Visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens Clinton IA

Flower Chick is so pleased to spotlight another Midwest horticultural attraction in our ongoing “Visiting Midwest Gardens” series! Join us in Iowa as we visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens in Clinton …

Introduction to Clinton Iowa

Tucked along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, Clinton is a true “river city”. A relatively small but lively community of just over 25,000, Clinton is steeped in history …

Founded before the Civil War, Clinton enjoys a convenient location for Midwest travelers. The city is named in honor of 19th Century U.S. politician and naturalist, DeWitt Clinton, who is best known for overseeing the Erie Canal’s construction. Iconic U.S. Route 30 runs through Clinton, which sits a short drive from both Dubuque, IA (to the north) and the Quad Cities (to the south) …

Did You Know? Clinton is Iowa’s easternmost city …

We’ve long had an affinity for Mississippi River cities … you’ll experience a definite daily pulse clearly influenced by the grand old river’s flow. And so it is in Clinton, where the city’s activities and commerce are often defined by what’s coming and going on the Mississippi …

This was our first visit to Clinton and we’re delighted to share some of the city’s under the radar gems. We’ll explore them with you below. To start things off, let’s visit Clinton’s best known natural attraction, the beautiful Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens …

Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens: An Overview

Situated just west of downtown Clinton, Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens is actually part of the Clinton Community College campus. The site dates back to 1970 and was donated to the community college in 2014 …

The Arboretum & Gardens are named in honor of Robert and Frances Bickelhaupt, whose home sat on the property. The couple started their plantings in response to a Dutch Elm Disease plague that decimated many of Clinton’s stately old trees. Over the years, the Arboretum has grown and expanded to include perennials, annuals, labeled trees, and more on its 14 acre site …

Today, the Arboretum & Gardens connects people and plants through an ongoing showcase of specimens that thrive in this Zone 5 climate. You can visit 365 days a year, free of charge, from sunrise to sunset …

Visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens Clinton IA

Bickelhaupt Arboretum is nestled on a hill in a quiet residential community just west of downtown Clinton.  We strolled around on a peaceful Saturday morning and had the grounds to ourselves.

There are many plant collections on display including daylilies, peonies, hostas, roses, and conifers. Most of the specimens are marked for quick identification.  Also, there’s a handy, detailed list on the arboretum’s website for reference.

Bickelhaupt’s conifer collection is captivating!  Many interesting specimens grow harmoniously here. The Heartland Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers, consists of over 400 plants, including a nice selection of older time-tested cultivars as well as some exciting newer ones.

The American Conifer Society named this collection a “Reference Garden” in 2012.  Replacement plants are carefully selected that don’t have major insect and disease problems and are hardy to the Zone 5 gardening area.

Next up, the Hosta Garden collection contains more than 250 species and cultivars.  A chipped curving path allows the plants to be viewed from both sides. The background extending into the woods consists of boxwood, lady and ostrich ferns and other shade loving plants.

Featured are many of the “Hosta of the Year” specimens. This collection was designated as a Hosta Display Garden by the American Hosta Society … one of only three in Iowa.  (Read about The Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens hosta collection here)

Milkweed, purple coneflowers, sedum, butterfly bush are incorporated into the Butterfly Garden located directly to the west side of the grounds. The garden features plants that attract butterflies commonly found in the Midwest.

The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is an official way station for Monarch Butterflies as designated by the University of Kansas Entomology Program. The Arboretum is committed to monarch butterfly conservation and helping to assure the continuation of the monarch migration.

Per the locals, Spring is also an excellent time to visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens in Clinton IA. A stunning display of daffodils and flowering trees steal the show in April and May …

Six More Reasons To Visit Clinton …

Candlelight Inn: This picturesque restaurant is situated on the Mississippi River’s banks at the Clinton Marina. You’ll enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, great food and drink, and as an added bonus, a bird’s eye view of the river.

The Candlelight Inn is a western Illinois / eastern Iowa staple for over 50 years. The original location in Sterling, IL was established in 1967 and the Clinton outpost arrived in 2010 …

The signature dish here is Chicken George …

Named after the cook who first introduced the dish, Chicken George is a surprisingly simple creation. They’re hand breaded chicken tenders which are lightly fried and served with a house made tangy, creamy sauce …

Insider Tip: We highly recommend Candlelight Inn’s cole slaw as a side dish with your entree. It’s creamy, cold, crisp, and delicious. You’ll detect a slight bleu cheese flavor … a winner!

The Candlelight Inn serves thousands of pounds of Chicken George weekly. You can order it as an appetizer, entree, or sandwich. Of course, The Candlelight Inn offers more than just Chicken George – the menu is a delightful mix of steaks, sandwiches, and approachable gourmet salads. It’s a great place to enjoy the river views for lunch or dinner …

Rastrelli’s: Founded in 1939, Rastrelli’s introduced pizza to the menu in 1955 and never looked back. A mainstay of the Clinton community, it’s one of most popular and enduring restaurants in town …

Rastrelli’s is located in the heart of Clinton’s Lyons neighborhood. This fun part of town is brimming with shops, restaurants, bars, and service businesses. Originally a separate town, Lyons was annexed into Clinton in 1895 …

A popular place for family dinners, special occasions, or just a casual night out, Rastrelli’s is much more than just pizza. The menu features traditional Italian fare along with seafood, sandwiches, steaks, and fantastic fried chicken.

