You never know what you are going to see on a walk through the Missouri Botanical Gardens on a morning before the masses arrive.
It’s an urban respite like no other. You are in the middle of a dense section of St. Louis when you are here. You might dissociate for a moment and think you are in the middle of the woods or even a different country; nah, you are right in the middle of some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in St. Louis. MOBAT is tucked between the Shaw and Southwest Garden Neighborhoods. The dichotomy is striking at times.
Admission is free for residents of St. Louis and the suburbs that are included in the Zoo Museum District taxation structure on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7:00 - 9:00 AM.
A visit during the early morning hours will bring an entirely unique experience. If you are one who gets stressed out in big crowds, or you prefer being around older folks or neighborhood people getting a walk in vs. tourists and visitors, it’s a great time to go.
This garden is one of the best in America. During travel, we visit the local botanical gardens in other cities. We have something truly special on a National scale here, right smack dab in the middle of our beautiful south city neighborhoods.
This is the first time we’ve been here since the new welcome center and museum were completed.
We talked to a kind woman working the door and checking IDs. She said we need to come back when the sun is shining through the ceiling and reflecting patterns of ginko leaves on the floors and walls through the beautiful installation surrounding the entrance. The perforated art work that lines the glass roof creates this effect.
The welcome building and new museum are straight up beautiful. Will they last longer than the 80s welcome center that was equally of-its-time? We’ll see. But I thought it was sleek, modern and fitting.
I like the rain gardens to manage runoff in the parking lots. Hopefully they are considering permeable surfaces when it’s time for replacement.
We appreciated how the the new design connected walkways that felt more inclusive of the historic Linnaeus building and the underrated Ottoman garden.
And finally just some random shit that felt good when you’re walking with your special lady.
Enjoy our city.
