Vander Veer Botanical Park Reviews

This park is simply exquisite. Geese and ducks abound in the lagoon, and there are benches galore and a wonderful spot for children to play. If you walk - which I do - it's a terrific place to put in one or two miles, all surrounded by gorgeous flowers in the summer - there's a rose garden and a botanical center, too! - pretty snow in the winter and incredibly beautiful foliage in the fall. This park is a treasure. And it's a great place for Pokémon Go! players, too!

Most beautiful botanical center around! We ended up spending most of the day there and loved the pond.

Beautifully displayed plants. The kids like the water feature the best. Relaxing atmosphere. Lots to admire. Handicapped but no obstructions.Ambke parking close to building

This is a beautiful park to walk around in. There is a small lagoon that lots of ducks hang out on. There is a beautiful fountain at one end and a gorgeous botanical center st the other end.

Although not a huge park, it is really worth visiting -- beautiful rose garden, fascinating greenhouses to visit and a very lovely walk through the trees.

I love this place! I had my wedding and pregnancy photos done at this park. The location is davenport is awesome and great for a morning run if your a local.

We went into the green houses and enjoyed seeing the blooming tropical plants and feel the warmth and humidity they bring. We were amazed at the size of some of the plants. Staff was knowledgable and we got to go back into some of the potting rooms to view plants that had been rotated out for a while. Good variety of plants for a small set up. Nicely displayed. Would like to go back in the summer to see all of the plants in the park.

Checked out this park, and was pleasantly surprised at the plantings, which were nice and diverse.... from Milkweed plants, to exotic tropical plants. Had walking, ponds, fountain, plenty of shade, etc. Nice mix of tranquility and kids programs.

a great place for a leisure stroll - or to enjoy some great flowers and plants. This is also an amazing venue for wedding and prom pictures. In May and June show up and enjoy everyone enjoying the beautiful gardens and foundations and watch the pictures and memories being made.

We went there because it was advertised online as having a "Spring Flower Show". When we arrived, the "show" was you walking the park to see what Spring flowers had popped up...really? Furthermore, even though all I did was walk through the park, I ended up with a tick attached to my body that I found the next day...fully engorged. So beware!

This park as a whole is beautiful. For a small fee you can tour the indoor portion of the botanical garden, but the outdoor gardens are absolutely beautiful. My husband and I enjoy strolling through the outdoor gardens when we walk our dog. As a local. sometimes we don't appreciate the stunning beauty as much as we should. But, the park really is gorgeous, especially when the flowers are in bloom.

I have been here many times as a kid and was struck by how much of it hasn't changed all these years later. It sits on over 33 acres in the "historic district" of Davenport. It features, amongst other things as: the first ever Botanical park of its kind west of the Mississippi. It proudly bodes this in their park. Dated 1885. I am not one to argue. It has wonderful outdoor gardens; rose garden; and a conservatory. Many exotic and native species of plants to be seen here. Plenty of handicapped parking as well. Nice place to visit when its snow or cold out! Nice place to visit if just want a nice clean park to walk or jog around. This place is very clean and tidy and they are very proud in its design and layout. The staff told me they have many people like myself, that have grown up here and keep coming back for more. In my opinion, this place is worth coming back for again and again.

This is a beautiful park with a nice conservatory. Many of the trees are very old. There is a huge purple beech and an ancient magnolia. The trees are labeled. This is a great place to see many unusual species of trees. i would like to come back in the summer to see the rose garden.

Vander Veer is very pretty. It has a large fountain, small pond, play equipment, and nice walk way. There is also extra land in the park for extra activities. I sometimes see people playing catch or frisbee with their kids. There is also a small indoor garden that you can see during certain hours for a small fee.
The only bad thing about this park is it can sometimes be overran by rude mouthy teenagers who tend to block the nice path used for cars to drive around the park. On more than one occasion they had the entire path blocked with their cars that you couldn't even drive through. Now I know I sound like an old grouch but I don't think it's to much to ask for teenagers to be respectful in public parks.

Our kids really enjoyed the fish pond. It was a nice place to stop but didn't take a lot of time to go through.

Really nice park that the kids loved running around in. Pretty tree lined avenue and fountains. There is a new playground but it isn't open yet. The ducks are very friendly.

While the botanical garden may not be the best I've seen, if you go during the right seasons, the grounds certainly enhance the experience. The extra special feature available here is the classes and exhibits set up to include children and there seems something always going on to help people learn more about gardening and appreciating flora and fauna.

This was a very pleasant summer afternoon activity. We saw many folks out enjoying the grounds. A father fishing at the duck pond with his daughter. Another feeding the ducks with feed available at the stand, couples walking, and always people enjoying the beautifully planned, maintained and placarded gardens. Our favorite places were the duck pond, the rose garden, the fountain, the grand aisle and of course the gardens. Our only disappointment was that the conservatory building was closed on Monday. Otherwise a pleasant, educational visit as we discussed possibilities for our own yard. The summer theme for visitors is Claude Monet, French Impressionist and gardener, as the tour guide with colorful placards strategically placed around the gardens.

I started going to Vander Veer eons ago, as a child. Things have changed, but have also stayed the same. The structure of the fountain. The beauty of the rose garden. And so on. Going to Vander Veer is a must when in the area.

Lush and beautiful plants filled the conservatory. Although it is not a large building, It offers a variety of plants, lots of photographic opportunities. Most plants are labeled and many have added information about the plant. We were there to see the winter display of poinsettia's. It was beautiful with reds, pinks and some blue poinsettias. We toured the greenhouse area also and saw many plants getting started for the next season. We will be back to see the spring display.

As close as you can get to "Central Park" but in the quad cities. Nice green areas, a duck pond (with a couple of geese) and a small botanical area which is open to the public. Note that the Botanical center is closed on Mondays; otherwise open Tue-Sunday from 10:00 AM.

