Wheel-Thrown Clay Workshop at Reiman Gardens — Botanical Pottery in Ames, IA

Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa provides the quiet green backdrop for a hands-on pottery workshop that turns lumps of clay into leaf-pressed terracotta keepsakes. Wheel-Thrown Clay with Botanical Pressing brings eight portable pottery wheels onto the garden lawn, where instructor Nathan — presenting as Nathan & Clay — guides beginners and experienced makers through centered throwing, trimming, and pressing real leaves into soft clay surfaces. The result is a practical vessel or decorative plaque that carries an actual imprint of the gardens’ foliage.

Sessions run on a single Saturday in July with three two-hour time blocks, and each participant gets a wheel, stool, tools, clay and access to water and studio glazes. After the session the instructor fires the pieces and returns them to Reiman Gardens for pickup 4–5 weeks later, so you leave with a photograph and a plan to come back for the finished work. Preregistration and prepayment are required; groups are kept compact to preserve one-on-one instruction.

What makes this workshop stand out is the combination of a botanical theme and an on-site, low-barrier wheel experience. Portable wheels mean you’re working outside, surrounded by plants and paths rather than inside a studio’s four walls. Pressing a real leaf into wet terracotta captures texture and negative space in a way that mass-produced pottery cannot, and the simplicity of the technique lets newcomers make something gallery-worthy in a single afternoon.

Practical visitors should plan for sun or shade depending on the weather—bring a hat and sunscreen or a light jacket—and expect to stand or sit on a stool while shaping clay. The class is friendly to first-timers: Nathan’s guidance focuses on basic centering, pulling a rim, and adding botanical impression before trimming and glazing. Finished pieces are kiln-fired by the instructor; pick-up logistics are handled through the Gardens.

Why book this trip? It’s an approachable creative stop between outdoor walks in the Reiman grounds and downtown Ames errands, offering tactile learning, a tangible souvenir, and a memorable way to connect with Midwestern plant life. For families, couples, or solo travelers looking for a short, deliberate craft experience woven into a day of garden exploration, Wheel-Thrown Clay with Botanical Pressing converts a simple afternoon into a personalized piece of Ames to take home.

Expect a sensory afternoon: the ribbed rhythm of the wheel, the cool slick of clay under fingertips and the scent of cut leaves from beds nearby. Because spaces are limited, arrive early to check in and settle at your wheel; closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dusty are smart. The workshop doubles as a practical primer—techniques taught here translate to studio time later—and the fired, leaf-pressed result is a lasting memento and family-friendly creative souvenir.