Keaveny: A St. Louis Treasure: The Missouri Botanical Garden

At right: The Climatron Conservatory at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a treasure to the City of St. Louis, especially as we enter the spring season. As the garden is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest botanical garden in the United States, it provides a strong sense of pride for the inhabitants of the city. Through the promotion of research, conservation and education, the Missouri Botanical Garden strives to create fun for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The most valuable mission that the Missouri Botanical Garden fulfills is to provide something special for every season. The gardens themselves are living connections to the earth and to different cultures for families, friends, and the occasional tourists in St. Louis.

One of the most recognizable features of the garden is the Climatron Conservatory. Among the 1,200 species of plants, visitors can enjoy the tropical locale while walking by the occasional banana trees and waterfalls.

Fun for all ages extends to kids through the Children’s Garden, which opened April 1. This is a wonderful place for children and families to enjoy hands-on learning and fun. Kids might also enjoy Camp MBG, a full-day summer camp in the months of July and August.

Various types of educational programs and classes are available so that people can bring the beauty back to their homes and communities. The fun community events such as holiday brunches and free evening, outdoor music festivals also add to the year-round garden experiences. Some events require reservations and fees, but there are frequent cost-free events for all to enjoy as well. With all that the Missouri Botanical Garden has to offer, guests are sure to experience new, unique adventures year-round.

In order to fully capture all that the Missouri Botanical Garden has to offer, visit http://www.mobot.org or call the 24-hour recorded event hotline at (314) 577-9400 or toll-free 1-800-642-8842 for visitor information.

The 79-acre Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis, accessible from Interstate 44 at the Vandeventer exit. Free parking is available on site and at the corner of Shaw and Vandeventer.