A New Season for the Heartland Harvest Garden at Powell Gardens

Powell Gardens has always been a place where plants tell stories—of Midwest beauty, resilience, culture, and innovation. One of our most beloved spaces, the Heartland Harvest Garden, has shared the story of edible landscapes for more than a decade. Now, as our understanding of sustainable land stewardship continues to grow, so does this garden’s role in our mission.  

We’re excited to share a new chapter: the Heartland Harvest Garden is transitioning into the Heartland Garden—a space that will continue to honor Powell Gardens’ past while embracing the future. 

“This isn’t just a name change,” said CEO Cody Jolliff. “It’s a shift in approach. We’re evolving a key section of the Gardens to better showcase native plants and the work of the Midwest Center for Regenerative Agriculture (MCRA). This is about cultivating a more sustainable future—for our region and our visitors.” 

Rooted in Purpose 

Originally designed to demonstrate the beauty and utility of edible plants and opened in 2008, the Heartland Harvest Garden has showcased fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, grains, and more in creative and inspiring ways. It has helped visitors reconnect with where their food comes from and understand how plants nourish our bodies as well as our spirits. 

“As we move forward, we remain deeply committed to the original idea of the Heartland Harvest Garden,” said Director of Horticulture Phil Bishop. “With the Heartland Garden, we’re still telling the story of our land and its abundance, but we’re doing it in a way that supports native biodiversity, reduces the labor needed from our horticulture team, and incorporates learning about regenerative agricultural practices.” 

What’s Changing 

In the coming seasons, Powell Gardens visitors will notice construction alongside new plantings and evolving displays. The changes will incorporate more native and regionally adapted species into a less labor-intensive design that ensures long-term sustainability. The garden will still include food-producing plants, but their placement and care will be optimized to support pollinators, soil health, and water conservation. 

Perhaps the most exciting part of this transition is the future development of a Regenerative Agriculture Learning Lab within the Heartland Garden. This immersive space will showcase the applied work of the MCRA, including rotational grazing, cover cropping, composting, and other techniques that contribute to healthy soils and resilient landscapes. 

“This space will grow to be a hands-on experience where visitors can see regenerative practices in action,” said Bishop. “It’s one thing to read about these ideas—it’s another to walk through them, touch them, and see the life they support.” 

Honoring the Heartland 

While the garden is growing in a new direction, its heart remains the same: Celebrating the relationship between people and plants in the Midwest. The new Heartland Garden will continue to inspire visitors with the beauty and productivity of the land, now grounded even more deeply in ecological principles. 

“We’re embracing the Heartland Garden as a living classroom,” said Jolliff. “This transformation helps us fulfill our mission to be a botanical garden that fully embraces the Midwest region—rooted in place, responsive to the environment, and relevant to the people we serve.” 

How You Can Help 

As with any change, this transition will take time, care, and community support. If you believe in the power of native plants AND sustainable agriculture, we invite you to grow with us. 

Donate Today 

Your donation or membership directly supports this transformation and the innovative work happening at Powell Gardens and the Midwest Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Together, we can cultivate a future that’s as beautiful as it is sustainable. 

Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes updates, sneak peeks, and ways to get involved as the Heartland Garden continues to take shape.