The many annuals, perennials and expansive lawn of the Margaret Penkhus Campanile Garden make this a popular location — and a perfect spot to get ideas for your own garden.
One of Roy and Bobbi Reiman's wishes for Reiman Gardens was that it have a campanile similar to the landmark structure on the ISU central campus. The purpose for a campanile at the Gardens was to link the Gardens and the Iowa State Center area with the main campus. The Reimans gave an additional $85,000 gift to the Gardens to make this possible. The Gardens' campanile is located on the east side of the Gardens, on a straight axis with the John P. Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center. The 50-foot, open steel structure is a "beacon" to visitors to Ames and Iowa State University as they enter the city on Elwood Drive.
The campanile includes a "singing carillon" which plays programmed chimes-type music. The components for the singing carillon, including a keyboard, are located in the John P. Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center.
The garden campanile will be surrounded by trees and shrubs and several thousand annual and perennial garden flowers.
Please click on the thumbnails below to view full size images.
