The Missouri Botanical Garden: this large, 79-acre garden is a living museum devoted to plants - St. Louis, MO - includes visitor information

Flower & Garden Magazine, August-Sept, 1994 by Ellen Henke

The main path that loops around the entire Missouri Botanical Garden eventually passes through the English Woodland Garden before bringing visitors to an access path into the Lehmann Rose Garden. The view from the gazebo is breathtaking. Here you can stroll through 1-1/2 acres of perfectly detailed, fragrant, magnificent roses in every shape, color and size imaginable. All-America Rose Selections roses are cultivated and tested here as well. At the far end of the Lehmann Rose Garden is Shapleigh Fountain, a brick plaza ringed by three curtains of water.

Henry Shaw, an early American entrepreneur, first opened his country home and botanical eden to the public in 1859. This avid and intrepid plantsman was intent on sharing his love of plants with the American public.

The Shaw residence, Tower Grove House, is still perfectly appointed with Victorian antiques. A tour of the house offers a nice diversion and another perspective on the life of this great patron of botany and gardening in America.

Shaw came to the United States from England when he was 18 to re-establish his family's failing Sheffield cutlery business and provide for his parents in their old age. St. Louis provided Shaw with the opportunity of being in the right place at the right time. Westward-bound pioneers bought his knives and hatchets, while Indians and fur traders snapped up his traps. Profits were immense and by age 40 Shaw was able to retire, travel, build new homes and create his horticultural gift to America.

The Missouri Botanical Garden represents Shaw's replication of the magnificent English gardens at Chatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire's county seat, near his Sheffield childhood home. An undulating greensward - called the Knolls - at the Missouri Botanical Garden is reminiscent of the English naturalistic landscapes of the great designer Capability Brown.

Along the edge of the Knolls are several specialty gardens including the formal Gladney Rose Garden, the Goodman Iris Garden and the Bulb Gardens. If you visit during June or July don't miss the Jenkins Daylily Garden, which should be at the peak of bloom.

The most dramatic feature of this section of the garden is the Milles Sculpture Garden complete with three spectacular water lily ponds all set on a formal axis with the Climatron. The central circular pool features the Amazon water lilies Victoria cruziana and Victoria x |Longwood,' which can produce leaves up to 6 feet wide. The two rectangular pools feature a collection of tropical water lily hybrids. The delicate sculptures "Three Angel Musicians" and "Two Girls Dancing," by Carl Milles, complete this garden picture.

Shaw, who never married, devoted his time, interest and money to his beloved garden. Upon his death in 1889, the garden was left to a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. In 1971 his legacy was designated a National Historical Landmark. Although alterations have been made to accommodate changing times, Shaw's original mission continues as the driving force of the Missouri Botanical Garden.