Dr. Peter Raven Recounts the Creation of the Japanese Garden

In his nearly 40 years as Missouri Botanical Garden President, Dr. Peter Raven oversaw a period of unprecedented growth, including the creation of some of the Garden’s most beloved areas — the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden (Chinese Garden), Blanke Boxwood Garden, and English Woodland Garden among them. In his autobiography Driven by Nature: A…

Plant Profile: Osage Orange

It’s one of the most eye-catching things you’ll ever see on the ground, but do you know the story behind it?

Cajun Cooking, Chubby Cheeks, and Dumbledore: The Iris Name Game

Everybody knows to stop and smell the roses, but do you stop to read the signs? Peak Iris bloom is expected to hit around the second week of May, and if you read the name plates, you’ll notice something unusual in the Goodman Iris Garden: the flower names. Among the Irises, you’ll see names like…

Have Ewe Herd? The Sheep Are on the Move

For the first time in over a decade, the Garden’s scientists have noted a change in the behavior of that famous flock of sheep. They have now migrated to a fresh new grazing patch 20 feet from their original location. Anyone who knows the Garden knows the sheep sculptures just as well. A familiar staple…

Garden of Thrones

Lamenting the end of Game of Thrones? We’re here for you. After all, where else in the 7 kingdoms of St. Louis can you sit on an actual throne? And that’s not the only GoT inspiration you can find at MoBOT. Take the Kingsroad (Kingshighway) to the Missouri Botanical Garden and let your inner dragon…

Hiding in Plain Sight

Get up close to the best-kept secrets in the Climatron. The Climatron® Conservatory has been a Garden icon since its opening in 1960, but many visitors may pass through this tropical environment unaware it hosts one of the Garden’s best-kept secrets under its geodesic dome. While visiting the Climatron in the late 1990s, a gecko…

Bulb to Bloom: Tulips Shine in Spring

The arrival of Spring is a time of colorful transformation at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Thousands of tulips and other annuals burst into bloom, creating a sea of bright yellows and reds, soft pinks and whites, brilliant orange and deep purple. It’s a favorite attraction for visitors, and makes for a stunning subject for photographers….

Henry Shaw’s Historic Museum to Get New Life

Be among the first to experience the recently rehabilitated Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum.  The museum is one of the Garden’s most iconic buildings, and its history dates back to Garden founder Henry Shaw and his vision for the Missouri Botanical Garden. By spring 2018, when the project is set to be completed, the museum…

The Garden’s long history with lawns

Beyond the chirping of birds and buzzing of bees, there’s another sound synonymous with Spring… the whir of lawnmowers being called back into action after taking the winter off. Just like other plants in your garden, grass requires certain care to keep your lawn healthy and looking lush. Luckily, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been…

Warm winter raises climate change questions

The U.S. just experienced its 6th-warmest winter, according to updated climate data from NOAA. And Missouri was one of 16 states that saw record warmth in February. The effects of this record warmth are on full display at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Magnolias, flowering cherry trees, and daffodils all sprung into bloom weeks ahead of…