Current Events:
Photo by Marissa Billmeyer
Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month at the Garden with these family-friendly events and more planned throughout February.
Featured programming focuses on the legacy of George Washington Carver, with storytelling, hands-on soil science demonstrations, and other activities. You can also read more about the Garden’s connection with Carver on our blog.
On February 25, gather for Carver-inspired cooking demonstrations in Bayer Hall and a performance of Polka Dots: The Cool Kids Musical, a colorful history lesson reminding us that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts. More information on these opportunities can be found here.
Also throughout the month of February, Unique Voices: Progress Against All Odds is on display in the Beaumont Room.
Orchid Emoji Proposed by Missouri Botanical Garden Passes First Rounds of Approval
In 2019, the Missouri Botanical Garden made a case for more #plantmoji, our term for plant emoji 🌱. As part of that push we submitted a proposal 📑 to create an official orchid emoji. We’re excited 🥳 to report our proposal has been recommended by the Emoji Subcommittee as a provisional candidate. There are still several rounds of approval ✅ needed, but if all goes well the orchid emoji could find its way to your smartphone as soon as 2021.
At left is a large-scale look at the orchid emoji proposed by the Garden, designed by Sam Balmer. Check out our recent blog post to meet the new plantmoji coming to your smartphone this year.
Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center Construction Begins
Visible progress is now underway on the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center as Phase 1 of construction has begun. This first phase of the project, scheduled to be completed by October, will see the construction of the East Wing of the new Visitor Center. You can watch a live feed of that construction work here.
Garden Named a Green Business Champion
The Missouri Botanical Garden was named Champion of the St. Louis Green Business Challenge Class of 2019.
The Garden is one of 61 companies, non-profits, and governmental bodies that completed the challenge last year by advancing sustainability in operations and programs.
Pictured left to right, starting with the back row, are a few of the many Garden staff that make sustainability a priority every day: Glenda Abney, Rob Kennedy, Sarah Palermo, Joyce Gorrell, Katherine Golden, Angelina O’Donnell, Cassidy Moody, (first row) Haley O’Toole, Morgan Maul-Smith, and Jean Ponzi.
The Garden submitted a Champion Innovation Project titled, “Expanding Sustainability Tours at Missouri Botanical Garden.” You can read more about that and other projects in the Challenge here.
Water Lilies Photography Exhibit Now on Display
For over 125 years, water lilies have captivated visitors at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The novelty of the lily pads and their vibrant blooms demand onlookers’ attention, so it’s no surprise that these striking plants have often been the subject of photography.
Water Lilies spotlights some of the best of images in our collection and offers the chance to see the lilies through the eyes of a photographer. The exhibit is now on display in Bayer Hall, located on the second floor of the Ridgway Visitor Center.
Kristina Schall DeYong––Digital Media Specialist