Butterflies, Bullfrogs and Lily Pads — A Day in Iowa
Before heading back to Thailand, my sister Judy and I took a road trip through the American Midwest.
After flying into Omaha, Nebraska, we rented a car and made our way across the rolling countryside of Iowa to visit family and explore a small part of the state neither of us had seen before.
The drive itself became part of the experience.
Long stretches of quiet highway cut through endless cornfields beneath wide open skies. Small towns appeared here and there along the road, surrounded by farms, silos, and old trees swaying in the summer breeze. Iowa had a calmness to it — peaceful, unhurried, and welcoming.
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University, a beautiful botanical garden known for its flowers, ponds, and butterfly house. It was the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon with cameras in hand.
Near the ponds, lily pads floated across still water while frogs rested quietly beneath the reeds. The reflections of flowers and stone along the water created a scene that felt almost painterly. Everywhere we looked there were small details worth stopping for — dragonflies skimming the surface, sunlight reflecting across the pond, and flowers blooming in every direction.
The gardens themselves were filled with color. Roses bloomed along the walking paths while ornamental plants and summer flowers added texture and contrast throughout the landscape. Everywhere we looked there were details worth photographing, from delicate petals covered in water droplets to deep purple foliage glowing in the afternoon light.
But it was the butterflies that truly captured my attention.
Outside, Monarch butterflies drifted through the flowers, flashing brilliant orange against the deep greens and purples of the gardens. Inside the butterfly house, dozens of different species fluttered all around us in a warm tropical environment filled with colorful plants and filtered sunlight.
It felt almost magical.
Some butterflies rested quietly on leaves while others floated effortlessly through the air from flower to flower. For a photographer, it was one of those places where every few steps revealed another perfect moment waiting to be captured.
What surprised me most about Iowa was how peaceful everything felt. The slower pace, the friendly atmosphere, and the beauty of the countryside made the entire experience memorable in a quiet and unexpected way.
By the end of the day, we left Reiman Gardens with full memory cards, tired feet, and the feeling that we had discovered one of those hidden places that travelers often overlook.
A stop I would gladly recommend to anyone passing through Iowa.
After several days visiting family and exploring the Midwest, Judy and I continued our road trip toward our next destination — Chicago — a city that could not have felt more different from the peaceful gardens and quiet countryside we had just left behind.
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