When you visit, be sure to order a loaf or two of Rastrelli’s famous house baked bread to go. Enjoy it as the mainstay of their signature Italian Roast Beef sandwich – then for your own sandwiches at home!

Back to the pizza for a moment – Rastrelli’s pizza is so beloved it’s frequently shipped to rabid fans across the country. Need a Rastrelli’s pizza fix? You can order it packaged and shipped to any location in the United States (see their website for all the details) …

Sweetheart Bakery: Situated directly across the street from Rastrelli’s, this is Clinton’s hometown local bakery. They’ve been around since 1950 and are best known for their spectacular “Blarnies”. So what’s a Blarney? Glad you asked … we’ll do our best to describe why they’re so good!

A Blarney is a generous square of moist yellow cake frosted in home made butter cream icing. The cake and icing are then rolled in ground salted peanuts. A sweet, salty, smooth, and crunchy treat like no other, Blarnies are beloved both locally and by those who visit the bakery from afar (like us!) …

Sweetheart Bakery also offers a full array of traditional bakery items, like donuts, pastries, pies, and more. Be sure to pick up a loaf of their house baked bread. It’s available in several varieties – we bought a loaf each of white and rye and they’re some of the best fresh baked bread we’ve ever had …

Buy some Sweetheart Bakery Blarnies to go and enjoy them at home with a cold glass of milk. Perfect any time you need a sweet treat!

Renaissance Resale Boutique:  If you love upscale women’s consignment shops like I do, you must visit the Renaissance Resale Boutique!  Good vibes upon entering … it smelled delicious (think vanilla pound cake) and all the merchandise is very attractively displayed.  Next thing I know the owner’s darling shih tzu Bailey (the official greeter), came over to welcome me.

The friendly owner, Idell Anne Klein, introduced herself and told me a little bit about her background and the building.  Turns out the space was designed by a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright.  You can tell by the interesting “Wrightesque” touches such as the craftsmanship of the wooden built in shelves …

A great selection of ladies fashion awaits you with an emphasis on timeless higher end brands such as Chico’s, White House Black Market, and Talbots.  Also a good array of handbags (including Brighton, Coach, & Vera Bradley), shoes, jewelry and other appealing accessories.  Best of all, the prices are very reasonable!  Note: Renaissance Resale Boutique is just around the corner from Rastrelli’s and the Sweetheart Bakery.

Unable to make the trip to Clinton?  No worries, you can also purchase the quality, classic apparel online at her Poshmark store.   A convenient way to shop nicer brands and save money …

Eagle Point Park: You’ll find this 200+ acre city park just a few minutes north of downtown between Highway 67 and the Mississippi River. Situated high on a bluff overlooking the river below, Eagle Point Park is Clinton’s crown jewel …

Eagle Point Park has a long history and traces its origins to the late 1800’s. Significant improvements were added during the 1930’s and the park’s expansive Lodge serves as a gathering spot for all types of community events …

Did You Know: The Mississippi River is at one of its widest points adjacent to Eagle Point Park in Clinton, IA …

At the park’s eastern border, you’ll experience spectacular views of the Mississippi far below. Just up river to the north is one of the river’s many lock and dam systems, which control navigational traffic and water flow …

Clinton’s Eagle Point Park is the ideal locale for enjoying a picnic lunch, hiking, or simply experiencing the natural surroundings …

Carol’s Original Dairy Treat: Located just a few blocks south of Eagle Point Park’s entrance, this beacon of dairy goodness has brought smiles to locals for decades …

We visited on a warm early summer’s day – the twist cones hit the spot perfectly! There’s a few scattered picnic tables just outside to relax and enjoy your ice cream and the ultra reasonable prices won’t bust your budget …

Just about everyone in town knows about Carol’s Original Dairy Treat. In the course of our many stops in Clinton, we mentioned our plans to have dessert here. The reaction was universal … smiles, nods of affirmation, and comments about their favorites on the menu. Without a doubt, a must stop when you visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum and the Clinton area!

Summary

We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Clinton, Iowa and are delighted to share some of the city’s interesting destinations … highlighted above. If you are in the area, definitely make the time to visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum & Gardens. A beautiful, tranquil place to stroll and enjoy nature, just minutes from the riverfront …

Be on the lookout for more garden discoveries in our ongoing “Visiting Midwest Gardens” series. You’ll see several of our most recent entries listed below in the Related Posts section. Thanks for joining us and thanks for reading … we hope you’re inspired to visit Bickelhaupt Arboretum!