Sunflower Hill Farm

Beautiful Sunflower Silos


In this post I will be reviewing my visit to Sunflower Hill Farm and the beautiful silos painted in sunflowers that are nearby.                   

Sunflower Hill Farm

My cousin and I were looking for a good place to meet for lunch on a sunny afternoon in May.  I mentioned I wanted to photograph the painted sunflower silos in the wine country near us and she suggested a nearby cafe at Sunflower Hill Farms.  It was an excellent choice.  Our food was great and the whole place was a great relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

We ate on the patio and and I enjoyed a delicious veggie grilled cheese, it consisted of provolone and cheddar cheese along with mushrooms, peppers, spinach and onions, all grilled on sourdough bread.  Yummy.

Sunflower Hill Farm is a wonderful event space too. The farm is located on 130 acres.  Along with the cafe there is a shop  with homemade items on sale.  There is also a nursery on the property and a large event space.  The farm has become a delightful wedding and event space.  As you can see in the photo below, the event area sits up on the hill overlooking the Missouri river valley.  

Sunflower Hill Farms is located at 245 Terry Road in Augusta, Missouri.  On their website www.sunflowerhillfarm.com they have listed lots of information about their events, calendar, and a menu from the cafe.  If you are in the area, I would highly recommend this venue.  Here are a few of my photos.

Painted Silos

These beautiful silos were commissioned by the owners of the Sunflower Hill Farm.  They are located near the Katy  Trail just south of the entrance to the farm. It is at mile marker 661.6 on the Katy Trail. They were  painted by artist Anne Molasky and her painting partner Kim Alsop and were finished in the fall of 2023.

These vibrant sunflower paintings are a nice stop for people along the Katy Trail.  There is also acess to them off of Hwy 94 halfway between Defiance and Augusta deep in the heart of Missouri Wine Country.  

I stopped to visit and take photographs of these beautiful works of art just before I visited Sunflower Hill Farms.  They are quite amazing to look at from all different angles. I would have loved to see them as they were being painted.  Very talented artists!

 Zazzle Products

Here is a link to a greeting card made from my sunflower silos photograph.

Sunflower Silo Greeting Card

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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HYBYCOZO at Missouri Botanical Garden

 

In this review I will be reviewing my visit to the HYBYCOZO exhibit at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Missouri Botanical Garden has hosted works from some very talented artists over the years.  This year from April through August they are home to works by HYBYCOZO. This exhibit called Patterns in Nature, allows you to explore 21 intricately designed installations throughout the garden.

 In early May I visited the garden to photograph some of these beautiful works.  I went during the daytime, and they were stunning among all the beautiful blooming flowers in May.  The garden will also be open several evenings for special viewings of the sculptures called LightForm. 

About the Artists

The following information on the artists were copied from the brochure handed out at the garden.

"Artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk began HYBCOZO in 2014, drawing inspiration from the inherent beauty found in mathematics, science, and natural phenomena.

Originally from Ukraine, Filipchuk attended the University of California, Berkeley and studied Conservation and Resource studies, concentrating on patterns in the natural world, biomimicry, and environmental science.  Beaulieu attended Carleton University in his native Canada and studied Industrial Design.

Together, their large-scale geometric artworks push the boundaries of technology, lighting, and fabrication.  HYBYCOZO has been featured in cities from San Francisco to London and from the galleries of the Smithsonian to the deserts of Burning Man.  The artists created six new custom pieces for St. Louis, inspired by the living collections and conservation mission of the Garden."

My Photographs of the HYBYCOZO Works

The sculptures were all so very different and with the theme of Patterns in Nature they all worked so well into the garden. Here are a few of my favorites.

Here is the sculpture that is at the entrance to the gardens.

This photograph was taken by reaching into one of the works and photographing the tops of the sculpture from the inside.

I love how this one sits between the columns.

These bright pink sculptures sit in the reflecting pool in front of the Climatron.

There are several sculptures in the gardens that are reflective.  They mirror the surrounding garden features.

The Iris were in Bloom

One of my favorite flowers to photograph at the Gardens are their beautiful Iris.  They have a huge area with lots of Iris in a multitude of colors.  They were in full bloom when we visited so I was able to take lots of photos.  Here are a few of them.

