activities will begin with the annual Spring Fling (including the Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Brunch), followed by the Mother's and Father's Day celebrations, the CoHorts' Ice Cream Social and Dancing Under the Stars Appreciation Week, the Rose Festival, Garden Art Fair and Spirits in the Gardens. Additional special events will be held on national holidays.
Reduced winter admission of $3 for adults and $1 for children to age 17 will be offered. CoHorts and ISU students are admitted free of charge.