Gardening Garden Design Test Garden Secrets A Complete Guide to the BH&G Test Garden The Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden® includes 22 distinct areas with hundreds of plantings that bloom all summer long. Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, this gem is a quiet getaway with a winding walkway to guide you through colorful and unique plants, fountains, arbors, and more. By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 28, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email The Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden® is the best place to see the creativity and skill of our editors in real life. You can visit the Test Garden and take a stroll around when it's open to the public. Hours are Fridays from noon to 2 p.m., beginning May 20, 2022 through September 30, 2022.* Use this handy map, below, for a self-guided tour. (Groups of 10 or more may schedule guided tours during the open hours by appointment. Call 515-284-3994 to make a reservation.) *The Test Garden is closed to visitors on July 1, 2022 for the Independence Day holiday. Illustration by Gary Palmer We make it easy to see all parts of the Test Garden. Simply match the numbers on the map to the numbers listed below and discover every part of the Test Garden's beautiful landscape. The courtyardThe rose gardenThe southwest terrace gardenThe shade gardenThe fragrant pathThe conifer collectionThe clay gardenThe garden roomThe meadowThe cutting gardenThe mixed perennial gardenThe shrub walkThe mixed borderThe tool shed and storage areaThe mixed conifer and shrub gardenThe hillside gardenThe vegetable and herb gardenThe arbor and daylily gardenThe pond and cascadeThe southeast terrace gardenThe deckThe rock garden Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit