Current Events
- Garden Party Lights
- Best of Missouri Market
- Garden Treasure Hunt
- Leafing Through History: Plants That Make Paper
First Installation for Grow Solar STL
Grow Solar STL is a reduced-cost solar installation initiative that makes solar installation more affordable and accessible for homeowners in the St. Louis area. The program is the result of a partnership between the Garden, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and Washington University.
Last month, local installation experts at StraightUp Solar completed their first install for the program at the home of Mark Wrighton, former chancellor of Washington University.
Educational Solar Power Hours run through November 6. The deadline to sign up for the group buy program is November 15. You can learn more about the program here.
The Stanley Cup Visits the Garden
On September 20, the Stanley Cup stopped by for a brief visit to have its photo taken on one of our Victoria water lilies.
The Victorias in the Garden’s Central Axis are officially the largest they have ever been thanks to an extended growing season made possible by newly heated pools and LED grow lights in Garden greenhouses. Some pads span more than 7 feet across.
While the Victoria lilies are capable of holding an impressive amount of weight, they can only do so when the weight is carefully distributed. Garden horticulturist Derek Lyle constructed a custom platform beneath the lily to ensure that neither the Cup nor the Victoria was damaged.
Tree Week 2019
Celebrate the Garden’s fantastic fall color at the second annual Tree Week, October 27 to November 3. Take a docent-led tour of the Garden’s impressive tree collection, or simply soak in the show-stopping hues of the Japanese maples in the Japanese Garden. Plan your Tree Week or celebrate with this Tree ID quiz.
Garden Scientists Honored
Dr. Patricia Barbera Sanchez
Recently appointed Krukoff Curator of African Botany Dr. Patricia Barbera Sanchez has been awarded the Extraordinary PhD Award by the University Autonóma of Madrid. This prestigious honor is bestowed just once per year for the finest PhD defended in the university’s biology program.
James Trager
Dr. James Trager received the William A. Davit Award for Prairie Communicator of the Year from the Missouri Prairie foundation. Dr. Trager was the naturalist and restoration ecologist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 29 years before retiring in June. He is being recognized for his contributions to communicating the importance of prairie ecology. Earlier this summer, he also received the Erna Eisendrath Memorial Education Award for individuals who have conveyed to others a significant appreciation and knowledge of Missouri’s native flora.
Garden and Zoo Win 2019 World Ecology Award
The Whitney R. Harris Ecology Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis has awarded its 2019 World Ecology Award to the Garden and the St. Louis Zoo in honor of their exceptional, decades-long conservation initiatives in Madagascar. The Garden began its work in Madagascar in the 1970s and has worked collaboratively with the Zoo since 2006. The World Ecology Award not only recognizes the two institutions’ efforts to save endangered plants and animals in Madagascar, but also their work training scientists and building organizational capacity to protect the nation’s biodiversity into the future. The award will be presented at the 23rd World Ecology Award Gala on November 15.
Garden Glow Tickets Now On Sale
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it St. Louis’ favorite holiday light show. Tickets to Garden Glow are now on sale. All proceeds go to support our conservation and research efforts–both here in St. Louis and far beyond.
Photo by Mary Lou Olson
New Water Feature in the Bavarian Garden
The Floyd Pfautch Bavarian Garden at the Garden’s southeastern boundary is now home to a long-awaited water feature. This month, the area surrounding it will be filled in as horticulture staff continues fall plantings.
Kristina DeYong
Digital Media Specialist