Kim Perez at Trellis
1/3/2024
Kim Perez is the new president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. We asked her to lunch, and she chose Trellis, the restaurant under the Garden’s dome.
Since we both prefer soups and salads during the winter months, we were in the right place. No one does either specialty better than Lisa LaValle and her kitchen.
Perez is the first leader of the gardens, formerly called the Des Moines Botanical Center (DMBC), who did not come from a horticultural background. What’s up with that?
“For the first time, the board looked at candidates from both horticultural and nonprofit backgrounds. The Gardens have become a nonprofit (entity) since the last time they looked for a director. That means that fundraising and making personal connections with the Gardens have taken on new meaning.”
Do you actually enjoy fundraising? I know lots of people in nonprofits who call it the worst part of their job.
“I love it, and it’s essential.”
What is her background?
“I am totally an Iowa girl. I grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Bettendorf High School and the University of Iowa. After that, I worked for a foster care program in Chicago and discovered what I didn’t want to do with my life. So, I got a master’s in social work thinking family therapy would be a good fit for me.
“I was vice president for a child and family services company in Chicago focusing on leadership program development and fundraising strategies. I am a career nonprofit person. I became CEO of The Cradle in Evanston before I applied for this job.”
What is at the core of her position?
“Connecting people with the DMBG mission.”
What is the mission?
“Explore, Explain and Celebrate the World of Plants. To that end, we really push our winter programs. Winter is our busiest season, in no small part because the dome provides quite a respite from the cold outside. We have a lot of winter learning programs. The idea is to inspire people who plan to plant home gardens come spring.”
There are lots of cool programs. Being a food guy, I am excited about “All About Apples” (Jan. 20) and “Mushroom Foraging” (Jan. 27).
“We also had classes in December on winter floral arrangements, holiday door swag, winter botany for birds, candle making, botanical crafts and cocoa, air plant ornaments, and wreath making. Our botanical trivia nights and Yoga in the Gardens are popular, too. The Dome After Dark is such a contrasting experience. It’s like being inside a snow globe.”
Why and how did the organization change to nonprofit status?
Originally, the DMBC was limited to what is under the dome. It was managed by Des Moines Parks and Recreation. But keeping the place at 80 degrees in the winter and 70 in the summer, as extremes, meant more technical managers were needed than what Parks and Rec. could handle. So, Des Moines Water Works took over. They had the technical acumen to manage the mechanical systems.
“A group of four extraordinary local leaders — Janice Ruan, Fred Weitz, Tom Urban and Buzz Lynn — had the imagination to envision much more than the domed greenhouse. They personally raised money and went to the city with a plan to close Robert Ray Drive and incorporate that land into a new vision that includes multiple gardens over 16 acres of adjoining space.”
Sixteen acres?
“Yes. That surprises a lot of people because it was just a domed greenhouse for so many decades. DMBG opened with 7 acres of gardens including the Robert Ray Asian Garden that we took over and opened in November 2021. There are 12 developed acres now, including nearly four acres of free public access gardens. There are 18 unique garden spaces that make up today’s botanical gardens. We have 5 more acres for expansion.”
How many different species of plants are here?
“Nearly 3,500 unique plant species and cultivars are grown and nurtured by our team of staff and volunteers. Nearly 6,000 accessions, meaning single plants or groups of plants, make up the inventory of plants that are grown here.
“Today our property line goes all the way to the University Avenue bridge. The Hiller Family Rain Garden is open now. It showcases native Iowa plants that thrive in soggy conditions. The two acres to the north of the dome compose a native Iowa area inspired by the Loess Hills. We also have a major play area for children with giant logs, stumps and willow tunnels.”
Has the DMBG recovered from the pandemic?
“We are the busiest we have ever been. Last year we welcomed 148,852 total guests, including visitors from all 50 states. That is the most in our history. One-hundred-seventy-four weddings were held here last year. Four-hundred-twenty-six volunteers worked 17,653 hours in a vast variety of roles.”
The DMBG is installing a geo-thermal heating and cooling system. That seems so germane that I wonder why it wasn’t originally done.
“I can only speculate, but geo thermal was not all that tried and true in 1977 when ground was first broken.”
My daughter installed geo-thermal when she built a house on Lake Superior. She said it paid for itself, in savings, in 10 years. Is that feasible here?
“We hope so. It costs five and a half million to install.”
Do visitors have to be members?
“No, but members get discounts on most programs. We intend to be accessible to all from novice to expert gardeners. The Robert Ray Japanese Garden is free. So is the Wells Fargo Rose Garden.”
What stands out about DMBG compared to other botanical centers?
“I don’t know of another botanical garden that is downtown. That surprises my family and friends from Chicago. Big cities have them but not downtown. That gives us a special opportunity to be part of an amazing neighborhood. With the John Pat Dorian Trail, the Lauridsen Skate Park, and the tamed river activities, we are connected to a fantastic part of Des Moines.” ♦
