The staff at the Reiman Gardens will have their hands full this summer developing a new children’s garden and improving and enlarging the other gardens.

Garden superintendent Nick Howell said the largest project of the summer will be the new children’s garden, which is the result of an anonymous $1 million donation.

Half of the donation is earmarked for the creation of the garden, and the other half is slated for maintenance, Howell said.

Howell said the new garden is intended to provide a fun environment for children, where they can learn more about gardening and agronomy.

“You get kids interested in plants, and that is something they will have for life,” he said.

Howell said the garden will feature many items and plants “from an Iowa farmstead.” He said plans include a 20-foot scarecrow, a covered bridge and a building resembling a corncrib where learning events will be held.

Howell said the garden will have many areas where children can play that carry on the farm theme. Among them is a stock tank where kids can play in the water.

In addition to the children’s garden, Howell said plans include adding more pathways, a new ornamental fence and a larger variety of plants to the rest of the gardens.

Reiman Gardens will host a lantern festival on June 27. Howell said the festival will feature Chinese lanterns and dragon dances.

In addition to festivals, the garden holds weekly brown bag lunches every Thursday at noon. Howell said people bring their own lunch and hear talks on topics related to gardening.

“There will be little events all summer long,” he said. “The best way to keep informed is to check the paper.”