Through Oct. 3

DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time dinosaur exhibition. Encounter dozens of prehistoric creatures in an unparalleled environment – a thriving tropical rain forest! Explore the world of dinosaurs and prehistoric plants; discover how scientists shed light on the past, present and future; and celebrate our planet’s rich biodiversity of today. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Climatron® dome, Shoenberg Temperate House and Brookings Interpretive Center. Garden admission plus $5 adults, $3 children (3-12), $3 Garden members, $2 members’ children. Learn more at www.mobot.org/dinoquest. Exhibit sponsorship of “DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time” is provided by Cardinals Care; Insituform Technologies, Inc.; Macy’s; Cheryl and Dave Morley; and an anonymous contributor.

July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Jurassic Dark. Bring your family to experience the wonder of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the DinoQuest dinosaur exhibition—after hours! Take an evening trek through the Climatron® tropical rain forest, where dramatic lighting and fog elements enhance the dinosaurs’ habitat. 6 to 10 p.m.; last entry at 9:30 p.m. Purchase tickets: $9 adults, $7 children (ages three to 12), $5 Garden members, $3 members’ children. Invite your friends on Facebook or learn more about this event.
Exhibit sponsorship of “DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time” is provided by Cardinals Care; Charles and June Gallagher; Insituform Technologies, Inc.; Macy’s; Cheryl and Dave Morley; and an anonymous contributor.

July 3 & 4
TOMS Shoes “Style Your Sole” event. We supply the artist’s tools, and you supply the talent! Garden Gate Shop. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 6 through 9
Camp MBG: Great Green Thumbs. Campers will get their hands dirty while having fun, making friends and learning about growing fruits, vegetables and flowers. Their new green thumb will help them take care of the plants they’ll be taking home! For ages six through eight. 9 a.m. to noon each day. $96. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. For a complete list of classes at the Garden’s family of attractions, visit www.mobot.org/classes.

July 7
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert features Dogtown Allstars, progressive rhythm and blues. Lawn seating; bring chairs or a blanket. Picnicking is permitted after 5 p.m.; pack a picnic or purchase sandwiches and beverages on site. No pets, barbecue grills or smoking. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Free admission after 5 p.m.; last entry at 9 p.m. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden remains open with free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. Cohen Amphitheater lawn. Sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation.

July 8
Preserving the Harvest class. Deliver the healthful wealth of your garden to your family’s table all year long! Learn the basics and expert tips for canning, drying and freezing all types of fresh produce. 7 to 9 p.m. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. $25. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. View all green living classes offered this spring and summer at www.mobot.org/classes.

July 9
Members' Event: Family Picnic. Bring your picnic basket and join hundreds of members and their families for an evening of crafts, face painting, entertainment, and a grand finale performance by Babaloo.. 6 to 9 p.m. Free for Garden members and their guests. Registration is now closed. For more information, call (314) 577-5154. Presented by Peabody Energy.

July 10
West County Daylily Club 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. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, Ridgway Visitor Center. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry included with Garden admission. www.westcountydaylilyclub.com

July 11
DinoQuest Fossil Road Show. Dig out those fossils you’ve been wondering about and bring them to the Missouri Botanical Garden! A team of paleontology buffs led by Guy Darrough, creator of the “DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time” exhibition, will identify your geological treasure. Ridgway Visitor Center. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibit sponsorship of “DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time” is provided by Cardinals Care; Charles and June Gallagher; Insituform Technologies, Inc.; Macy’s; Cheryl and Dave Morley; and an anonymous contributor.

July 13 through 15
SOLD OUT! Camp MBG: Gotta Grow. Campers will discover plants in the Garden, learn about how plants grow, enjoy garden-inspired art projects, make new friends and learn to care for their very own plant. For ages four and five. 9 a.m. to noon each day. $72. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. For a complete list of classes at the Garden’s family of attractions, visit www.mobot.org/classes.

July 14
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert features FolknBluesGrass, a unique style of American roots music with a modern feel. Lawn seating; bring chairs or a blanket. Picnicking is permitted after 5 p.m.; pack a picnic or purchase sandwiches and beverages on site. No pets, barbecue grills or smoking. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Free admission after 5 p.m.; last entry at 9 p.m. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden remains open with free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. Cohen Amphitheater lawn. Sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation.

July 17 & 18
Local foods tasting in the Garden Gate Shop. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 17
Great Green Adventures: Garden Groceries. Plants supply us with food, but what else to we get from plants? Join a walk to search high and low for plant uses. Ages six to 12 with an adult. Great Green Adventures are held the third Saturday of every month at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Meet outside the Children’s Garden entrance. $3 per child.

