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Answers to Your Recycling Questions

If the approach of Earth Day has recycling on your mind, you may be pondering some common questions. What exactly can be recycled? What do I do with items that can’t be recycled? Do I need to take any steps before recycling an item? Here are a few answers from the Garden’s EarthWays Center that…

Planting a New Tree

National Arbor Day isn’t until the end of April, but you can celebrate early with the annual Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Whether you pick up one of the native Missouri tree saplings available at the Garden’s Kemper Center or acquire one elsewhere, you may be a bit nervous about planting your…

Spotlight on Science: Tom Croat

A monthly look at the people behind plant science at the Missouri Botanical Garden Dr. Tom Croat P.A. Schulze Curator of Botany Tom Croat has been called the Indiana Jones of botany, and when you hear him describe his collecting journeys to the Tropics, it fits. Croat, 80, has spent about a third of his…

Plant Profile: Cacao

There are few plants whose scientific name translates as “food of the gods,” but the Greek name for cacao—Theobroma cacao —does. It makes sense that this plant, famous for being the key ingredient in modern day chocolate, has become important for many cultures around the world. Ethnobotany: The study of the relationships between people and…

Early Spring in Your Garden

Slowly but surely, temperatures outside are warming and spring is on the horizon. The change might have you thinking about your garden, especially those popular spring bulbs. You may already be seeing some flowers from early spring bloomers, like snowdrops, winter aconite or Siberian squill. The best part of this time of year is that,…

Team Spirit Garden: Cardinals

Whether you bleed blue or root for the redbirds, use your green thumb to highlight your love for our hometown teams. Garden horticulturist and St. Louis sports fan Tyler Prestien has assembled an all-star lineup for your home garden with a simple theme in mind — local teams, local plants. While these designs are divided…

Team Spirit Garden: Blues

From the Library: Rebuilding the Bateman Book (Part 2)

Conservation work on the Peter H. Raven Library’s copy of The Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala has begun! Follow along as we document this painstaking restoration of one of the largest and grandest volumes in the Garden’s rare book collection. The Pages of Books Get Dirty Liquid spills, soiled hands, coal-burning furnaces, oil-burning lamps, drops to the…

Women in Garden History

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re taking a look back at the work of some important women throughout the Garden’s past. When most people think of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s history, the first name that comes to mind is that of Henry Shaw, the Garden’s founder. In establishing the Garden, Shaw of course played an…

Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day—And Every Day

This year, don’t just wear green; take your St. Patrick’s Day spirit a little further by being green. Being “green” means looking for ways to lessen potentially harmful effects on the environment by altering your everyday life. That may sound like a big commitment, but being green can be easy, despite what you might have…

Spotlight on Science: Monica Carlsen

A monthly look at the people behind plant science at the Missouri Botanical Garden Dr. Monica Carlsen Assistant Scientist, Education Coordinator, Research Before Dr. Monica Carlsen moved from Venezuela to St. Louis for graduate school, she had never heard of St. Louis or Missouri. But she had heard of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Carlsen had…

Plant Science Superstars

Some of America’s all-star athletes have spent the past couple of weeks at the Winter Olympics bringing home the gold (and silver and bronze), but did you know there are some all-stars closer to home, too? While they may not be champions of ice dancing or curling, the Missouri Botanical Garden is home to some…