Nice grounds although small. Standard plants but nice walking trails. Toured with Midwestern Master Gardeners.

Good trip. We arrived at approximately 4 pm and made our way towards the entrance to the gardens. The gardens were relatively big, and contained several different sections/themes throughout the park. There were several water features out for display as well, along with many colorful flowers and plants. There were also many benches alongside the plants, that provided for some nice, relaxing views of the scenery around us.

Tip: I recommend spending 30 minutes here if you truly want to see everything.

It isnt a very big building but there is alot of flowers packed into a small area a waterfall/ fountain and best of all free!

This is something we did while visiting Iowa. Liked how they decorated for the holidays. Went in daytime so didn’t get to enjoy the lights as much. I can only imagine this place is beautiful in the warmer weather. There’s a playground and a pond you can walk around. And it’s all free!!!

We visited here after needing a break from the heavy traffic on I 80. The 33 acre place of tranquility is at the north end of Davenport with plenty of free parking. We walked the rose garden and into the conservatory before sitting at the pond edge watching all the geese swim around the fountains. Very peaceful.

I didn't know what to expect when I went to Davenport, as I have never been there before. I was completely surprised by this park in particular; It was absolutely beautiful! As you can see from the photos, I arrived at the perfect time of year to see the autumn foliage. It isn't huge, but was just the right size for a stroll on a nice cool day such as when I went. There is a path that circles the entire park with an abundant supply for parking. There are a number of activities at the park for any type of person or group, e.g., there are playgrounds for families, there are paths for the walkers, plenty of photo ops for the budding photographer, activities and items of interest for the flower/plant enthusiast and the list goes on. If you're in Davenport, you'll definitely have to check out this park! It's centrally located and easy to get to.

This was our first time to Davenport and we needed a nice place for wedding photos. We had passed the park on the way to our hotel and thought it would be a nice setting, even though it was early March and flowers and grasses had not yet bloomed. To our surprise, the greenhouse part of the park was open and full of beautiful, blooming flowers and created the wonderful backdrop that we needed. Very nice and recommended!

Great scenery with playgrounds and ducks. Check out the small conservatory if you like plants. Was there for a family picture shoot. Many backgrounds to choose from.

Wonderful way to spend some time in Davenport. The park is absolutely beautiful with well maintained flower beds, lovely trees, fountains, pathways, benches, and large grassy areas. Small gift shop with some interesting things that I bought for my granddaughter. There is a fee for the enclosed botanical conservatory, but the rest of the park is free.

Stopped in last week to take advantage of their half off plant sale and I was blown away! The flowers are stunning, the best I have seen there. The newer handicapped garden is awesome! We forget this little gem is in our backyard!

We lived a couple blocks from this park and I had wonderful memories off it, was very pleased to see the park was well kept up over the years

Vander Veer is a true gem in Davenport - especially when the weather is inclement. This place is our Saturday getaway all through the winter months - it is warm, humid, and cheery, and the flowers and other plantings are beautiful and well-maintained. Admission is only one dollar, and you can get a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for a pittance.

Well worth a stop while in Davenport.

This is a very small, but lovely park. There's a great rose garden with signage! Indoors are lots of plants from all over. The park itself, has a great tree-lined walkway to the fountain where you can sit and relax while watching the fountain go through it's many iterations. We liked this park.

Good place to walk, get some fresh air and enjoy an afternoon. Feed some ducks and so many flowers. Very calming and peaceful. Also, a great place if your into Pokémon.

This was an oasis on a gloomy and rainy day! Free admission, but there is a place for donations. The rose gardens were still beautiful in early October! Lots of variety of plants to see. Did not explore the outdoor park with the duck pond, picnic areas and walking paths. Would love to come back!

I spent a lot of time here when I lived in Davenport, IA. This is not a big park but the conservatory has regular shows and I enjoyed taking photos here. They used to have an educational director but eliminated that position and several programs connected with the park were also eliminated. Small but great place to enjoy Spring before it arrives in the midwest.

This was 'the place' our childhood go to spot for visiting the lake, feeding the ducks, sitting on the benches on a sunny afternoon. Back in the old days, they had water for the kids to play in. Now it is a botanical garden and is just beautiful. We saw several different wedding parties having pictures taken near the lake, near the garden and at the entrance to the walkway. What lucky brides & grooms to be able to share that memory some day with their kids. It's nice to see nature is still preserved more than fourty years later to share with grandkids of our own. Thanks!

A city the size of Davenport, is fortunate to have such a wonderful botanical park. The park is laid out beautifully. It has mature trees, some over 100 years old. The flower beds are very nice and some are true art forms in how they are laid out. There is a at least one awesome fountain that is computerized and constantly changing the water flow. There is a lake with ducks. The park is on a major street, making it both easy to find and convenient.

Wonderful flowers and plants. Also rose garden.. Loved it. Good parking area. Very easy to walk with a cane.

A great place for family fun. The Botanical center changes there flowers with the seasons and it always well maintained. Also a great place to clear one's head and get away from the rat race right in the heart of the city. Couples and singles also love this place

The long tree-covered walkway between the 2 fountains was very relaxing on a hot humid day. It was worth the visit just for that.

What a pleasant experience! Beautiful gardens, absolutely free. You have the option to donate, but it is not required. The gardens are well maintained. Each flower is marked as to the name and the variety. Highly recommend for a peaceful walk.

Conservatory displays throughout the year, especially beautiful at Christmas. Wonderful outdoor gardens spring through fall, take time to visit if given the chance.

This attraction is a favorite for locals to take pictures for school dances. I personally took my junior prom pictures there and they turned out wonderful. I would also highly recommend this venue for a fun and relaxing day out with the family. There is also a pond located directly next to it where children can watch and feed the ducks.