July 17
Healthy You, Healthy Planet Festival, presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University. Learn how to live a healthy, green lifestyle and participate in St. Louis’ Biggest Stretch. Learn about healthy cooking habits, ways to prevent diseases, and the amazing power of plants through expert-led talks. Experts will also offer free health screenings and information about traditional remedies and the healing arts of horticulture therapy. St. Louis Children’s Hospital will offer healthy activities for children in the “Kids Corner,” including face painters. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Included with Garden admission. Download a program book including schedule of events, map, and event descriptions.

July 20
St. Louis Water Gardening Society auction. 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. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, Ridgway Visitor Center. 6 to 10 p.m. Free. www.slwgs.org

July 20 through 22
Camp MBG: Dino Discovery Camp. Learn about the Climatron’s prehistoric summer visitors—dinosaurs! Enjoy dino-inspired art projects, meet new friends and learn about habitats of the past, present and future. For ages four and five. 9 a.m. to noon each day. $72. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. For a complete list of classes at the Garden’s family of attractions, visit www.mobot.org/classes.

July 21
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert features Beyond Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute with Peter Mayer. Lawn seating; bring chairs or a blanket. Picnicking is permitted after 5 p.m.; pack a picnic or purchase sandwiches and beverages on site. No pets, barbecue grills or smoking. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Free admission after 5 p.m.; last entry at 9 p.m. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden remains open with free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. Cohen Amphitheater lawn. Sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation.

July 24
Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw’s 210th birthday celebration. General admission is free for all visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Old-fashioned entertainment includes music, a silhouette artist, stilt-walker, magician, actors in Victorian fashions, children’s games and fun in the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden. Activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Spoehrer Plaza, outside the Ridgway Visitor Center. (Special admission applies for the DinoQuest exhibition.)

July 24 & 25
Local foods tasting in the Garden Gate Shop. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 24 & 25
Greater St. Louis Iris 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. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, Ridgway Visitor Center. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry included with Garden admission. www.stlouisirises.com

July 27 through 30
Camp MBG: Triassic Trek. Campers will explore a prehistoric paradise in the Climatron! They’ll learn about dinosaurs and ancient plants, and discover why protecting the animals and plants of today is so important. For ages six through eight. 9 a.m. to noon each day. $96. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. For a complete list of classes at the Garden’s family of attractions, visit www.mobot.org/classes.

July 28
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert features the Kevin Lucas Orchestra, contemporary world music. Lawn seating; bring chairs or a blanket. Picnicking is permitted after 5 p.m.; pack a picnic or purchase sandwiches and beverages on site. No pets, barbecue grills or smoking. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Free admission after 5 p.m.; last entry at 9 p.m. The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden remains open with free admission from 5 to 7 p.m. Cohen Amphitheater lawn. Sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation.

July 30
DinoQuest Monster Movie Night. Pack a picnic and enjoy a special outdoor evening viewing of two monster movie cult classics with a dinosaur twist! Lawn seating; bring chairs or a blanket. Beverages and light snacks will be available for purchase. Movies will be shown back-to-back starting at 8:30 p.m. Cohen Amphitheater. 7 p.m. to midnight; last entry at 10 p.m. View the DinoQuest exhibit inside the Climatron, open late from 7 to 9 p.m. $10 per person ($5 Garden members) includes exhibit admission; purchase tickets at the door. Exhibit sponsorship of “DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time” is provided by Cardinals Care; Charles and June Gallagher; Insituform Technologies, Inc.; Macy’s; Cheryl and Dave Morley; and an anonymous contributor.

Through Aug. 15
The Healing Art of Henry Domke exhibit. Domke’s work invites people of all ages to connect to the timeless beauty of nature, which may enhance a sense of well-being and reduce stress. His fresh approach to photographing native plants and animals helps others discover their spectacular colors, textures, patterns and form. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monsanto Hall, upper level of the Ridgway Visitor Center. View images from the exhibit.

Through Sept. 30
Plastic Pot Recycling. Close the gardening loop! Recycle plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays. Plastic should be separated and empty of soil with no metal hangers or rings; no clay pots or food plastic accepted. Please separate #6 plastic cell packs and trays from #2 and #5 plastic pots into the recycling trailers. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. West parking lot of the Garden’s Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer. (314) 577-9441. For a complete list of satellite collection centers throughout the metro area, visit www.plasticpotrecycling.org. Support for Plastic Pot Recycling is provided by Monrovia.

Click here for hours, admission, directions, and parking information.

Please note: The Linnean House conservatory will be closed through December for renovations and repairs. Built in 1882, this structure is the oldest continuously operating greenhouse west of the Mississippi River. Thanks to a gift from the Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation, the Garden will make improvements such as a new all-glass roof, new windows and more. The Linnean House is scheduled to reopen in Spring 2011.

Email Web Comments: Rob Thurman