Ongoing through Oct. 31 Niki, an outdoor exhibition of 40 whimsical, imaginative mosaic and painted sculptures by French-born artist Niki de Saint Phalle.
Created from fiberglass, stones, glass, mirrors and semi-precious materials, the pieces include animals, mythical figures, musicians, athletes and jubilant, dancing women called Nanas. Visitors may touch many of the sculptures and some invite exploration from the inside out. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Included with admission. Take a Photo Tour of Niki.
Thursday nights through September Enjoy cool evenings, colorful sculptures, and family fun with casual outdoor dining and special treats for children and adults during Niki Nights.
Admission is $7 adults, $3 children and $5 Garden members. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden: A Missouri Adventure remains open until dusk at no extra charge. Purchase tickets now.
Ongoing through Sept. 1 Exploring Trees Inside and Out, a new interactive experience where fun and learning about trees and the natural environment connect. Climb inside a large burr oak, explore the inside of an oversized leaf, and crawl through the hollow of a giant log. The “Exploring Trees Inside and Out” traveling exhibit is a collaborative project of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, touring nationally through 2010 thanks to the generous support of Doubletree. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Brookings Interpretative Center, adjacent to the Climatron. Included with admission.
Strollerobics Register for Strollerobics. Join a certified instructor on a low-impact fitness walk through the Garden and discover areas that are most interesting to young children in strollers. Sessions begin the week of Sept. 8 and continue for eight weeks. Choice of weekday morning one-hour sessions at 9:30 a.m. or Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. Fee for eight sessions is $64 ($56 for Garden members). Limited class size. Pre-registration required; (314) 577-9506.
Early childhood programs Register now for Little Sprouts, Garden Buds, Garden Kids, or Oaks and Acorns childhood programs. Explore the amazing world of nature at the Garden with your child. Little Sprouts and Garden Buds are 90-minute sessions for preschoolers that include a walk, activity, song or story, and a snack. Garden Kids is for ages six through eight. Seniors, bring your favorite 6-12 year old to Oaks and Acorns and make a botanical craft. Fee. Limited class size. Advance registration and payment required. (314) 577-9506. Learn more.
Ongoing in August Blaze a trail to the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden: A Missouri Adventure for outdoor fun and learning! Drop in for “Great Green Adventures” every Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon; Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. August features “Power of Plants” activities. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Children $3, adults free, plus Garden admission.
Sept. 1 The Garden's annual Japanese Festival, presented by Wachovia Securities, features rakugo Japanese comedy, sumo wrestling, taiko drumming, candlelight walks in the Japanese Garden, food court and more. Aug. 30 and 31, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sept. 1 (Labor Day), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10 adults, $7 seniors, $3 Garden members, $3 children ages 3 to 12, free for members’ children (12 and under). Purchase tickets now!
Sept. 6 & 7
Gateway West Gesneriad Society show and sale. New cultivars and old favorites are shown and sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ridgway Center. Included with admission.
Sept. 9
Natural Lawn Care. Learn organic methods for lawn care in this comprehensive overview. 7 to 9 p.m. Ridgway Center. $30. Pre-registration required; (314) 577-9441. For a complete list of fall-winter classes for adults, visit www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp.
Sept. 13 Mighty Monarch Fiesta at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield.
Please join us for an evening of Mexican art, mariachi music, and migrating monarch butterflies. Click here to download an invitation.
Mighty Monarch Fiesta The Butterfly House 15193 Olive Blvd. in Faust Park. [directions]
Saturday, September 13, 2008
6:00p.m.-10:00 p.m. Tickets: $150 per person
Casual Attire Valet parking available
Upgraded ticket and sponsorship opportunities available.
Pre-registration required. Click here to register.
Questions? Call (314) 577-5120 or e-mail liz.papagianis@mobot.org.
Sept. 13
St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society show and sale. New cultivars and old favorites are shown and sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ridgway Center. Included with admission.
Ongoing through Sept. 14
Japanese calligraphy exhibit. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ridgway Center. Included with Garden admission or membership.
Sept. 16
“Unusual Australian Plants Suitable for the U.S.” lecture. Don Ellison presents unusual Australian plants and other underutilized rarities suitable for growing here. A native of Queensland, Ellison is founder and president of Ellison Horticultural Ltd. and has 50 years’ experience in the Australian nursery industry. 1 p.m. Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. Free.
Sept. 17
“Novelties from the Heartland: New Species in Missouri Flora” curator talk. Join Dr. George Yatskievych for an evening of inspired desserts and stories of new discoveries while researching the Flora of Missouri. 7 to 9 p.m. Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. $30. Pre-registration required; (314) 577-9441. For a complete list of fall-winter classes for adults, visit www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp.
Sept. 19 through Nov. 16
Exhibition by artist Ann Cove features nature-botanical art rendered on fabric. 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Ridgway Center. Included with admission.
Sept. 20 & 21
Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sale. New cultivars and old favorites are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ridgway Center. Included with admission. Learn more.
Sept. 25
Gardening 101 seminar. This basic class is packed full of gardening information for beginners. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kemper Center Classroom. $70. Pre-registration required; (314) 577-9441. For a complete list of fall-winter classes for adults, visit www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp.
Sept. 27
“Rhapsody In Bloom.” Light classical music and contemporary dance at several locations throughout the Garden. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Included with admission or membership. Presented by Classic 99 KFUO-FM and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Ongoing in September Blaze a trail to the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden: A Missouri Adventure for outdoor fun and learning! Drop in for “Great Green Adventures” every Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon; Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. September’s theme is “Five A Day the Color Way.” Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Children $3, adults free, plus Garden admission. www.mobot.org/finn
Ongoing through Oct. 31 Plastic garden pot recycling. Drop off clean plastic garden pots and trays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the west parking lot of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Monsanto Center, two blocks west of the Garden at 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer. No metal hangers, clay pots or food plastic accepted. Please separate #6 plastic cell packs and trays from the #2 and #5 plastic pots. Seven local garden centers are also accepting plastic pots for recycling: SummerWinds/Timber Creek, Garden Heights Nursery, Bowood Farms, Crabapple Cove Nursery, University City Gardens, Greenscape Gardens and Rolling Ridge Nursery. (314) 577-9440. Learn more.
Tower Grove House, the Victorian country home of the Garden’s founder, Englishman Henry Shaw, is open March through December. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. (closed Mondays) Admission to the house is included with general Garden admission. Self-guided tours during open hours; guided tours Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Sunday at 1:30 p.m., or by appointment. Closed January-February, Mondays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Early morning walking. In cooperation with the American Heart Association, the grounds open early every Wednesday and Saturday at 7 a.m. to encourage fitness walking. A light breakfast is available for purchase in the Sassafras café, starting at 7 a.m. Fitness walking is included with admission or membership. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and County (ZMD) residents until noon every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the year, except during certain major special events.
Event information is updated on a continual basis. Please call the public relations office at (314) 577-0254 for updates before going to print. Or check the Garden's Media Room for information. Thank you for your interest.
Niki
Exploring Trees Inside and Out
Register for Strollerobics. Join a certified instructor on a low-impact fitness walk through the Garden and discover areas that are most interesting to young children in strollers. Sessions begin the week of Sept. 8 and continue for eight weeks. Choice of weekday morning one-hour sessions at 9:30 a.m. or Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. Fee for eight sessions is $64 ($56 for Garden members). Limited class size. Pre-registration required; (314) 577-9506.
Register now
The Garden's annual Japanese Festival
Plastic garden pot recycling.