Fall at an Iowa farm is not one single experience. The flowers, pumpkins, weather, colors, and activities change as the season moves along. In the Howell’s Farm Experience episode “Fall Is Here: Your 2026 Guide to Howell’s Pumpkin Patch,” host Mike Downer talks with Erin Conner, sixth-generation owner of Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, about how to enjoy Iowa farm seasons all year long while making the most of the short but eventful fall season. Their biggest takeaway is simple: come early, come more than once, and give yourself time to enjoy the farm rather than rushing through it.
Why Is Early September a Great Time to Visit an Iowa Pumpkin Patch?
Early September offers a combination of attractions that may not last through the entire fall season.
At Howell’s, that includes U-pick flower fields, baby goat cuddling, pumpkins, wagon rides, the corn maze, and other activities. Erin explains that the flowers are still at their most colorful early in the season, while the baby goats eventually return to their mothers full time.
Early visits can also mean warmer weather and lighter crowds. That matters for families who want room to explore without feeling pressured to move quickly from one activity to another.
Agritourism experiences like these are an important part of connecting visitors with agriculture. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service defines agritourism broadly as activities that welcome visitors onto working agricultural operations, combining recreation with opportunities to learn more about farming.
How Does the Farm Experience Change Throughout Fall?
One reason Erin recommends returning throughout the season is that the farm can look and feel completely different within just a few weeks.
September brings flowers, butterflies, warmer afternoons, and early pumpkins. As temperatures cool, trees surrounding the property begin changing color. Later visits create the classic crisp fall atmosphere many families associate with October and Halloween.
Erin notes that even the smell of the farm changes. Mums, fallen leaves, cooler air, and seasonal plants create different sensory experiences as fall progresses. Mike suggests that a family could visit three times within roughly six weeks and have three noticeably different outings.
That changing experience reflects the broader appeal of Iowa agritourism. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s 2026 Choose Iowa Passport encourages people to explore farms, horticulture businesses, markets, and other agricultural destinations throughout the state, giving families another way to experience Iowa agriculture beyond a single annual trip.
Is Howell’s Pumpkin Patch Only for Young Children?
Erin says the farm is intentionally designed for visitors ranging from toddlers to grandparents.
Some attractions have an old-fashioned feel, including tire swings, teeter-totters, and even making mud pies. Those activities give grandparents a chance to share childhood memories while younger family members experience the same kind of simple outdoor play.
The farm balances those traditional experiences with modern comforts. Visitors get the nostalgic farm atmosphere without sacrificing conveniences such as modern restrooms.
The pace also matters. Howell’s is meant to be explored slowly rather than treated as a quick stop.
What Can Families Do Besides Pick Pumpkins?
Pumpkin picking is only part of the visit.
Howell’s offers wagon rides, a corn maze, playground activities, flower fields, food, seasonal drinks, shopping, and its well-known family-recipe pumpkin bars. Erin says an outing could take half a day or easily become an all-day experience because the goal is to give families time to explore the entire property.
Visitors can also shop for mums, dried flowers, merchandise, souvenirs, and other seasonal items. The combination of horticulture, food, shopping, and recreation fits naturally within the wider range of activities identified in the USDA Agritourism Resource Manual, which includes pick-your-own crops, farm stands, horticultural activities, corn mazes, hayrides, and harvest events.
Why Should Families Consider Visiting More Than Once?
Timing changes what visitors can experience.
An early September visit may be best for flowers, baby goats, lighter crowds, and first pick of the pumpkins. A midseason trip brings stronger fall colors and cooler temperatures. Visiting closer to Halloween creates another atmosphere altogether.
That is why Erin’s advice is straightforward: “Come early and come often.”
For families wondering how to enjoy Iowa farm seasons all year long, the bigger lesson is to follow agriculture as it changes rather than treating a farm as a once-a-year destination. Different growing seasons, harvests, flowers, foods, and farm activities can provide a reason to reconnect with local agriculture throughout the year.
Plan Your Next Visit to Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch
Want to experience fall at a sixth-generation Iowa family farm? Visit the Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch website to check current hours, seasonal attractions, ticket information, and upcoming activities before planning your trip.
For more conversations about Iowa farm life, seasonal activities, and family experiences, follow Howell’s Farm Experience and listen on your favorite podcast platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is the Best Time to Visit Howell’s in Fall?
Early September offers the widest variety of activities, while later visits provide stronger fall colors and a more traditional October atmosphere.
Should You Buy Howell’s Tickets in Advance?
Yes. Erin recommends buying tickets early because capacity is limited and popular dates can fill up.
Is Howell’s Good for Grandparents?
Yes. The farm offers slow-paced activities and nostalgic attractions that multiple generations can enjoy together.
How Long Should You Spend at Howell’s?
Plan at least a half day. Families who want to explore the attractions, food, flower fields, shopping, and pumpkin patch can easily spend most of the day.
Are There Activities Besides the Pumpkin Patch?
Yes. Attractions include wagon rides, a corn maze, playground activities, seasonal flower fields, food, shopping, and other changing farm experiences.
Why Visit Howell’s More Than Once During Fall?