A very small but interesting and inexpensive way to spend an hour or so. Christmas Pointsetta and a scavenger hunt for the kids now at Christmas. A charming and quiet place to take calmer children to learn about the plants on display. The park itself has a lovely walk and a place for the children to play if it is not too cold. I also like to walk the sidewalk in the snow The main walkway in the park is covered by trees on both sides and is particularly nice at twilight.

This is a nice green area between the one way streets, I think it is Brady and Harrison. It is near the campus of St Ambrose and Assumption, and is very popular with students and others for running and walking. There are very pretty flowers in bloom right now, Monday the Roses were very pretty. There is a nice pond with ducks and geese and it is even stocked for fishing. This is a very nice part of town to have all this. It is about two blocks by three blocks of beautiful flowers and a nice visitors center with the much used lake.

This is a good place to visit when in Davenport. Kind of relaxing to walk through the different gardens, which change each season. There is also a walking path, nearly a mile long, so you can combine a good walk with your visit. There are different sections of the park with plants that thrive in different climates. If it is warm, you might want to visit in the morning.

What a beautiful piece of paradise in this quiet neighborhood in Davenport. While the Spring foliage has not yet totally bloomed there were some hyacinths and daffodils in bloom around the park, the ducks were swimming in the pond, a turtle had crawled out of the pond and was sunny along the pong, children were enjoying the swings and the walk around the park was refreshing. For $1.00 I went into the conservatory and enjoyed the beautiful Spring flowers on display. The sound of the water from the little water wheel inside was relaxing and inviting to a few of the little children who were inside to put their hands in. A fun place to go and enjoy.

i love going to this place my 10 and 11 year old sisters love the garden also i cant remember this park not being there my whole life and i am around 30

One of the must see parks at night during summer and Christmas. The park is huge and great for running outdoors

Well-loved park with a botanical conservatory, pond, large fountain, rose gardens and lots of green space.

Vande Veer Park is a lovely area with a paved walking lane, lined with old fashioned park benches, leading up to a large fountain that shoots water high into the air. At night, the fountain features colored lighting. It runs every day except during the winter months. There is also a pretty lagoon with ducks/ducklings that has its own water fountains. It is encircled by a concrete walk way, with park benches, so you can easily walk around the lagoon or sit and enjoy the view. The park has lovely flowers all through the propert and also features a very nice rose garden. When the rose carden is in bloom, it's absolutely beautiful; many outdoor weddings are held there as it has a concrete 'aisle' and a pretty back drop. There is also a hosta glen to be enjoyed that is just east of the rose garden. There are two parking areas and a small playground.

The foresight of city leaders to set aside 33 acres of land for this in 1885 is amazing. The conservatory is well done, but modest. The rest of the park is outstanding, especially the long Grand Allee with its many benches. The park is well maintain and easily assessable for those with mobility issues. Parking is more than adequate.

We always enjoy the Vander Veer Botanical Park each time we are in Davenport. This year they offered a Clue seek and find who done it in the park that was so much fun for the whole family. They did a great job and I would recommend it. Even if you don't have small children the park and Botanical center is just beautiful!

We enjoyed seeing the black squirrels and bright autumn colors and beautiful fountains. The greenhouses were filled with bright mums, orchids, topiaries.

A beautiful, peaceful park full of interesting flowers, plants, trees and wildlife.

We spent a good hour or so just walking around and photographing nature. If you’re a nature lover, it’s a perfect place to spend an hour or two. The botanical park is full of cardinals and other birds, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks, geese and more.

The park also includes a nice little pond, from which you can fish, that features many ducks and geese.

Overall, just a beautiful slice of Iowa.

-The Power Trippers

beautiful although the roses were a bit wilty as the sun has been brutal on all flowers as of late. Very high temps. but gorgeous garden just the same. Davenports own little Central Park.

It is a magical place nestled right in the middle of Davenport. It's always a special place to go. Whether it is to enjoy the scenery or to take a tour of the gardens inside and outside. We LOVE it

today we went to the park with our granddaughter. we go 2x a week. one of the workers in the park., a young guy ,blond hair told us not to fed the ducks. every one else there was feeding them but he didnt day anything to anyone else, the guy was rude with a attitude about the ducks and water. we feed them cracked corn 2 x a week. we walk round, look at flower and play on swings with grandaughter. today really ruined this for us. if you dont want anyone to feed them, take the sign down that tells you what to feed them. Rhonda Puckett

Great park to walk around! There is a waterfall, play area, oversized chairs, arbor area, pond with ducks to feed, and have different themes each year to find different things. This year was Jungle book which we found to be hard, but still had fun!

This is especially beautiful now. We went on Saturday and they were having outdoor yoga on the great lawn. There are many water features as well as a rose garden, hosta garden and conservatory. It's free too.

Beautiful plants and little gift shop inside with lovely outdoor plants and fountains and small lake nearby.

This place is well maintained and just downright cool. The staff is always pleasant and there is a great educational component. I just wish it was larger. It is a very quick trip and well worth the few minutes you'll spend there.

This park is awesome! What a great place to go and walk around in. The gardens are good too. Grab a coffee and walk around! :)

This park is great for a casual stroll among the flowers, feeding ducks, and letting the kids run free. There is a large playground area for the kids and also a beautiful rose garden area which has a huge variety to admire.

Was driving up Brady Street to my hotel and happened across this gem. Arrived after the conservatory closed, so wen back the next day. A fantastic variety of plants. Well groomed park with many walkways, ducks to feed, collections of garden and landscaping plants. Very beautiful and relaxing. I highly recommend a stop if you need to relax and de-stress.

