Missouri Botanical Garden celebrating 150 years of growth

The Japanese Garden, above and below, is a highlight of the garden. Missouri Botanical Garden photos

Henry Shaw created the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis as a gift for his beloved city in 1859, and it’s a gift that has kept on giving for 150 years.

The garden, a renowned center for horticulture display and scientific research, is celebrating its sesquicentennial with events and exhibits throughout the year, including Founder’s Day on June 15 when admission will be $1.50. The anniversary theme, “Missouri Botanical Garden: Green for 150 Years,” acknowledges the institution’s past and present leadership in sustainability.

A walk through the site’s 79 acres will showcase just how green it is, especially in the spring when 150,000 bulbs will honor the milestone. Set amid the lovely gardens are architecturally significant buildings and inspirational fountains and statuary. A National Historic Landmark, the garden was inspired by Shaw’s visits to the great gardens of Europe.

For the anniversary, the garden is paying tribute to its Victorian roots with a 20-foot by 20-foot floral clock, which will be displayed May through October. Composed of seasonal flowers, the working clock even features a chirping cuckoo bird.

In keeping with the theme, the Brookings Interpretive Center on the grounds will host “Earthways: Living the Green Life” expo from May 1–Oct. 31 with booths showcasing goods, services and information with an environmental edge. There will be a speakers series during the year focusing on issues affecting people, plants and the planet. And the garden will hold several photographic exhibits that spotlight plants.

To showcase its splendor at night, the garden is hosting Garden Party Nights on Thursdays from Memorial Day– Labor Day. The garden will keep its doors open from 5–9 p.m. with entertainment for all ages, adult wine tastings and more. Nights admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children 3–12 and $5 for garden members.

The garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. every day, and the grounds open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and Saturday. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children 12 and under. St. Louis City and County residents are admitted for $4 and can enjoy free admission every Wednesday and Saturday until noon. Call (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642--8842 for details, or visit www.mobot.org.

Kansas City Zoo unveiling a rainforest during its centennial

A young girl getting a close-up look at a river otter. Kansas City Zoo photo

In 1909, the Kansas City Zoo opened with one building and barely a dozen animals, including four lions and three monkeys, and today that original building is the focus of the zoo’s centennial celebration of 100 years of growth and change.

The zoo opened on Dec. 13, 1909, on 60 acres in Kansas City’s Swope Park, and since then it has grown to house more than 1,000 animals on about 202 acres with four major areas: Africa, Australia, KidZone and Tiger Trail. Within the KidZone is the Discovery Barn where children can practice their animal skills like balancing like a lemur and squawking like a macaw while watching meerkats and monkeys.

As part of the centennial, the zoo has renovated its original building, fondly referred to as the 1909 building, to create the Tropics, an indoor rainforest that will be a temperate haven for plants, primates, mammals and birds from three continents. The Tropics is expected to open in May.

The Tropics is the latest addition to a host of renovations that the zoo has undertaken in recent years. A North American river otter exhibit was created inside a new front entry plaza, and a Zoo Learning Center was added for student groups in 2008. The new Missouri Trails exhibit features animals native to Missouri, and a polar bear exhibit will debut in 2010.

Visitors can wander through the zoo on foot or take Segway tours, as well as boat, train and tram rides. There’s also a carousel ride.

The zoo is located across from the Starlight Theatre in Swope Park. Hours are 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. Admission is $10.50 for adults, $9.50 for seniors and $7 for children 3–11. For more details, call (816) 513-5800, or click on www.kansascityzoo.org.

Evansville exudes excitement during its Freedom Festival

A thrilling jet ski show will be part of the festivities. Evansville GAGE photo

The Evansville riverfront will come alive this June with jet skis, laser lights, rides and racing boats during the annual Freedom Festival.

The Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) is bringing a new level of energy to the 31st annual Evansville Freedom Festival by mixing heart-pounding new events and traditional favorites. Sponsored by Old National Bank, the celebration will take place June 18–21.

For excitement on the Ohio River, the Typhoon Tommy Jet Ski Show will feature high-flying tricks. Also, the Lake St. Louis Water Ski Show will delight audiences along with the DockDogs Big Air Show long jump competition for dogs. Finally, the F1 ChampBoat races will roar into town with powerboats kicking up a wake at 150 mph in a spectacle that has been called NASCAR on water.

On dry land, there will be carnival rides and games, contests, a school spirit competition and a laser light show. Concerts will feature national headline acts.

Other highlights include World War II re-enactors, a dazzling air show, an Office Olympics and a barbecue festival. There will be plenty of other food vendors as well.

Admission is $15, which includes access for all four days. Preferred concert seating is $20 each or $35 for both concerts. For details, call (812) 424-2986 or visit www.downtownevansville.org.

Art on the Square is a well-rounded celebration

Belleville’s Art on the Square outdoor art festival is a work of art itself.

Only in its eighth year, the southern Illinois show has received numerous awards for being among the best shows in the country, including a No. 1 ranking by the “Art Fair Source Book.” This year’s show, May 15–17, will again draw artists and craftsmen from across the country to display and sell their work.

Set up around the fountain in the Belleville Public Square at the intersection of Highway 159 and Main Street, the booths will feature ceramics, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture and more. Up to 1,000 artists apply to participate but a jury pares the selection down to about 100.

In addition to the art, there will be live entertainment on the main stage with a selection of diverse performers, including the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra. There also will be a wine court featuring acoustic, folk music and more. And area restaurants will serve plenty of delicious fare.

Young visitors will be encouraged to make their own art. There also will be entertainment geared toward children, including musicians, dancers, theatrical productions, a storyteller and more.

Festival hours are 5–9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (618) 416-3390, or visit www.artonthesquare.com.

Powell Gardens explores food’s journey from seed to plate with new project

The kitchen garden features vegetables, herbs and more. Powell Gardens photo

With its new Heartland Harvest Garden, Powell Gardens near Kansas City, Mo., is cultivating an appreciation of everything one can grow and eat with a beautiful experiential landscape brimming with a bounty of crops, gardens and more.

The new 12-acre garden celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage by exploring the journey from seed to plate with more than 2,000 types of food plants, from tomatoes to kiwi. Opening on June 14, the $9.2-million educational garden is the largest expansion Powell Gardens has undertaken in its 20-year history, and it is composed of several areas.

There is a small kitchen garden with vegetables, herbs and flowers, and the Seed to Plate greenhouse illustrates the process of germination. See an array of different fruit trees in the Apple Celebration Court, Pear Promenade and Peach Plaza. And a vineyard evokes images of France.

The project’s signature area is the Quilt Gardens, which has four quadrants resembling quilt patterns planted with fruits, grasses, vegetables, farm crops and more. Also, a barn houses a cafe and gift shop, and a 45-foot silo serves as an overlook to see the quilts from above. An outdoor kitchen will offer cooking demonstrations.

The garden is at 1609 NW US Highway 50 in Kingsville. Hours are 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily April–October. The cost is $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors and $4 for children 5–12. Call (816) 697-2600, or visit www.powellgardens.org.