Connecting Nature – One Lego at a Time

In the Butterfly Wing

Reiman Gardens, on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, is always a beautiful pace to visit.  Following Iowa’s seasons, there is always something new to discover.

Each year Reiman Gardens chooses a theme that carries through the gardens, educational programs, events, and even the gift shop.  The theme for 2012,”Some Assembly Required”, drew my family’s attention in a big way- with fun Lego sculptures throughout the grounds!

The Water Platters and Koi on the pond are a surprising placement

27 individual Lego sculptures are scattered both indoors and out, some pieces so seemingly delicate you wonder how they can stay together.

The larger than life Lego hummingbird hovers over a bed of tulips

My girls ran along the paths of the gardens proclaiming, “We found another Lego sculpture!”  With no true route in mind, we wandered, willy-nilly, through the myriad of gardens.  As we examined each new sculpture, Brenna, my eldest, would read the information in the brochure, telling us how many Lego pieces each sculpture took to create.  Hummingbird & Flower: 31,565.  Mother Bison: 45,143.  Calf: 16,229.

Mother Bison and Calf graze in the Stafford Garden

But the Legos aren’t just for looking at.  Take time to wander into the corn crib in the Children’s Garden and try your hand at creating sculptures.  Add on to building that has already begun, or create your own masterpiece.

Future Lego Artists?

We spent just over two hours at Reiman Gardens.  Not only was it a fun family adventure, but we snuck in some education as well.  Brenna learned to read large numbers, we talked about how each sculpture fit into the theme of “Nature Connects”, the girls asked whatever questions came to their minds and we had great discussions about everything from germinating acorns to where frogs go when it’s cold.  Because the true beauty of displays like this is that they bring your family together.

Even if you do have to visit the butterflies twice…

Delicate butterflies fill the Butterfly Wing at Reiman Gardens

Lego sculptures are on display at Reiman Gardens through October 28, 2012.  Reiman Gardens is open daily for fun, and educational, family outings. 

Family Rambling would like to thank Reiman Gardens for passes to view the Lego sculptures.