Bubba Patio Planter Program
Bubba Patio Planter Program is a commercial plantscaping project by Trendy Gardener in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa, for Bubba — restaurant patio at street level in the Clemens building, a mixed-use property with residential apartments above. Scope: semi-custom architectural planters, planting and installation. One continuous 12-foot run of three planters, each 48" W x 12" D x 32" H.
The brief
Define the boundary between Bubba's street-level patio dining and the adjacent public sidewalk at a downtown corner, without building a permanent enclosure. The planters had to read as part of the restaurant's exterior rather than as street furniture, and add evergreen structure to the seating area.
Conditions
Exterior sidewalk-edge patio on a downtown corner with high pedestrian traffic and direct public contact. Historic brick and limestone facade context. Full exposure to Central Iowa seasonal conditions. Sun orientation, wind exposure, irrigation access, and winter protection plan not yet recorded.
Design rationale
Tall rectangular planters were specified so the planted mass sits at seated sightline and reads as a boundary rather than a low border. The matte bronze finish was selected to sit warmly against the building's brick and weathered steel signage instead of competing with it. Boxwood provides year-round evergreen structure with a clipped, architectural habit. A black river rock topper finishes the soil surface, keeps the planting looking intentional in a high-visibility public setting, and conceals the substrate.
Materials and specification
Three Jay Scotts Delray Tall Rectangular Planters in MBZ Matte Bronze, 48 x 12 x 32 in, with factory drainage holes. Three boxwood bushes per planter, nine in total. Black rock soil topper.
Installation
Three tall rectangular planters set end to end along the patio edge in one continuous 12-foot run, forming an unbroken boundary between the dining area and the public sidewalk. Each planter received three boxwood and a black rock topper. Delivery, placement, and any anchoring detail not yet recorded.
Technical detail
Jay Scotts Delray Tall Rectangular Planter, MBZ Matte Bronze finish, 48 x 12 x 32 in, factory drainage holes. Exterior patio application.
Ongoing care
Bubba’s installation included professional plant care and a one-year plant replacement warranty to preserve the original design intent. The semi-custom matte bronze fiberglass planters were protected by a three-year warranty against qualifying manufacturing defects.
Outcome
The matte bronze rectangular planters created a defined, plant-filled boundary between Bubba’s patio and the public street, improving privacy, guest comfort, and visual separation without enclosing the space. The result was a more intentional and inviting outdoor dining environment that strengthened the restaurant’s curb appeal.