This was a great little spot. We visited in February and while it was winter, the indoor area was kept very nice. In spring, the whole park is in bloom. Definitely worth a stop, if anything to stretch your legs and look at nature.

My son's wedding photos and my youngest daughter's graduation photos were taken here. Excellent location for both and in 2 different seasons!

Beautiful small conservatory in a lovely city park. The Grand Allee and duck/geese pond are lovely for strolling. Hosta Glade has a large collection of unusual hostas and companion plants. The Conservatory is now free. It is a perfect place to visit when you need a breath of spring during the cold Midwest winters or a quiet oasis. The fountain on the south end of the Grand Allee puts on a colorful light display at dusk. The enabling garden brings plant to all populations. This park has something for everyone. It even is a popular Pokeymon location.

The Vander Veer Park and Conservatory is a National Botanical Garden with a Hosta Garden, Rose Garden and Rare Conifer collection. The Conservatory changes seasonally with creative displays of tropical and seasonal flowers. Beautiful creative displays are everywhere.

We enjoy exploring the area we lived in for a while. This park is a great option, it's got a conservatory, a pond, a playground for kids and a peaceful atmosphere. We enjoyed playing with our son and strolling him around. there is no entry fee and there is free street parking.

We love this park. The gardens are so lovely every time of year, with plenty of meandering paths and places to sit. Up the hill is a huge fountain. There is a pond with ducks and a playground. The Center/greenhouse is a wonderful visit but does cost to get in. So that part would be good for a rainy day. Restrooms are accessible to the public.

This place is just beautiful. They do good upkeep on their plants and flowers. Not expensive at all to go enjoy a beautiful scene.

We were here on a really hot day, so we probably did not spend as much time here as we would have if say, it was only 80 degrees. Beautifully planned and cared for botanical garden, pretty fish pond! Small gift shop,too!

Very beautiful park tucked between two busy streets. We were only able to enjoythe park, but it's a very well maintained space.

This park is lovely and has it all. The conservatory has regular seasonal displays. The current motif was in honor of Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". The working greenhouses are fun to wander through and check out what's coming to the next conservatory display. Admission $1.00, free on Tuesdays. Exit through the gift shop, of course. The lagoon with ducks attracted a crowd with an organized story time for kids.

The Friends of Vander Veer get credit for a massive renovation of the park along its 1880's origins. Their volunteers were busily deadheading the roses in the formal garden. The newer Grand Allee is now nicely shaded by a canopy of tree branches. At the south end is the Stone Fountain with changing water displays, nicely lighted at night.

The perimeter sidewalk attracts walkers. The lagoon is groomed for wintertime ice skating. It really is a lovely park.

Lovely park for a little wedding. The greenhouse is beautiful outside and in. Great place to walk your dogs in the city.

Beautiful park, map of many species tree 80+ in the conservatory, nice playground, fountain in the summer, 1-mile around, beautiful hosts and rose garden. Great field for flying kites, playing catch. Love it.

Nice place to walk, run, kid areas, botanical garden, pretty fountain, but they have removed the fun sprinkler kid park and replaced it with a look at only fountain, sometimes improvements aren't as fun.

Nice peaceful park. Loved the pond with the fountain. Nice leisurely walking paths. Very relaxing. Nice place to sit and enjoy nature or just read a book.

This is a nice place to spend some free time, wander and relax! The entrance fee is so low! It is not a huge place. The restrooms were very stinky last time we went!

An oasis in Davenport. It is the heart of the city and great to see the community taking advantage of all that the park has to offer

Beautiful local botanical garden . Great little place to take pics with family or loved ones plus of course the variety of plants and flowers . Best times to go are in the Spring to Fall seasons when you can also enjoy the park around it .

I went there on vacation last August and I like that fountain and that they had and when it goes up and down and the scenery there and all the different flowers.

The fountains, trees, flowers were beautiful. Duck pond, playground for the kids, and some nice water features. The "scavenger hunt" for the kids was a nice touch. Beautiful park to spend some time stretching your legs or just relaxing!

This a nice place to go and look at all the different types of plants and flowers been here several times on field trip with my kids and love it every time.

We visited family in the area around the Christmas holidays, as confined our visit to the conservatory and greenhouses. While it was the dead of winter, the greenhouse was a well-tended and interesting display of plants and flowers. It was so refreshing to come in from the ice and snow to this greenery and color. Visitors can tour the displays as well as the working greenhouses.

There is also small gift shop and restrooms on the premises.

You can imagine that the park is a wonderful place when the weather warms. It may be enjoyable in winter, too, but I've never been one to be out in the cold for very long. I'd love to see this place when it comes into its leafed-out and flowering glory, complete with fountains.

Modest suggested fee for the conservatory/greenhouse, but free on Tuesdays, I think. No fee for the park and outdoor gardens. The conservatory/greenhouse probably takes less than an hour to tour, but how long you stay in the park is up to you.

The monopoly around the park is great this year there is always a summer fun thing to do. The kids would enjoy the park and feeding the ducks. Classically pictures are taken by the beautiful hundred-year-old fountain and by the bridge to nowhere. For an enjoyable park afternoon have a picnic here and play some frisbee. Enjoy the pond. If you come in winter remember to go into the building and search for snowflakes. There is also an access road that allows you to drive through the park for a lovely beginning of a date.

Thought it was a great place to take a natural slow walk in nature. Not a lot of flowers bloomed yet, but enjoyed the few that were.
A nice playground there for the kids, pond to sit by and relax, and you definitely can get your walk exercise in.

The conservatory is a nice little escape from the winter weather. The staff was very friendly, and we were free to wonder around even to the back greenhouses. Doesn’t take long to walk through but we enjoyed it.

A delightful "walk in the park" for an inner city attraction. Nice layout and lovely trees and botanical specimens. Definitely worth seeing!

