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Queen Butterflies Spotted in St. Louis

Late summer is the perfect time to view one of our area’s showiest pollinators, the monarch butterfly. But this year, it’s not the only royal visiting the St. Louis region. Tad Yankoski, Entomologist at the Butterfly House, says two queen butterflies (Danaus gilippus) have recently been spotted around town. The queen is a cousin of…

From the Library: Rebuilding the Bateman Book (Part 5)

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. What Is Alum? Alum is an aluminum salt that has been used for hundreds of years to process…

Propagating Perennials

As the sun sets on summer, it’s time to start thinking about dividing your perennials. The end of July through September is the best time to divide most spring and summer blooming perennials, like irises and peonies, because it gives them a chance to develop good root systems before cold weather sets in. Given proper care,…

From the Library: Context be Damned | Bacon’s New Atlantis

Francis Bacon is largely known for his Novum Organum Scientiarum (the philosophy that established the scientific method), Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning, Divine and Human (proposing that higher education of everyone is beneficial to society as a whole), and New Atlantis. It is this last tract in Bacon’s oeuvre that is most misunderstood—and in…

From Classroom to Career | 3 Teachers Who Inspired Garden Researchers to Pursue Science

As the school year starts up once again, students across the country are getting to know their new teachers. Those teachers will help students learn and grow throughout the school year, and some will likely make impacts that last lifetimes and shape careers. Many members of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s research staff were inspired by…

Spotlight on Science: Dr. Pete Lowry

Dr. Pete Lowry Senior Curator and Director of the Africa & Madagascar Program When Pete Lowry thinks about the beginnings of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s work in Madagascar, he is still taken aback by what the program has become. Lowry was among the first Garden scientists who traveled to Madagascar decades ago to collect plants…

Be Inspired: Go Outside

Save the Earth. It’s an inspiring but daunting call to action. In a world where time and resources seem to be more scarce, it’s hard to think about what you can do to help. However, every small action has a ripple effect. Plant More. Use Less. Go Outside. Three small actions that can lead to…

Spice Up Your Garden with Ornamental Peppers

Looking to add a pop of color to your garden? Ornamental peppers, a showy annual with colorful foliage and fruits, can add color and a whimsical aesthetic to your backyard. Peppers are becoming increasingly popular as ornamental plants for home gardens. The fruits are actually safe to eat, but the flavor and heat can make…

Be Inspired: Plant More

Building Tomorrow’s Botanists Today

When Monica Carlsen met fourteen-year-old Gabrielle McAuley at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s science open house in the spring, she assumed the teen’s father had talked her into going to the event. As it turns out, it was the other way around. “I made my dad come down here to look at volunteer opportunities,” McAuley said on…

Be Inspired: Use Less

Grow Your Own Salsa Garden

The St. Louis Cardinals are heating up. And if you believe the hype, Matt Carpenter’s secret salsa may have something to do with the team’s summer resurgence. .@MattCarp13 with a new career-high by smashing his 29th home run! WHAT IS IN THAT SALSA!#ItsGottaBeTheSalsa 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pVI4To6eDL — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 5, 2018 This is…