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.

Throughout October
The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a wide variety of weekday, evening and weekend programs for adults at its family of attractions. The Garden is a natural setting to enjoy a Garden Crocheting Circle, take a Behind the Scenes: Ottoman Garden Walk, learn new recipes in Under Wraps and investigate Sweet Soils. Program themes include gardening and landscaping, arts and crafts, food and cooking, green living, nature study and health and wellness. View a print-at-home catalog of all fall and winter classes for adults and register online at www.mobot.org/classes. For more information, call (314) 577-5140.

Oct. 2 & 3
Nineteenth annual Best of Missouri Market®. Over 130 Missouri food producers and crafters offer fresh produce, baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, herbs, handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry and more. Live music and a Kids Corner with cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals. Part of the American Arts Experience - St. Louis! 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outdoors under tents, rain or shine. $12 adults (13-64), $10 seniors (65+), $5 children (3-12), $5 members. Buy tickets in advance online at www.mobot.org starting in September. No trams. Presented by Schnuck Markets, Inc.

Oct. 4 through 16
Please note: The Climatron® conservatory, Brookings Interpretive Center and Shoenberg Temperate House are temporarily closed.

Oct. 5
Members' Event: Prepping for Spring Bulbs. Let Garden experts help you plan your own spectacular spring bulb garden for next year. 11 a.m. Shoenberg Theater and Bulb Gardens. Free for Garden members and their guests.

Oct. 9 & 10
Fair trade trunk show. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Garden Gate Shop.

Oct. 9 through 10
Fall Family Sleepover. Nature-loving families can explore the Garden at night like never before! Take a night hike, create a craft, play in the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden, tell stories and plant a plant to take home. Sleep under the stars amid the Garden’s lush landscapes. Includes dinner, a late-night snack and light continental breakfast. No tents, please. For families with children ages 6 to 12; one adult required for every two children. Saturday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 10 at 8:30 a.m. $50 per person; $40 Garden members. Advance reservations required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140.

Oct. 9 & 10
Kirkwood artist Lisa Lohman jewelry trunk show. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Garden Gate Shop. Part of the American Arts Experience - St. Louis!

Oct. 10
Second Annual World Hoop Day. A not-for-profit organization that uses a community-based grass roots approach to provide one-of-a-kind “hula” hoops. Since 2006, World Hoop Day has been dedicated to bringing dance, exercise and toy hoops to under-privileged children living in extreme poverty and the under-developed neighborhoods of the world. Enjoy workshops, entertainment, and make hoop donations to area schools. Sponsored by the St. Louis Hoop Club. 1 to 4 p.m. Included with Garden admission.

Oct. 13
Members’ Event: Owl Butterflies at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Details TBA. 11 a.m. to noon. Free for Missouri Botanical Garden members and their guests.

Oct. 13
AARP Celebration of Life. Over 50 exhibitors of senior services and products, featuring health screenings, attendance prizes, awards and entertainment. Sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Missouri Botanical Garden. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Included with Garden admission. (314) 918-7563.

Oct. 15
Fest-of-Ale at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Enjoy appetizers, beer, and live music under the stars with the Young Friends of the Garden. 6 to 10 p.m. $30 per person; $15 for Garden members. Advance reservations required; (314) 577-9570 or RSVP online today. For more information, call (314) 577-9532.

Oct. 16
Great Green Adventures: Signs of Fall. It’s beginning to look and feel like fall. Explore the Garden to look for colorful fall leaves to watercolor. 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.

Oct. 23 & 24
Mid America Regional Lily 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. Beaumont Room, Ridgway Visitor Center. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry included with Garden admission. www.marls.org

Oct. 23
Green Parenting: Fun in the Sun - Solar Energy for the Family class. Discover the basics of how solar power works both in your own life and at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Enjoy a variety of hands-on experiments and activities, including creating artwork and making s’mores without a campfire! For ages 5 and over with an adult. 2:30 to 4 p.m. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. $35 includes one adult and up to three children. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. View all green living classes offered this fall and winter at www.mobot.org/classes.

Oct. 24
Ghouls in the Garden. Bring the little ones in costume for a fun-filled afternoon. Enjoy treats at different themed stations throughout the Garden and visit the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden (included with event admission). 1 to 4 p.m. $5 children (ages 3 to 12); adults included with Garden admission. Garden members are free. Advance reservations required by Oct. 21; call (314) 577-9570 or RSVP online. For more information, call (314) 577-5154.

Oct. 28
Garden Buds: Beautiful Bamboo. The fall and winter seasons can be magical, memorable times to discover nature’s most amazing wonders with your preschooler. You and your Garden Bud will explore together in ways that spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love for nature. For ages 4 to 6. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jordan Education Wing, Ridgway Visitor Center. $18 per child (includes one adult). Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-5140. For a complete list of youth and family programs at the Garden’s family of attractions, visit www.mobot.org/classes.

Oct. 30
Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council 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. Beaumont Room, Ridgway Visitor Center. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry included with Garden admission.

Oct. 30 & 31
The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden: A Missouri Adventure closes for the season. Help put the Children’s Garden to bed for the winter with fun fall activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get your cheek painted with special Halloween and fall-themed designs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Listen to fun fall stories on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about creative cucurbits as you decorate a pumpkin with natural materials to take home, while supplies last. Finn, the Children’s Garden mascot, will be greeting visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Children’s Garden is open Apr. 1 through Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $5 per child; adults included with general Garden admission.

Through Nov. 21
“Flowering Frost,” an exhibit of photographic works by David Boesch. Boesch depicts the visual phenomenon of “frost flowers” or “ribbon ice,” the frosty, spiraling formations that occur when freezing air, warm soil and plant life combine. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monsanto Hall, upper level of the Ridgway Visitor Center. Part of the American Arts Experience - St. Louis!

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