Flowers, foliage, weather, pumpkins, and seasonal activities change throughout September and October, creating a different experience on each visit.
Does Howell’s Have Food Available?
Yes. Food is available on-site, including Howell’s family-recipe pumpkin bars and other seasonal offerings.
Mike Downer: Hello, everybody, and welcome to Howell’s Farm Experience. I am here again with Erin Conner. She is one of the owners out at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch. How are we doing today, Erin?
Erin Conner: I’m doing good. I’m excited. The season is starting.
Mike Downer: This is probably one of your favorite times of year, I would guess. Fall is here, and Erin and I are going to walk you through what you need to know.
What we’re going to be covering today is what a Des Moines-area family should know before they plan their very first trip, or their first trip of the season, out to a fall pumpkin patch. We’re going to dive into all the different things you need to know.
Erin, let me ask you this: for someone who has never been, what actually is Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, and where does it sit in the West Des Moines and Des Moines metro area?
Erin Conner: Howell’s is a family-owned greenhouse and pumpkin patch business. I’m sixth generation, so it’s a big family farm operation. We’ve been serving West Des Moines, Waukee, Clive, Urbandale, Johnston, Norwalk, Grimes, and the surrounding suburbs for over forty years.
It’s a full fall destination. We have wagon rides, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and a playground. It’s definitely a place you want to visit in early September because we have everything, including the flower field and baby goat cuddling.
Mike Downer: Baby goat cuddling. That right there alone should make everybody go, “Aww,” and want to go out there.
We’re really not that far from the western suburbs or the West Des Moines area.
Erin Conner: Not at all.
Mike Downer: It is actually a very short drive. I live in Ankeny, and it’s still not even that far of a drive for me. For what the experience is, I can be there pretty quickly, and I’m going to have a lot of fun at Howell’s. There are a lot more things to do, believe it or not.
Opening weekend is here, so what’s new at Howell’s for the 2026 fall season that returning families should know about?
Erin Conner: Each year at Howell’s, we either add something, tweak something, refresh an attraction, expand our pumpkin varieties, expand our food menu, showcase a new specialty drink, or maybe add a new item in our gift shop that’s a hot seller.
Every year we change it up. Every year it’s something new. You have to come out and see what our new changes are for this year.
Mike Downer: Absolutely. That keeps it fresh, new, and exciting every year, even for people who have been coming there for, like you said, forty years. There’s always something new out there for people to do.
Who is the pumpkin patch really built for? Is it a toddler outing, a grade schooler adventure, or something parents and grandparents can enjoy too?
Erin Conner: Here at Howell’s, we’re an attraction for everybody and every age group, from toddlers all the way to grandparents.
We can even mix the generations. Great-grandma or grandma can bring out the grandkids and do some activities that she used to do when she was little, like making mud pies. We also have classic teeter-totters. Not very many places have classic teeter-totters anymore, or even a tire swing.
Mike Downer: A tire swing. Boy, that takes me back. I’m pretty old, so that is kind of fun. When you’re talking about these things, if I had little ones and my family out there—my kids are all grown now—but you talk about teeter-totters, and that would make for a lot of family bonding time. I could start talking about teeter-totters at my grade school and bouncing people around.
It really connects families, I think.
Erin Conner: It’s a slow-paced environment so everybody can go at their own pace and not have to worry about keeping up or moving on to the next attraction.
Mike Downer: That’s very cool.
As far as timing goes, why should families come in September or early October instead of waiting until closer to Halloween?
Erin Conner: If you come in early September, especially the first couple weekends we’re open, you get everything we have to offer. That includes our U-pick flower fields, baby goat cuddling, pumpkins, the corn maze, wagon rides, and other things you wouldn’t get at other times of the year.
Once we have a frost, the flower fields aren’t really the best looking. After the first two weekends in September, the baby goats go back to mom full time. So you really have to take advantage of the early September times we have for fall.
There are lighter crowds, more room to walk around, and more enjoyment because you can go at your own pace and do the activities without the crowds being a problem. Plus, there’s a little bit warmer weather as well.
Mike Downer: Yes, warmer weather, of course. I’m a city kid, so don’t give me that look. I love sweatshirt weather, but I’m a city kid. If it’s cold, it’s cold. I’d be out in the wind picking flowers in the cold wind.
That’s another thing you and I were talking about earlier with our spouses. I get called a wimp quite often by my wife, so it’s okay. But I like the warmer temperatures. That’s just me.
So take advantage of the warmer weather, as well as the extended list of activities. Like you were saying, if you’re there to see the pretty flowers, we all know that when fall comes, flowers lose their color and their petals. They go dormant. I know they don’t die, but they go dormant.
Erin Conner: I was out in the flower field just yesterday, and the colors are insane. There’s every color under the rainbow, every shade of pink, every shade of red, and purples. It is crazy colorful out there.
You have to take advantage of the early September times to go out to the flower field because it is beautiful. With all the pictures you can take and the butterflies, you’ve got to come out early and see the flowers. You don’t want to miss it.
Mike Downer: Right, and that’s just one of your experiences. Later in the fall, closer to Halloween, I’ve been out there when all the trees surrounding your property start turning colors. It’s several different experiences all in one.
