Who is Percy Julian? Percy Julian was a chemist who participated in the synthesis and large-scale production of steroids from plant compounds. The grandson of enslaved people, Julian studied chemistry and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1920 from DePauw University. Among his many accomplishments, Julian collaborated with his colleague Josef Pikl on the…
Category: Our Community
The Plantmoji Project: 2020 Updates
Gardening 🌿 teaches us many things, including patience and the acceptance of failures 🤦‍♀️. So too, it turns out, does emoji-making. In 2019 the Garden submitted đź“© a proposal for an official orchid emoji to the Unicode Consortium, the governing body that oversees emoji. One year later the orchid remains close to reaching its goal…
Plan a #Plantsgiving Feast
Turkey is the headline-grabbing star of most Thanksgiving meals. But plants are the real heavy-lifting heroes. From savory seasonings to sweet desserts, almost every dish on the dinner table will have at least one botanical ingredient. Whether you are preparing the food or just enjoying it this Thanksgiving, give thanks to the plants making this…
30 Things You Might Not Know About the Climatron
The Climatron® is an architectural marvel filled to the brim with tropical plants from all over the world. A lot has happened in the 60 years since it first opened to the public. From history to pop culture, and even an alligator encounter, here are 30 things you might not know about the Climatron. In…
Therapeutic Horticulture at Home
Therapeutic Horticulture is all about a connection to nature. We use a variety of means to enhance an individual’s connection through sensory exploration, observation, creativity, all with a personal touch. Today, the only thing missing is that personal touch. Still, there are ways to engage with nature while maintaining responsible social distance. Take a Phenology Walk Phenology is…
Inaugural Youth Fellowship Class Sets Course for Environmental Service
The Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship program is gearing up for its third year (2021). We are seeking up to three college freshmen in the St. Louis area who are focusing on horticulture/botany or sustainability/environmental studies. Upon completion of the program, each fellow will receive $2,000 to use for higher education expenses. The new applications…
Remote Research: Single Bug Dad
Throughout the world, closures and lockdowns aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted many people’s lives and work. As a global institution, the Missouri Botanical Garden does research around the world, making travel restrictions a major hindrance. The “stay at home” order means staff has lost access to the Garden’s herbarium and labs,…
Searching for Spring: Scavenger Hunt App
Shelter in place restrictions aimed at fighting the spread of COVID-19 may have many people feeling cooped up indoors. But spring is just outside your door! Wherever you live, spring is all around us. You may find it in your own backyard, or with a simple walk around your neighborhood. A walk is a great…
Cherry Blossoms at the Garden
The best cherry blossom display in the midwest is in St. Louis, right here at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Cruise the Botanical Streets of St. Louis
You can learn a lot about St. Louis simply by reading the signs. Street signs that is. The city’s unique mix of Native American, French, and German influences are prominently posted on street corners in neighborhoods north, south, and everywhere in between. There are streets named after wives, daughters, lawyers, landowners, famous places, cultural icons,…
More Plantmoji Coming in 2020
There will be more plants at your fingertips, thanks to five new plant emoji being added in 2020.
Garden News and Notes: January 2020
The Garden in Madagascar, 71 Homes to Install Solar Power through Garden Program, The Conservation of Fraser Firs, Why Our Scientists Are Studying Guano