Wonderful greenhouse, beautiful rose garden and my favorite the duck pound. Easy walking paths, stroller or wheelchair friendly.

Went there for an hour or so. It was a rather small place, had a conservatory, a pond, a field and a playground. The conservatory was $1 for entry, and it wasn't really that nice (like a flower shop), but it had quite a number of different plants. Not particularly interesting if you're not into plants. But the view outside during sunset was amazing (and it snowed the day before so everything was covered in abour 3 inches of snow). Overall its a great place to just drop by and catch a few pictures.

thought it would be more extensive, but it's really just a small park -- not much signage discussing the plants/trees, etc. there is a small lake and fountain -- it's pleasant, but not what you would call a "botanical" park.

Totally awesome park! Wish it were in my backyard. It is set up so cute. It has several different sections to go through, including: a vary realm, a gnome garden, a mermaid island to see. It even has dragon garden! Your children will love this place!

Do stop for the beautifully maintained grounds and lovely new stone fountain with floral sundial. The walk won't take long, though, so include Main Street and Harrison on your stroll where there are lovely older homes.

Peaceful, lovely gardens and fountains, lake with lots of ducks/ducklings, benches for relaxation, paved walkways for strolling /walking, playground for youngsters - and a lovely botanical center with beautiful plants and a fun kaleidoscope (free entrance - donation appreciated) - makes for an enjoyable time.

Most of the park was closed of due to a wedding. Wish that was posted online. I would of scheduled my visit accordingly. Wasn't to much to see. There was a lot produce growing the the different gardens. Not sure what that was all about.

Very nice park to walk around and enjoy the trees and flowers, places to sit, clean and well kept up, places for kids to play

We stopped here on a road trip for fresh air and to stretch our legs. Was bigger and prettier than expected. Nice walks, pretty displays and beautiful ride gardens. Glad we stopped!

This place is small and quaint. We loved our visit. It was only $2.00 entrance fee. It was a lot of fun going through all the greenhouses in the back and exploring all the plants. So many neat plants to see and everything is labeled so you know what you are looking at. The turtles living in the back under the Gigantic leaves are fun. This place is not new or modern. It has lots of antique, old fashioned charm.

Great area for pictures and does have a fountain that changes colors in the summertime.

A beautiful park with stunning displays. The rose garden and the hosta glade were particularly impressive. The grand allee was beautiful to stroll to the fountain and it’s clear that the people who take care of the park are very knowledgeable and careful in their work.

A little coffee hut would be a fabulous addition please.

They have decorated for Christmas, was very pretty . Was nothing over the top but was worth checking out.

When snow covers the ground, the Botanical Park brings back summer. From the time I was a toddler -- many many years ago -- my family went there. It's a beautiful amazing place -- worth going back to over and over again.

This is a great little secret in Vander Veer Park! We loved walking through and seeing all the tropical plants, and for only $1, what more could you ask for!

This botanical greenhouse is not large, but is well-kept, and and to get around. The greenhouse is not large, but is interesting in its own way. There is some parking just off the street, but a larger parking lot in back.

A beautiful place to view the poinsettias after Christmas. Lovely, peaceful conservatory in Vander Veer park. It is free. The lights in the park are lovely at night but the conservatory closes in the afternoon. The pond is home to many ducks and geese when it is not frozen.

Vander Veer is old, very old, but that works to its advantage. I love taking my kids here because they are able to see another side of the modern-day Davenport they have grown up in. History (the history of the building, the botanical society, and/or the plantings within) oozes from this place and it gives me a sense of there being more to life than work and groceries... We've taken numerous family photos inside, the kids (when they were itty ones) loved crouching down & finding all the hidden statues, features, blooms that were only on their level. I've used the classes for my girl scout troops and the girls (now young adults) still talk about it!

Wonderful place to visit. Was married there and we just love to come back each year to walk the park.

Visited this beautiful park and went into the conservatory and greenhouse where there is always a gorgeous display of assorted flowers. its not huge and its free to the public tho they take donations so it's well worth it if you enjoy flowers. especially nice is the Rose Garden, all identified, marked and smelling wonderful which is worth the visit alone. The hosta display is also interesting. The park itself is spread out with a couple fountains, benches but walkable and we noticed many people playing a game on their phones that the park endorses. it is very well kept other than the duck droppings but we had a nice visit overall

We love bringing the kids here it's edgucational fun to see the new things growing. And they have some work shops to learn how to grow certain plants and take care of them and they also have building shops to build things like bird feeders, or terrariums.

We happened across the gardens and was pleasantly surprised by what we found. The fountains and walking paths were great. I can see why families would enjoy this park and it wide open areas. The histamine garden is very nice. The gardens also do a great job of identifying the different plants and trees. A great low cost place yo visit.

The botanical garden is small with a nice variety of plants and trees. The entire park is quite wonderful. There's a duck pond with many ducks, fountains, a playground and acres to just walk and enjoy.

We visited on a Monday, but the Conservatory is only only Tuesday-Sunday. Despite this, we enjoyed walking around the park and admiring all the beautiful gardens and flowers. They had a children's activity with a pirate treasure map where kids get to decode a message. We were here in early July, and I am not sure how long this activity goes on.
There was a nice duck pond, and it is very relaxing to sit on the benches by the pond and enjoy the view.
This park is good for people of all ages.

The conservatory is a peaceful refuge from the winter weather. The earthy smell of plants and vegetation is refreshing and renewing. A great, free place to bring visitors to the area. You can buy plants for $3 near the entrance. The selection changes daily. There is also a huge plant sale in the spring. We visited while the poinsettias were still on display. Afterwards, the poinsettias are given away during one weekend during the winter. You can walk around the greenhouse in the back. You can also walk around the pond or walk the path to the fountain. If the weather is permitting. Go and visit!