Many if my photographs are sold on Zazzle.  Here is a link to one of my Iris cards.

Iris Delight Card

More Reviews of Missouri Botanical Garden 

I have written several reviews on Missouri Botanical Garden over the years.  Here are links to a view of those reviews.

Missouri Botanical Garden in the Winter

Japanese Garden

Review of Missouri Botanical Garden

Origami in the Garden

Garden Photography Tips

Learn More about Missouri Botanical Garden

If you would like to learn more about the garden, here is an Amazon book that you will find interesting and informative. Missouri Botanical Garden

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Missouri Botanical Gardens in the Winter

 

Explore Missouri Botanical Gardens

In St. Louis we have a beautiful botanical garden that has been in continuous operation since 1859.  It was founded by Henry Shaw and is one of the few gardens to achieve National Historic Landmark status.  I have spent many hours visiting the garden during the spring, summer, and fall times, but until this year, I had not visited it in the winter.  What a delightful experience!  In February my son and his family were visiting us from New Hampshire, and I took my daughter-in-law and two granddaughters to visit the gardens.  We had a wonderful time.  

Orchid Show

I had often seen photos of the annual orchid show but had never been to the garden to see it.  This show is held in February when the more than 5000 individual plants are moved from the greenhouses to the Emerson Conservatory.  The botanical garden has over 700 unique kinds of orchids, which are cared for year-round by the horticulture staff.  Here are a few of my favorite photos from the orchid show.

Growing Orchids at Home

In the brochure we received at the orchid show there is a section that talks about how easy orchids are to grow at home under the right conditions.  Here some key points.

• Potting medium  - many orchids grow best when their roots are exposed to the air.  There are mixes for the pot that help with this aeration.
• Temperature- most orchids are comfortable at room temperature- 60-80 F 
• Humidity- 40-70% is ideal, this can be achieved by placing pots on a gravel-lined try filled with water.
• Light- Orchids like a sunny room or artificial lights.  If leaves turn yellow or lanky they need more light.
• Water- Make sure potting mix nearly dries out before watering again.

I found this book on Amazon that helps you in growing orchids.

No Stress Orchid Gardening for Beginners

Chinese Garden

It was a beautiful day out, so after visiting the orchid show I took my granddaughters and daughter-in-law to some of my favorite spots in the garden.  There were not any flowers blooming at this time of the year but the beauty of the sculptures and structures around the park made for a delightful visit.

Our first stop was at the Chinese Garden, this garden was designed by Chinese born architect Yong Pan.  It is modeled after "scholars gardens" in the southern provinces of China.  

Here are some of the photos I took of my granddaughters exploring the garden.

Japanese Garden

A favorite place of mine to explore at the gardens is the Japanese Garden.  I wanted to show this to my granddaughters, so we took a stroll to the garden and walked around the lake to experience all of the sculptures and features of the Japanese Garden.  This 14-acre garden is called Seiw-en and was dedicated in 1977.  I have photographed it often through the years. Here are some of my photos.

The Garden through the Years

I have taken photography classes at the garden and have enjoyed my visits through the years.  Here are some other reviews I have written on the garden.

Japanese Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden

Origami in the Garden

Garden Photography Tips

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Japanese Garden-Missouri Botanical Garden

 

When I visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the area I always gravitate to is the Japanese Gardens.  In this post, I will be reviewing my last visit to the gardens and sharing the photos that I took of this beautiful, serene garden.  The scene above shows the Japanese Bridge as it goes over to Teahouse Island.   It is what you see as you enter the path the goes around the lake in the garden.

The garden at St. Louis is considered to be the largest Japanese strolling garden in the country. It covers 14 acres in the Missouri Botanical Garden.

My Visit to the Japanese Garden

I visited the garden on a beautiful day in early July.  My sister and I took the tram from the entrance of the botanical garden and got off on the stop for the Japanese Garden.  From there we took the path to stroll around the large lake and enjoy the serenity of the afternoon.  I stopped to photograph many of the historic lanterns that were found around the path.  One near the entrance was from the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904. It is the first one in the photos below. Others were gifts from various cities in Japan.  You can find out more about them at the link I list at the bottom of the page.  Here are a few photos of the different lanterns.

