Throughout January
The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a wide variety of weekday, evening and weekend programs for adults at its family of attractions. Reconnect with the natural world and all its wonders in Watercolor Rescue and experience the fun of learning to Brew It Yourself. 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.

Through Jan. 2
Gardenland Express annual holiday flower and train show, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. Watch as G-scale model trains travel through a mountainous, miniature landscape of living plants, small towns and rural dwellings along the Appalachian Trail. Twinkling holiday trees, oversized snowflakes, over 600 colorful poinsettias and other blooming plants surround the festively detailed scene. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closes early at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve; closed Christmas Day. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, lower level of the Ridgway Visitor Center. Garden admission plus $5; free for members.

Through Jan. 2
Holiday Wreath Auction features unique creations by some of the area’s finest floral designers. All wreaths are sold by silent auction bidding, with proceeds benefiting the Missouri Botanical Garden. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monsanto Hall, upper level of the Ridgway Visitor Center.

Through Jan. 2
Victorian Christmas at Tower Grove House. See the Victorian country home of Garden founder Henry Shaw decked for the holidays with wreaths, garlands, floral centerpieces, greenery and a holiday tree. Enjoy storytelling on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and don’t miss the special Seek-and-Find activity for children! Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Through Jan. 3
Holiday Trimmings at the Kemper Center. Enjoy a 12-foot balsam fir tree naturally decorated with hand-crafted “gourdaments” and gourd birdhouses. All decorated gourds will be sold on Jan. 1 to benefit the Kemper Center. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kemper Center for Home Gardening.

Jan. 29 through Mar. 27
Annual Orchid Show features 800 blooming orchids in lush, tropical display infused with an eclectic mix of Mayan-themed accents. The Missouri Botanical Garden maintains one of the world’s premier orchid collections. The Orchid Show is the only time of year when a vast, rotating selection of orchids from the Garden’s historic collection is available for public viewing. Open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last weekday entry at 2 p.m.); open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, lower level of the Ridgway Visitor Center. Garden admission plus $5; free for Garden members.

January through March
Please note: Narrated tram tours, Tower Grove House, and the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden are not available during the winter months. Seasonal operations will resume on April 1.

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