Within a six-week time frame, you could go three times and have three completely different experiences. Am I right or wrong?
Erin Conner: You are totally right. We have different activities at different times, and we have different photo opportunities in terms of the trees, the colors of the leaves, and the whole environment.
It even smells different out here at different times of the year. You get that cold, crisp smell of fall, or you get the mums out here. The mums have their own fall scent that brings back memories year after year.
Mike Downer: I love the smell of mums. Again, being city people, we buy them and put them on our front step.
That’s something I think is great. You have so many different experiences that people can enjoy within weeks of each other. I think that’s very cool.
Once families are there, what can they expect to eat and do while they’re there beyond picking a pumpkin?
Erin Conner: Beyond the pumpkin patch itself, we have on-site food and our signature pumpkin bars. Everybody loves this family recipe. I can’t go into the details of that because it is a family recipe, and it’s top secret.
Mike Downer: I bet it has pumpkin in it.
Erin Conner: It does. I remember lots of times growing up and helping make the pumpkin bars. Yep, it has pumpkin in it, that’s for sure.
Mike Downer: I bet a little cinnamon, too.
Erin Conner: Yep, lots of cinnamon.
Mike Downer: Okay, we’ll stop right there. What else do you have?
Erin Conner: We also have flower fields. We’ve been growing flowers for forty years, so our flower fields are awesome because we know how to grow flowers. The rows just go on and on.
We have a full set of fall attractions that you can enjoy. It could be a half-day outing, but it could also be an all-day outing. We are more than just a quick stop-and-shop. We’re an experience. It’s a place where you want to slow down and actually take the time to absorb everything we have to offer.
Mike Downer: Very, very cool.
This is your time to brag a little bit. I’m not saying to put anybody else down or anything like that, but you do get to pat yourself on the back, and you know exactly why.
If someone is deciding between Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch and another patch in the metro area, what makes Howell’s the one to choose first?
Erin Conner: I would say our atmosphere. We have that Hallmark feel with the white picket fences. We have a greenhouse and an epic flower field.
We’re still a mom-and-pop kind of place with old-school fun. We have things like mud pies, which is an older-school type of activity, but then we also have modernized restrooms. There are no outhouses you have to use.
We mix old and new so everyone is comfortable. And, of course, we have our family-recipe pumpkin bars.
Mike Downer: I think you also said that you have a few adult beverages out there as well.
Erin Conner: Yes, we have adult beverages. And we have a killer gift shop. It is so cool. We have so many different things in there, including dried flowers, cute merchandise, and a lot of souvenir items that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Mike Downer: Being a city kid, that’s not just for the wives. I enjoy stuff like that too. Maybe that’s the key to a successful marriage that we were talking about earlier—the fact that I actually enjoy shopping for stuff like that as well, which does make my wife happy.
Erin Conner: You’ve got to buy her those mums. Buy her flowers too.
Mike Downer: One hundred percent. Do you have mums for sale out there?
Erin Conner: Yes, we do have mums for sale. You better get them early because they sell out. Our mums are huge, bigger than what you’d find in a big-box store.
Mike Downer: Really?
Erin Conner: Yes. I think it has to do with how we irrigate our mums. We use a little pond irrigation, so that helps them get bigger faster.
Mike Downer: The fish fertilize the water and all of that, so we won’t get into the whole science part of it. And yes, I said “sciencey.”
That’s exciting. We’ll kind of wind this one up. You’ve given us all the reasons to get out there early, in the middle of the season, and late in the season. Now we have three or four different times that are great to join you guys this fall.
What’s the one thing you want every listener to do this week if they’re planning a fall outing?
Erin Conner: Get your tickets early. Get them this week for opening weekend or the next week after so you can enjoy every single thing we have to do on the farm.
That includes the baby goats before they go back to mom full time, the beautiful flower fields at their peak, and all the fall activities. You can get your pumpkins fresh out of the field before anyone else gets them. That means you get the top pick of the pumpkins. You know you’re getting the best of the best when you get the first choices out there.
Mike Downer: You bet. There are always capacity limits. It’s just math, and I would hate for anybody to miss out because they waited too long.
Erin Conner: Come early and come often.
Mike Downer: There you go. Be a Howell’s VIP. I’m sure Erin will be out there smiling, waving, and greeting as many people as she can.
You’ve got it down. You should have been in the Miss America pageant.
I always enjoy my talks with you, Erin. It’s always a lot of fun. Make sure to get out there to Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch. It’s a great family atmosphere with modern amenities and an old-school feel.
Erin, thanks for taking the time to talk to me today. Let’s get everybody out there early and often—early, middle, and late. At least three times. I think everybody listening to this should plan three trips. What do you think?
Erin Conner: Yes, so you can experience every type of fall outing, from the flowers to the fall colors to the Halloween feel.
Mike Downer: Perfect. All right, Erin. Thanks for joining me and letting people know everything you have to do out there at Howell’s. You’ve been doing this for forty years. You know how to do it right and make it a great family experience.
We’ll talk next time. Thanks again, Erin, and we’ll talk soon.
Erin Conner: Thank you.
