Flowers are not the only things blooming at Reiman Gardens this season.Visitors to the gardens will notice new hours and construction projects.

Construction on a new conservatory will begin this summer, said Teresa McLaughlin, program manager for Reiman Gardens.

The 30,000-square-foot structure will house a tropical garden with live butterflies, greenhouses, a cafe and a gift shop, she said.

“It will turn us into a year round facility,” McLaughlin said.

The funding for the conservatory comes from private donations and fund-raising efforts, McLaughlin said.

A grant was also sent to the Vision Iowa Board requesting funding. Their response should come in a few months, she said.

When the conservatory opens in the fall of 2002, students will still be able to use the facilities for free, but the public will be charged a small admission fee to pay for the upkeep of the facilities, McLaughlin said.

This summer the gardens are still free of charge, but they have a box for donations.

“I would rather not have to pay,” said visitor Marge Sellers of Nevada. “It is just a nice place to enjoy for minutes – or hours – with no worries.”

Over 200 visitors enjoy the gardens each day, said Heather Straszheim, staff member at the gardens.

“We have programs and tours going on all the time,” she said. “Often tour buses will see signs and exit from the interstate.”

The hours have also changed for the summer, McLaughlin said.

The hours the gardens are open to the public are now 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, she said.

The hours began on May 1 and will continue until Oct. 1.

The amount of visitors has not declined with the onset of hours, McLaughlin said.

“Compared to the study done [last August] the visitorship is higher even with the hours,” she said.

McLaughlin said that there are also several programs taking place each month during the summer, as well as other activities such as tours.

All of the programs are open to the public, McLaughlin said. Certain events will have an admission charge, such as the jazz festival in July, although many will be free.

The responses for all of the changes have been positive, McLaughlin said.

The weekends are very popular for visitors, Straszheim said. Often people who work during the week come on the weekend to relax, she said.

“Most visitors that have reacted to the changes have been excited about the new butterfly wing in the conservatory,” she said. “Others are just happy to have more options opening up.”