The outdoor areas of this park are absolutely beautiful! The trail through the trees and the fountain are not to be missed. I did find the indoor section quite disappointing and feel that it could use some renovating to match the majestic quality of the outdoor areas.

For someone who doesn't have a green thumb, I can really appreciate the time, care, and expertise that contiuously goes into keeping the Vander Veer Botanical Rose Garden Area the showplace that it is!
This is a wonderful park to take a stroll or do your daily exercise walking.
The duck pond has always been a favorite of mine and my children and I look forward to taking my granddaughter there this summer to feed the ducks!
Lucky :)

No matter what time of year you visit Vander Veer always has a beautiful display of flowers. The 33 acre botanical garden was established in 1885 and was modeled after New York City's Central Park. It includes an indoor Conservatory and greenhouses, Rose Garden, Grand Allee, playground, skating pond in the winter and a summer concert series. Holidays bring special displays such as the "Poinsettia and Lights" display in the Conservatory which this year also featured The Elf on the Shelf theme. My favorite part is wandering through the greenhouses where plants for the gardens of Vander Veer and other city owned property are being grown. There is no admission although donations are welcome.

Picturesque and well-maintained. The Friends of Vander Veer maintain the stunning landscape; be sure to actually stop and smell the roses in the Rose Garden. No matter the time of year for your visit, you'll see lots of locals using the park perimeter for walking and running. The tree-lined walkway, fountain, Greek columns, and mini-bridge are popular photography stops. Plenty of parking in the Central Park lot or along the interior roads.

Very nice park with Botanical center. Lots of unique plants. Ice skating in the winter on the pond. Ducks and geese during the warm months.

Clean, loved the fountain...kids loved the playground .....great quiet place too study...Clean bathrooms and outs nice to be able too feed the ducks...

Wonderful little gem of a greenhouse. Fascinating variety of flora. On a cool day, it's warm and gives you some greenery to luxuriate in - the hope of spring and summer.

I love going to Vander Veer Park in the middle of winter. It has a lovely view both inside and outside of the conservatory. Inside you can see and smell spring flowers and outside the frozen pond, the snow covered trees are beautiful. If you go in the summer, it's great to take a picnic, take a walk around the pond, watch the kids play on the playground equipment and view the beautiful rose garden. It's a great place to visit any season because the landscaping is well kept. It's a great place for photography. I had my son's graduation pictures and my daughter's wedding pictures taken there.

What I liked about it is the fountain and that they had and which is called Stone Fountain and I like some of the flowers and that they had too.

What a nice place to takeour family. It was decorated so pretty with all the flowers. They change it with each season or holiday. Always warm in the winter.

Just a beautiful place to take a nice leisurely walk or if you are into jogging this is a great place to do that as well. The park is so pristine, there has been a number of marriages performed there as well. Just a nice place to relax and enjoy the flowers, birds and nature in its finest.

This has become "our" park as we always have to stop here whenever we visit the Quad Cities. - so nice to just sit under the trees and watch the ducks in the pond, take a little walk through the beautiful rose garden, explore the very interesting botanical garden w/ so many different exotic plants, and then enjoy the flower beds and pretty fountain on the other side of the park. Try spending time in this really relaxing park.

I’ve been going here since I was a little child with my Grandparents. My children loved going here, especially at Christmas. Wonderful memories to create with your family.

This Tuesday I took my kids to Vander Veer and started with Davenport Library book time at 11, then we played on the play equipment and ended our day with a walk around the park and through the conservatory. It's was beautiful. There were so many fun things to do that we didn't have time for but we will be back next week.

This was the first summertime visit to the Quad Cities for my wife & me, after more than a half-dozen winter stays for minor pro hockey. Lots to see & do in the warmer months, but the City of Davenport's Vander Veer Botanical Park was the highlight of our long weekend. We liked it so much, in fact, that we drove to it twice in one day.

Our initial visit was on a Sunday afternoon. We parked on the north lot off West Central Park Ave. and started our stroll of the grounds by feeding the ducks corn from the dispenser by the lagoon. Next we visited the beautiful Conservatory, admired the plantings in the adjacent Enabling Garden, and enjoyed the many colors & fragrances in the Municipal Rose Garden. From there we lingered in the cool Hosta Glade, before walking down the shaded Grand Allée to access the Old World Gardens and its Stone Fountain with the dancing waters. We finished our circuit with a walk along the very green east side of the Park, and returned to the lagoon for a final look at the ducks being fed by other visitors.

We returned to the Park right after sunset that night, to see the amazing light show at the Stone Fountain on the south central edge of the property. This was a great way to end our Sunday evening, and we highly recommend that other visitors plan their itinerary to witness this unique fountain display while you are in Davenport.

This is a beautiful park with many lovely areas for a picnic or to just relax. Very nice and wide paved walking/jogging trails, lots of benches to rest and enjoy the scenery, and themed garden areas and a greenhouse. It would be a great area for a family afternoon, for the little ones to run around and even a game or two with friends. I would highly recommend a visit no matter your age.

It's a pretty simple place. Very pretty. Has a water fountain, plenty of benches, kids playground and space for activities. Pretty flowers we saw a lot of people taking professional pictures by. Didn't get to check out the green house though.

Nice little gem in middle of town. Nice circular walking path with old homes surrounding. Great back in time feel. Greenhouse small but nicely presented. Has annual plant sale. Parking somewhat limited. Used constantly by locals.

You can find an enjoyable walk near the central downtown Davenport area herein the Vander. Don't skip the botanical gardens. The back squirrel is for real. The mallards and Canadian geese are well feed, however they should avoid bread. A good walk about.

