DES MOINES, Iowa – Warm temperatures, muggy air, and tropical plants — if you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t realize you’re in central Iowa in the middle of winter.

That’s how it feels inside the dome at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Several popular events have returned to the garden to start off 2025.

Dome After Dark has returned and will continue on Friday evenings through March 28th. This year, visitors will enjoy new lighting and the opportunity to eat dinner at Flora, the Botanical Garden’s new restaurant. Cocktails will also be available as they have been during previous Dome After Dark events.

Visitors will also notice glass sculptures around the dome. They’re part of a program called Hot Glass, which helps support at-risk youths and veterans. Most of the glass sculptures are available for purchase. When purchased, they can be donated back to the botanical garden for all to enjoy throughout the year.

Botanical Blues is also ongoing, which features live music at the dome on Sunday afternoons. That event will continue through March 30th.

For tickets to the events or for more information, you can find details on the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s website.