Where Des Moines' Secrets Bloom

Behind the calm that envelops Greenwood-Ashworth Park are decades of history, anecdotes, and small details that have made it one of Iowa's most special—and least known—places.

From Old Farmland to Dream Garden

In the 1920s, the city of Des Moines acquired these lands as part of a plan to expand its green spaces. What we now know as Greenwood Park was once a wild forest that served as a passage for traders and Native Americans. It was in 1930 that, with the help of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Rose Garden was created as part of a national program to beautify cities and create jobs during the Great Depression.

The idea was simple but poetic: to create a space where any citizen, rich or poor, could stroll among beautiful flowers, even if the world around them was in crisis.

A Garden That Blooms Without Asking for Anything in Return

Since then, the garden has been cared for almost like a temple. No entrance fees, no ticket booths, no large tourist signs. Just flowers, stone paths, wrought-iron benches, and pergolas covered with climbing plants. The most curious thing is that there is no artificial irrigation: the roses live only on rainwater. This makes it one of the few public rose gardens in the country with this philosophy.

Today, it houses more than 1,500 rose bushes, of over 100 different varieties, including hybrid tea roses, floribundas, grandifloras, and ancient species rarely seen in other parks. Their perfume is a symphony floating in the air during spring and summer.

A Living Ecosystem in the Heart of Des Moines

But Greenwood-Ashworth is not just flowers. The park acts as a natural refuge within the city. Centuries-old oaks, maples, wild cherry trees, and poplars shade trails that cross gentle hills. In the wooded area, it's common to see squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and even deer if you visit early in the morning.

The pond attracts blue herons, ducks, geese, and turtles that sunbathe on the banks. In spring, the gardens hum with the buzz of bees and monarch butterflies, which use the park as a stopover on their migration. It's a perfect place for birdwatching without leaving the city.

Secrets Among the Trails

Some say that if you walk the trails at dusk, you can hear music: not because there are concerts, but because the trees, the water, and the rustling leaves create a kind of natural harmony. Locals call it "the symphony of silence."

Near the pond, there is a sculpture hidden among the bushes, with no visible name or artist. According to an urban legend, it was placed by an anonymous sculptor in the 1970s who swore eternal love to his partner there. Some believe that the figure changes slightly over time, as if it ages with those who visit it.

Inspiration for Artists and Secret Weddings

Many local writers, poets, and painters have used this park as a creative refuge. It is said that the novel "The Summer Letters" (1974) by Iowa author Clara H. Darnell was inspired by real walks in Greenwood Park, where the protagonists fall in love among the roses. Today, it remains a popular place for intimate weddings, without luxury, but with real magic.