Thursday, October 26, 2023

Review of Missouri Botanical Garden

 

Purple Water Lily
Water Lily and Reflection
Missouri Botanical Garden in South St Louis is a wonderful place to discover nature and so much more.  The garden was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw on his country estate.  Today it is a National Historic Landmark and is considered to be one of the top 3 botanical gardens in the world.

Some highlights to see and do when you visit the garden include:
  • Climatron- a geodesic dome that is used as a conservatory.
  • The Doris L Schnuck Children's Garden- this area is a delight for children and I have spent many hours there with my granddaughters when they were visiting.
  • Japanese Garden- this beautiful area is one of my favorite spots to stroll in the garden.
  • Chinese Garden- another favorite spot of mine in the garden.
  • Tower Grove House
  • William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening
These are but a few of the many interesting highlights in the garden.  The garden is also the host to many festivals and special events.  I recently toured the garden on a special night they had for photographers to photograph the Chihuly works of art that were featured in the garden from May through October.

Chihuly Exhibit

Dale Chihuly is a world-renowned artist who does amazing works with glass.  In his works in the Missouri Botanical Garden art and nature are united in a fantastic exhibition.  

I spent several hours at the exhibit in mid-September where I entered the garden at about 6 pm when it was still daylight and stayed for several hours so that I could also capture the beauty of the Chihuly art lit up in the night.  Here are a few of the photographs that I took. The first one shows the first Chihuly art I saw when entering the garden.
Lime Green Glass Art
Chihuly-Vivid Lime Icicle
The next three photos show a beautiful red and yellow tower that I photographed first in the daylight, then closeup and finally a nighttime shot with the crescent moon above it. 
Bright red and yellow glass art
Chihuly Tower in Daylight

Section of Chihuly Art
Closeup of Chihuly Tower

Chihuly Art at Missouri Botanical Garden
Chihuly Tower at Night

The next photo was taken at night in the lake by the Japanese garden.
Chihuly Art in Japanese Garden
Float Boat and Niijima Floats

Here are three more of photos from the exhibit.
Boat filled with Chihuly Glass Art
Boat with Chihuly Art in Reflecting Pool

Blue  Glass Reeds
Turquoise Martins in Chinese Garden

White Tower through Oval Opening
White Tower in Blanke Boxwood Garden


These are just a few of the many Chihuly works of art throughout the garden.  It was truly an inspiring experience.

Water Lilies in the Garden

Along with the Chihuly works I was able to enjoy the flowers in the garden when we first entered in the daylight.  My favorite flowers that were blooming in mid-September were the beautiful water-lilies.  They were in several pools within the garden.  The ones I liked the best were the ones that I photographed in the reflecting pools in the central axis area of the garden.  My favorite is the purple one in the opening photo for this article.  The light was fading and it really made the reflections of the flowers stand out.  Here are a few more of my favorites.
Lavender Water Lily and Reflection

Pink Water Lilies with Reflections
Water Lily

White Water Lily
Reflecting Pool

Purple Water Lily
Stunning Purple Water Lily

I hope you have enjoyed this brief review of the Missouri Botanical Garden and if you visit the area I hope you will be able to enjoy the Garden.

Origami in the Garden

In 2021 the Garden hosted an exhibit of origami art.  Here is a link to a review that I wrote. Origami in the Garden





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7 comments:

  1. Every time I visit my daughter in St. Louis, she says we should take time to go to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. She's been there many times and loves it. I'll make it one of these visits. Meanwhile, I shall enjoy the beauty of this place through your fantastic photographs. The Chihuly art works are truly amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love visiting places like this and if I ever make it to Missouri I will be going to this Botanical garden! Love the art and the waterlilies. In the meantime thank you for your gorgeous photographs which really show the beauty and artistry of this place.

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  3. The Missouri Botanical Garden sounds (and looks) like someplace I could happily while away the hours. I love the Asian gardening aesthetic and would love to spend time in the Japanese and Chinese gardens. I’m a huge fan of Dale Chihuly’s work and there’s nothing like seeing it “up close and personal,” especially in such a splendid setting. Thank you for this wonderful vicarious visit to this beautiful place!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful garden! A little paradise that anyone could visit. As always, your photos are gorgeous, Mary Beth. I love the flower reflections in the water. Dale Chihuly's glass art is amazing and the photo your captured from behind the brick wall is stunning!

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  5. Wow! what a wonderful tour. If I ever get a chance to visit Missouri this Botanical Garden will be on my list. The Chihuly art is outstanding, as are your photos, as always. Thanks for the tour.

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  6. Stunning garden! Pictures are gorgeous - My brother is in the process of moving to St. Louis, his wife lives there, and thanks to all your posts about St. Louis, if I visit I can check back on your recommendations - This is one I'd like to see

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful and as always your pictures just make all of the flowers come to life right before my eyes. I will definitely have to put these gardens on my wish list of places to visit. I love strolling through all that nature shares with us. Thanks Mary Beth for this lovely interlude in my day!

    ReplyDelete

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