MUSCATINE, IOWA (May 7, 2025) — The Friends of the Japanese Garden and Friends of the Muscatine Art Center are offering a new event on Saturday, May 17, 1:30-4:30PM. “For the Love of the Garden” is the perfect afternoon escape for the entire family. Garden and flower lovers, live music fans, art enthusiasts, families with kids, and those shopping for unique gifts will all find something to appreciate at this special event. Admission to the event is free of charge, and visitors can drop in anytime that afternoon.
“For the Love of the Garden” is a new event intended to encourage the community to visit the Japanese Garden which underwent a full rehabilitation in 2023, a project that was recognized with an Iowa “Preservation at its Best” award in June 2024. The Friends of the Japanese Garden formed as a volunteer group with its first work day in April 2024. Since that time, the volunteers have contributed countless hours to the care and ongoing maintenance of the garden.
The event is also intended as a fundraiser to support the garden by providing some funds for mulch, garden tools, and replacement of plants as needed. Donations will be accepted during the event, and there will be a free-will beverage station providing coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and lemonade. Visitors to the event can enjoy music by the Mad Creek Mudcats, 2:30-4PM, in the “Prayer of Peace” courtyard. Baked goods and other refreshments offered by the Rendezvous can be purchased.
While exploring the Japanese Garden, participants will discover a few painters capturing the look and feel of the garden on canvas. Artist Kimble Bromley is the featured plein air painter. Bromley exhibited at the Muscatine Art Center in 2018 and taught art at North Dakota State University. His recent works include paintings of Claude Monet’s pond in Giverny, France, as well as paintings of his own pond. Muscatine-based artists will complete plein air paintings of their own during the Annual Ice Cream Social at the end of June.
In the studio, kids can complete several garden and flower themed projects. Instructors will guide families through the steps to create floral wreaths, tissue paper flowers, spinart flowers, and handprint flowers. Craft projects are offered free of charge and are appropriate for a wide-range of ages.
Several vendors and organization booths will be set up. Participants are encouraged to browse beautiful bird and flower paintings, items crafted from natural materials, live plants for sale, and other handmade items.
“We hope ‘For the Love of the Garden’ becomes an annual event,” explains Muscatine Art Center Director, Melanie Alexander. “It is a labor of love for the Japanese Garden volunteers to work in the garden each week, and I believe many in the community have fallen under the spell of the garden.”
Volunteers work in the garden most Thursday mornings 9:30AM-12PM, weather dependent. Anyone interested in learning more about how to get involved can contact the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
For those who care about the garden but are not able to physically contribute, there is an endowment fund for “Friends of the Japanese Garden” held at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.
The Muscatine Art Center is open Tuesday through Friday, 10AM-5PM; Thursdays 10AM-7PM; and Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5PM. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Call 563-263-8282 for up-to-date details or visit muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events.
