PHOTOS: Sunken Gardens through the years
The site of Sunken Gardens at Capitol Parkway and 27th Street originally was a dump. See how it has been transformed year after year.
On Saturday, volunteers completed this year's transformation. Inspired by the diversity and wide array of quilt styles throughout history, the theme of the 2026 Sunken Gardens is “A Patchwork Garden."
Sunken Gardens 1970
Sunken Gardens sit barren Nov. 3, 1970. The site, which was a former dump, was donated to the city in 1930.
Sunken Gardens 1975
Sunken Gardens on Aug. 7, 1975. Since then, trees have been planted along Capitol Parkway and 27th Street at the edges of the 1.5-acre gardens.
Sunken Gardens 1984
Jerry Weisbeck of Nebraska Concrete Specialists repairs a statue at the Sunken Gardens on April 28, 1984. The statue was damaged by vandals.
Sunken Gardens 1989
Children check out the fish in one of the lily ponds at Sunken Gardens on July 25, 1989. The waterfall's concrete walls and lighting complement the Teachers Fountain across the street.
Sunken Gardens 1993
Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department workers Alice Reed-Dzerk (foreground) and Clint Dominick plant water lilies in one of the ponds at Sunken Gardens on May 21, 1993.
Sunken Gardens 1995
The fountain flows at Sunken Gardens on July 21, 1995.
Sunken Gardens 1995
Sunken Gardens in all their splendor July 21, 1995. The lily ponds were renovated in 2005 after the $1.7 million "Polishing the Gem" fundraising campaign.
Sunken Gardens 1995
Lincoln residents enjoy walking around Sunken Gardens on Aug 16, 1995.
Sunken Gardens 1995
Parks and Recreation Department rosarian Steve Howerton gives freshly planted flowers at cool drink at Sunken Gardens on May 19, 1995.
Sunken Gardens 2013
Every spring at the beginning of the growing season, tulips bloom at Lincoln's Sunken Gardens.
Sunken Gardens 2014
Sunken Gardens are an oasis in the middle of Lincoln. The gardens have been named one of the "300 Best Gardens to Visit in the U.S. and Canada" in the National Geographic Guide to America's Public Gardens.
Sunken Gardens 2014
The statue "Reveille" is featured on the upper garden at Sunken Gardens. The bronze is the work of Wayne Southwick, who donated it to the city.
Sunken Gardens 2015
A view of the gazebo at Sunken Gardens in 2015. Funds to build the gazebo were given by the Lincoln Rotary Club in 2005.
Sunken Gardens 2015
A view of the Sunken Gardens waterfall, which was redone when the gardens underwent a $1.7 million renovation in 2005.
Sunken Gardens 2015
Water lilies bloom in one of the ponds at Sunken Gardens in 2015.
Sunken Gardens 2017
Sunken Gardens are an explosion of color in 2017.
Sunken Gardens 2017
The Rebecca at the Well statue was added at the top of the waterfall at Sunken Gardens. It replaced the cast concrete sculpture depicting a young woman holding a water jug that graced the center of the pool at the base of the cascading waterfall. The original, done by Ellis Burman, was retired from display in 2004 because of significant deterioration. This new bronze, created by Nebraska artist David Young, was installed in 2005.
Sunken Gardens 2017
Vistors check out the Sunken Garden tulips in the spring of 2017.
Sunken Gardens 2020
The tulips of Sunken Gardens survived four days of sub-freezing temperatures and 4 inches of snow last week.
Sunken Gardens 2020
Red and orange tulips are featured at Sunken Gardens this spring.
Sunken Gardens 2021
Red and yellow tulips soak up the sun in the Sunken Gardens on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Sunken Gardens 2021
Audrey Mason gets close to photograph booming tulips at Sunken Gardens, Thursday, April 22, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Sunken Gardens 2021
Mario Guzman, who is on vacation from Guatemala, looks over his grandchildren Dylan Guzman of Grand Island (from left), 2, Irene Guzman, 10, and Andres Guzman, 7, as they visit Sunken Gardens, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Sunken Gardens 2020
Koi search for food as rain falls in the Sunken Gardens on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
One student can stick in a teacher's mind even 41 years after they shared a classroom. For Beth Hudson, that student is Clark "Ace" Williams.
“Fall-blooming plants not only add color and seasonal interest to yards, but also provide pollinators with a valuable nectar source late in the season,” Dana Freeman says.