This park is family oriented and has a nice playground, pond and botanical events center. It's a beautiful park with plenty of room, places for a grassy picnic, fountains and paved pathway for runners and walkers. The grandkids enjoy the playground, though it could use a few more swings for little kids.

They have a good amount of plants. It's nice going through the rose garden and by the fountain. In the summer it is a great place to tan or just lay around and chill out

It's a nice park with good paths to wander about on, but it is rather small and has lots of lawns. The fountain on the south end is rather unimpressive. There's a decent pond and a little footbridge, but other than that, not really interesting.

This park and conservatory is an interesting place year round and provides some interesting botanical exhibits. Regardless of the season, there is almost always a flowering plant. The place is great for weddings and receptions, and the staff is easy to work with!

Vanderveer Park is walking distance from our home so we go there regularly. It has gone through many changes & improvements over the years which have brought it back to its original historic glory. This is truly a lovely park from the rose garden with gazebo, indoor conservatory, fountain with dancing colored lights to the grand allee, hosta garden, children's playground, lagoon that freezes for skating in the winter, & beautiful green open spaces. We love this park!

You can sit around the lagoon on one of the benches for hours and watch the ducks. You can feed them, b ut only corn meal or oatmeal... NO bread should be given to them. It makes them blaot up and get sick. These are mothers nature wild mallard ducks. male, female and ducklings. If you are into plants and flowers, there is a botanical display of a wide variety of flowers and plants. Take the tour. The Park is very easy to get to and out of. Right in Davenport, Iowa. US61. While this close, take a run on down to the River Front. (Mississippi River).

My husband and I love this place. We enjoy the park with its flower gardens and beautiful landscaping, the runners and walkers that wind through and around the park, the setting that is ideal for family functions, and above all the beauty and peace this green space provides in the middle of Davenport.

Free admission but takes goodwill donation. Definitely contribute because these gardens The indoor display area is small but very well done, most plants are in pots so they can easily be changed with the seasons. They have several large green houses where they grow their own plants and it appears they have a plant sale during the season. The outdoor gardens and park area are beautiful, well maintained. Absolutely beautiful place to spend a summer afternoon - pack a picnic and enjoy the outdoors! I'm a big fan of hostas and they have plenty of beautiful plants to view. There is also a rose garden but unfortunately most had already bloomed..

Surround yourself with beauty. The place is small but jam packed with pretty plants and charm. Try it for yourself, it's old world charm that's hard to find these days.

The Spring weather was perfect to enjoy the tulips in bloom.
I loves seeing the hanging plants that looked liked monkeys swinging down to greet me ! We took a nice leisurely stroll to the grand fountain that had a variation of flow, very relaxing and beautiful. Make sure to find the bronze cast statue of the man sitting on the park bench and take a little rest next to him ! The scents of the blooms were wonderful and it was a nice visit, There is no charge but donations accepted.

We love the scenery as we walk around for the exercise. The park is beautiful. They have an indoor botanical garden which is beautiful. They also have an area where you can feed the ducks and sit and relax.

This is a rather small area but it really stands out in this city. The park itself is quite beautiful, but the botanical aspect is charming. Explore all the areas and you will find some hidden surprises!

This is such an asset for Vander Veer Park. It is a beautiful place. My daughter had some of her wedding pics taken there.

I love this place. The rose garden is beautiful when in bloom, I got married there a few years back. The pond is nice and the whole park makes for great pictures. My family also has a bench there in honor of my great grandmother. My great aunt DeEtta helped make that park what it is today.

The lady working the front desk was super nice and very interactive with my children. They loved looking around the gardens at all the beautiful flowers and even playing the little CLUE game they gave the kids at the start of the garden. Beautiful place, great day trip for the kids!

What's not to like? This place is beautiful, and you've got plenty of walking to do there whether you're taking a mid-day stroll, on a romantic outing, or just want to watch the ducks do their thing.

Vander Veer Botanical Park is a Davenport treasure that is free to visit & fun to explore. It's a great public place to wander & linger no matter what time of year. Their Conservatory always has a surprise (or two or more) inside & out; for the latest visit by my wife & me, it was a collection of whimsical topiary animals scattered around the interior spaces. The botanical collections throughout the park are maintained & attractive - with the Municipal Rose Garden & the Hosta Glade being our favorites - while the green spaces & the Lagoon & the central tree-lined Grand Allee are great places to stroll and relax and enjoy the outdoors. The addition of a modern playground has made the park even more "kid friendly" than before, and the fountain at the south end of the grounds is a special treat for all ages at night (May through October) when it features a colorful light show.

An extremely pretty medium-sized park of great age - Davenport's original Central Park renamed in 1925. A large number of big shade trees, including the largest black alder in the USA and a wonderful long avenue of deep luxurious shade. The stone fountain and the lagoon are excellent water features.

Nice clean Park. The Ducks ate food out of our hands. So cool. They never did that when I was a kid!

The park had a very nice look. Really nice landscaping and real inviting. Next time we visit we'll make sure it's when the weather is a little nicer out.

We were too late, but may be able to try again next year. They have many old standard, floribunda and grandiflora roses that are very hard to find. Should be quite a show in June.

This is a wonderful urban park, lots of trees, flowers and ducks. Plenty of places to walk. A nice oasis.

Their partnership with the city is awesome. One year their theme was Candyland and my kids and I enjoyed finding the game pieces in the park as part of their scavenger hunt.

I took my mother (in a wheelchair) for a stroll through the gardens and park. We enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and beautiful plantings. The fountains in the lagoon and the limestone fountain added to the peacefulness with the sound of splashing water. The hosta plantings are impressive, with many varieties, many labeled by name. The shaded walk up through the central , oak-lined part of the gardens was pleasant on a hot day, with bright orange New Guinea impatiens adding color. A couple of young boys were stalking turtles in the lagoon, and they managed to catch (and release) a painted turtle while we were there. They weren't as successful in catching a soft-shelled turtle resting at the edge of the water. The conservatory was closed due to the July 4 holiday, but we'll go back another time to check it out. Wheelchair accessibility was a bit challenging, but we managed.

