The warmth of the July sun sets off a frenzy of growth as plants reach for the peak of their potential. The delicate greens of spring and early summer deepen, and plants that were small and humble just weeks ago now overwhelm the landscape with explosive color. Midsummer in St. Louis is not unlike weather in the tropics, so plants from those parts of the world thrive, with water lilies being a highlight. July also sees the peak bloom of daylilies, the lotus shore, coneflowers, and other favorites. Take a virtual stroll through the Garden with 30 of our favorite photos from July.
The Jenkins Daylily Garden reached peak bloom in mid-July. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A bee visits rose of Sharon, a type of hibiscus, along the edge of the Kemper Gardens. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Bright pink coneflowers are framed by other prairie blooms in the Christopher Biraben Butterfly Meadow. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
An abundance of tropical plantings thrive in the direct sun of the Victorian District’s Formal Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Daylilies bloom in the foreground of Victory of Science Over Ignorance. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A white rose is framed by the Chihuly glass trellises of the Gladney Rose Garden. Photo by Cassidy Moody.
Sprinklers water the Sensory Garden for an early morning drink. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A bee pollinates coneflowers in the Christopher Biraben Butterfly Meadow. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Wildflowers bloom in the Christopher Biraben Butterfly Meadow. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Gladiolus blooms in the Bulb Garden. Photo by Tom Incrocci.
Globe thistle, another pollinator favorite, grows in the Lehmann Rose Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Visitors stroll by the water lilies and annual plantings in the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Victoria water lilies approach the peak of their growth in the Central Axis pools. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Mosaic plant spreads across the surface of the water in the easternmost pool of the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Cassidy Moody.
Shasta daisies bloom in the Kemper Center Gardens. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Lush greenery, lily pools, and large trees make the Chinese Garden a lovely spot to step into the shade. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A large yellow coneflower blooms in theChristopher Biraben Butterfly Meadow. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A lotus blooms along the shore in the Japanese Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
The smell of flowering dill perfumes the air in the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A prickly water lily blooms in the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Cassidy Moody.
A honeybee visits allium ‘Millennium’ blooming in the Kemper Center Gardens. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Sunflowers grow tall in the Sensory Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Strawberry fruits grow from a hanging basket. Photo by Tom Incrocci.
A basket of trailing plants hangs on display in the Kemper Gardens. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Currently under construction, the Linnean House is closed to the public, but even from the outside, its architecture adds beauty to the landscape. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Chorus Line’ blooms in the Jenkins Daylily Garden. Photo by Tom Incrocci.
Black-eyed Susans thrive in the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
Tropical plantings adorn the historic entrance to the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum. Photo by Kristina Schall DeYong.
A spicebush swallowtail visits zinnias in the Swift Family Garden. Photo by Cassidy Moody.
Summer plantings surround the Central Axis pools; here, they frame the Sunglitter fountain in the easternmost pool.
The Botanical Garden continues to be a blessing to all of St. Louis. I grew up with visits to the Garden. Don’t live there anymore. Really appreciate this post.
The Botanical Garden continues to be a blessing to all of St. Louis. I grew up with visits to the Garden. Don’t live there anymore. Really appreciate this post.