Where creativity takes root

8/5/2026

A visit to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden comes with the expected sights of colorful fauna from inside and out. Flowers are blooming, providing excellent visuals and alluring scents. It takes time and dedication from those who work there to make sure these plants can provide viewing pleasure. The same time and dedication are found in the various crafts and products made by the Botanical Artisan Guild, which is led by Laura Ruttman.

The Botanical Artisan Guild is a group of volunteers that sews, woodworks, embroiders, does photography and makes clay art, just to name a few, all for the Garden Shop. Profits from the handmade crafts go directly back into the Botanical Garden. 

Ruttman is a scientist who used to work for Corteva in plant and insect control, engineering plants that are resistant to pests. Once she retired, she took a trip to the Botanical Garden and happened upon this opportunity. 

“I ended up coming down here with some friends who were working on a project, and the volunteer organizer at that point, she’s like, ‘How would you like to manage the artisan guild?’ ” Ruttman said.

Ruttman, who has managing experience, plant experience and is a self-trained artist, fits into the role. Sometimes artists come in during events like Music in the Garden, set up an easel and start painting. Others do their work at home and bring it in. Sometimes they do big group meet-ups and work on their crafts together. 

“I think it’s a win-win for everybody. Sometimes, they’re people who learned to sew when they were young, and then were busy in the middle part of their life, and now they want something to do. Sometimes, they’re people that are making things like woodworking, and you have given products to all of your friends and all of your family, and you have nothing else to do with that stuff, but you still want to keep making it,” Ruttman said. “It’s a great way to make something you love, but give it to a good cause at the garden. Most of the volunteers that I work with are very passionate about the garden, and this is just their way of being able to help support the garden.”

The size of the guild has grown tremendously under Ruttman’s watch. When Ruttman began leading the organization in 2021, the group was only a handful. Now, the group boasts more than 100 volunteers. The quality and quantity of the items has increased the sales from just a few thousand dollars per year to more than $33,000 in 2025 alone.

“I always make the joke that we should have our name on the big glass list of donors, because collectively we donate enough to be on the list,” Ruttman said.

Having the number of skilled volunteers at her disposal means the guild is able to make high-quality products. Selfishly, Ruttman admits that seeing the attention to detail the guild puts into these products is a big perk of the job. 

“I get a lot of satisfaction in seeing the ideas that come through working with really creative people. I’m a self-taught artist, and most of the people I work with are also in that realm, so we fit comfortably in this — not quite an artist but really want to create and have that outlet. It enriches your life,” Ruttman said. 

Being in charge means Ruttman does everything from recruiting new members and screening new ideas to teaching, organizing and leading meetings. Ruttman says they have made between 300 and 400 unique products for the shop.

While there are high-quality items in the shop from the guild, Ruttman makes sure affordable options are available as well. 

“I try to make sure that the guild is filling out the lower range. We have some expensive things in the shop that the guild makes, but I also want to make sure that we have a product line like postcards or things that are less than $10, so that someone comes in and they really want to take something with them, and they don’t have to spend 40 or 50 bucks,” Ruttman said. 

Ruttman was also recently honored with the Governor’s Volunteer Award for 2025. Winners are described as “the people who show up, the people who invest in others and in our communities.” We asked her for her reaction to the honor. 

“I was just totally flattered. I feel like mostly what I do is facilitate; I feel like the things I do are small nudges. It doesn’t seem like something grandiose, so I was surprised, mostly, and very flattered. It was a big honor. This is such a great place to work,” Ruttman said. “I feel like I have a home here, and it’s very fulfilling. Partly because of the management and the way the garden is run, but it’s mostly because of the people I work with and the other volunteers.” ♦

Cyote Williams was born and raised on the south side of Des Moines and writes about entertainment, sports and personalties across the Des Moines metro for CITYVIEW. Phone: 515-953-4822 x333.