April 2-3 At The Missouri Botanical Garden
Kick-off spring and celebrate the Missouri Botanical Garden’s seasonal openings during the “Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis” weekend April 2-3. Activities include the seasonal reopenings of the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden, Tower Grove House, Café Flora and tram rides. The newly renovated Brookings Exploration Center and the new PlantLab, a greenhouse-like space for hands-on learning will also open. There will be exhibitors on a variety of nature-related topics and an opportunity to take home a native tree. Families can even sign a pledge to encourage them to explore the outdoors this spring and summer at the Garden and its family of attractions, as well as other sites in the St. Louis region. Guests can also register for hands-on wildlife-habitat building sessions.
The renovated Brookings Exploration Center (formerly Brookings Interpretive Center) is located between the Climatron® and Shoenberg Temperate House in Edward Jones Hall and features a 4,300-square-foot space for children and families to explore, create, discover and connect with one another. After being closed for several months for renovation, it opens to the public on April 2. The center features educational games, reading nooks, craft/coloring tables and costume play. A new vestibule area, designed to make visits more comfortable and accessible, will feature a family restroom, and a Calming Corner that will serve as a place for families with children needing quite time and a comfortable room for nursing mothers. The 1,100 square-foot PlantLab is a greenhouse-like classroom for experiential learning for visitors of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Visitors can get a better understanding of the Garden’s plant science work, from propagating to seed banking to taxonomy and extracting DNA. Tours and interactive experiences will be available throughout the weekend. There is no additional charge for admission to Brookings or the PlantLab.
As part of the weekend celebration, spring into the 10th season of fun at the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden. Families can explore the great outdoors and experience all the Children’s Garden has to offer: a waterfall, steamboat, cave, rope bridges, tree house and more! Opening weekend activities at the Children’s Garden are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days and are sponsored by Macy’s. Families can visit the potting station and choose a leafy green edible plant to pot and take home to add to their own gardens.
Special guests include live birds from the World Bird Sanctuary, and Finn, the Children’s Garden friendly frog mascot who will roam the Garden and greet visitors. Spring-inspired face painting will also be available both days. Wildheart, with Emmy award-winning entertainers Jan & George Syrigos will perform both days. Admission to the Children’s Garden is $5 for children ages 3 to 12. Adults are included with general Garden admission. St. Louis City and County residents receive free admission to the Children’s Garden on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Garden will give away tree saplings to visitors while supplies last beginning Friday, April 1 as part of the state’s Arbor Day celebration, and throughout the weekend for the Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis Festival. Saplings will be available at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or while supplies last. Master Gardeners and representatives from the St. Louis Arborists Association will also be present to answer questions and give advice on planting trees in the spring.
For more information visit www.mobot.org; or call (314) 577-5100, 1-800-642-8842 toll free.