This is a really lovely park and is always changing. Wonderful inspiration for gardeners.

This place is awesome beautiful flowers love the pond.we did visit in winter. The green house was very interesting to learn the name of the plants

The conservatory was very special, amazing plants. The duck pond is nice also. You can purchase corn to feed them. I recommend driving around the entire park also as there are several little plant displays and a troll by a little stone bridge.

This was a place we thought we might wait until we visit in spring, but we went anyway. The conservatory was decorated for Christmas and had every type of poinsettias imaginable. Can't wait until spring when we can see more of the park.

Variety of beautiful flowers. Well maintained and very family friendly. Waterfall is relaxing. palenty of benches to sit and relax.

Weather is bad go to the conservatory and read. I’ve been going all my life, the flower shows change. Plant sails are wonderful.
We were the first to be married there amoung thousands of flowers and candles.
It’s my quiet place to smell and dream

I live very close to this park. They are working on restoring the park to it's original design. Many large trees, and beautiful lighted fountain in the summer. The conservatory, while small, has great displays throughout the year.

VanderVeer Park is a true gem tucked right in the middle of Davenport. The variety of mature, lovely trees scattered throughout the park provide both shade and lots to admire with their sheer size. Pick up a map in the conservatory to find all the different species.
This park has so much to offer everyone: a children's garden with sculptures, a lovely hosta glade, a magnificent rose garden, a special garden for those with special needs, a nice playground, fun duck pond which you can iceskate on in the winter, a restored lighted fountain just at the end of the Grand All'ee, a wonderful conservatory with Fall mum display and delightful winter poinsettia display. Don't miss the December magical evening when a high school string ensemble plays, the twinkle lights are lit, snow might be flying outside but the poinsettia display and music will warm your heart during the holidays.
This park is joyful. Take a moment out of your busy life to really experience it during every season.

The park is well taken care of with the lagoon, fountain and many areas to visit in the park. My only complaint is people who let their kids or think its okay themselves to wade in the fountain. It says keep out, people break bottles in it and then people wade around in it. It is not something to cool off in - if you are hot, go down the street to the swimming pool. If you need a bath, go home and handle that in the privacy of your living quarters.

It is so nice to stroll through the park - inside and out - it is so well maintained. It is time to make another stop to see the plants this year!

I started my day with a walk around the interior circle drive, although the outside sidewalk is one mile around. There are always people of all ages walking or jogging around the park no matter how early. Then went back in the evening with hubby and small dog to enjoy the live band and a walk around the lagoon where the local boat club had all sorts of model ships on the water. Can't wait to bring the grand kids and explore the jungle book theme exhibits all around the park

We visited the park and conservatory off season this fall while passing through town. The quiet time of year allowed the conservatory staff to hang Christmas lights and wreaths and they had on display multiple varieties of poinsettias for terrific seasonal color. Outside, the resident duck flock surrounded my wife as she was taking their picture, as they are trained to approach humans for handouts, but rapidly flew to safety of the pond when a dog walker approached! Ducks or chickens? The rest rooms are accessible from outside. Park is easy to find in between the two, one way main roads north and south. Nice calming place any season.

Very, very nice, easy to find, even with the dry weather, the plants were pretty good. The adults appreicated it more than the small children, but the play areas and open spaces were great for them.

On a dreary, unusually cold April day with snow flurries our spirits were lifted mightily with a brief walk through the Conservatory with its brilliant display of colorful flowers. We took many photos though they don’t begin to capture the natural beauty on display. It was too early for any outdoor park activity but will return for that when Spring has sprung.

All the plant life is arranged so beautifully and the flower scents are divine

this is a great place to walk around and relax and see wonderful flowers, and hear wonderful sounds. The grounds are great to walk around and smell. A must see when you get to Davenport Iowa.

The whole park can be enjoyed while you are there. Feed the ducks, walk the pathway to the fountain at the south end of the park and don't miss the rose gardens. Davenport keeps updating the park year after year and it continues to be a gem. Have visited the park every time we are in the area.

My wife and I took a leisurely stroll around the duck pond and through the gardens in the evening. The main building was already closed but we enjoyed the beautiful flowers, etd.

A beautiful park to explore. Take a leisurely walk around the gardens, feed the ducks, check out the fountain and rose garden. Sit on the benches and people watch or take your children to the great playground.

This park is equally stunning in the fall with the leaves changing color, as in the summer with everything in full bloom. A local yoga studio offers yoga in the park during the summer and there are often families walking, playing, and feeding the ducks and geese around the pond. The indoor botanical area is a nice break from the cold in the late fall, the warm air and colorful flowers are a nice escape. A great place for engagement or senior pictures!

Fantastic park! I was absolutely in love with this place the first time I came here for wedding pictures! The park, pond, and green house are just wonderful added bonuses!

Loved seeing all the beautiful plants in the arboretum and walking all around the park. Want to come back in warmer weather.

Beautiful display of a variety of plants. Noted some for sale which I would have loved to buy but I was heading North and not home:)
In between the plants are some topiary animals. A nice design and actually a diverse arrangement. Even if you only have a half an hour you can view this and drive thru the park.

This is a small city, so don't expect anything massive. For a small park, it is excellent, with a beautiful fountain, small greenhouse with two or three rooms, small lake and good landscaping. Was free, with opportunities for donations.

This is a lovely park and botanical garden. The conservatory wasn't huge, but was very well tended and lots of pretty things. There are a few plants for sale at a very reasonable price ($3 the day I was there).