The lanterns were placed within the beauty of the garden and add to the peaceful setting.

The garden also has some wonderful waterfalls that give you a peaceful feeling.  The one below is one that I have photographed often in the past.  The foliage around it gives it different feels, depending on the time of year you visit.

An interesting feature of the garden is a bench in the shape of a flower.  It is an Anemome and is the favorite flower of Courtney Bean Obeta, a St. Louis artist.  It was designed in her memory.

Another interesting bridge is this crooked bridge that goes out into the water.  It is a favorite for children (and adults) to walk.

I hope you have enjoyed my pictorial review of my visit to the Japanese Garden in St. Louis.  To learn more here is an Amazon book you might like.  https://amzn.to/4cscM3v .

I have written other reviews on the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  Here are some links to my reviews.

https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2023/10/review-of-missouri-botanical-garden.html

Review of Origami in the Garden (reviewthisreviews.com)

I invite you to read more about this beautiful garden at the Missouri Botanical website on the Japanese garden page. Japanese Garden

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review of The Riverlands

Just north of St. Louis, Missouri the Mississippi and Missouri rivers combine.  This confluence is fun to see and on a warm summer day, I took a trip there with my granddaughters who were visiting from New Hampshire.  The photo above shows a barge waiting on the Mississippi to get through the lock and dams.

The Riverlands

The Riverlands is a 3700 acre migratory bird sanctuary that is located in West Alton.  This area is home to prairie land, wetland and forest habitats where both resident and migratory birds find refuge.

More than 300 different species of birds have been seen in this area.  Many species make their homes there and other stop for feed and rest as the migrate down the "Mississippi River Flyway" spring and fall.  It is said that over 60% of all North American migratory birds use this flyway.

The Riverlands is open to the public from sunrise to sunset each day.  It is a fantastic place to observe and/or photograph birds.  The area offers 8 miles of walking and hiking trails and also offers bicycle trails.

Audubon Center at the Riverlands

Our first stop when we entered the Riverlands was the Audubon Center.  Here you can find lots of information and displays about both the birds and the Missouri and Mississippi confluence and how it affects the ecosystem.  This center offers educational opportunities, as well as information on conservation.  It has several platforms for public viewing and scopes that take you into the middle of the Mississippi flyway to observe migratory birds.  The wall facing the Mississippi is made of glass and gives you a wonderful way to view birds all year round in all types of weather.

When we visited it was mid June, so of course there was not much to see in the way of migratory birds, but a very helpful volunteer took the girls out to the side of the center to tell them all about the "Purple Martins" that lived there.  Here are a couple of photos.

 The volunteer pointed out how the birds were feeding their babies. It was very interesting.

Confluence

The volunteers at the center suggested we drive up the road a bit and stop at the path that takes you to the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi rivers.  We decided to do that and took the path which was about 1/3 of a mile long.

The Mississippi River is called the "Father of Waters". On it's path north from the Gulf of Mexico, it drains 32 US states and two Canadian Provinces.

The Missouri River is the longest river in the US.  It starts in southwestern Montana where the Rocky Mountains are and then flows east and south for 241 miles before it enters the Mississippi just north of St. Louis.

Here is a photo I took of the confluence.

Story from our Visit

While we were there, we took photos on a platform that faced the two rivers.  It was my brother and his wife, my two granddaughters and myself.  After the photo my 15-year-old granddaughter, Kate, decided to take a closer look at the Mississippi and found herself stuck in mud almost to her knees.  A nearby fisherman ended up pulling her out, but her shoes did not come with her.  My brother took some big sticks and was able to get the shoes out, so we had Kate sit on a platform by the confluence and wash out her shoes.

It would be good if that was the end of the story, but you can see by this photo how muddy it was and when Kate finished washing her shoes, she put them back on and in two steps they had sunk in the mud again.  This time my brother could not get them out, so Kate lost her shoes to the "Muddy Mississippi".  She walked back to the car barefoot and we took bottles of water to try to get some of the mud off her feet.  So now we have a story to tell from our adventure.

Here is a link to an Amazon Book if you'd like to learn more about the Mississippi. https://amzn.to/3RNqkyd

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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