Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2010
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.

Sept. 4, 5 & 6, 2010
Annual Japanese Festival presents taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, traditional tea ceremonies, martial arts, candlelight walks in the Japanese Garden and more. Sept. 4 and 5, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sept. 6 (Labor Day), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. $15 adults (13-64), $10 seniors (65+), $5 children (3-12), $5 members. Does not include admission to DinoQuest exhibit. No trams. Learn more. Sponsorship for the 2010 Japanese Festival is provided by Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Novus International, Inc. and Bodine Aluminum, Inc.

Sept. 25, 2010
EarthWays Green Homes Festival in Grand Center
Over 90 exhibits and demonstrations from the region’s experts on all things “green” will fill an entire city block in midtown St. Louis. Enjoy demos, displays, workshops, green craft show, and a food court featuring local vendors. Learning and fun for all ages. Free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: GreenHomesSTL.org.
Maps and directions to Grand Center: EarthWays Center.

Oct. 2 & 3, 2010
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. 15, 2010
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. 24, 2010
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. 30 & 31, 2010
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.

Nov. 23 through Jan. 2, 2010
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.

Nov. 20 through Jan. 2, 2010
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.

Nov. 24 through Jan. 2, 2010
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.

Nov. 28, 2010
Chanukah: Festival of Lights. A traditional Jewish holiday celebration that includes festive Israeli music and dance, a menorah-lighting ceremony, and Chanukah merchandise provided by local vendors and the Garden Gate Shop. Noon to 4 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center.

Dec. 2, 2010
Holiday Nights. The Gardenland Express show is festively lit with twinkling lights for Thursday evening viewing! Enjoy the holiday flower and train display and the custom creations decking the walls of the Holiday Wreath Auction. Dine in the Sassafras cafe, serving a full dinner menu; a cash bar will also be available. Shop for unique holiday gifts at the Garden Gate Shop. 5 to 8 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center (please note: Garden grounds are closed). $5 adults and children; free Garden members.

Dec. 4 & 5, 2010
Christmas Carols in the Garden. Listen to festive holiday carols, visit Santa in his sleigh, meet Rudolph, smell chestnuts roasting on an open fire and enjoy a gingerbread house display. Don’t forget to see the choo-choos and blooms inside the Gardenland Express holiday flower and train show! 1 to 5 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center, Kemper Center for Home Gardening and Spink Pavilion. Activities included with Garden admission; Gardenland Express show is an additional $5 per person (free for Garden members).

Dec. 9, 2010
Holiday Nights. The Gardenland Express show is festively lit with twinkling lights for Thursday evening viewing! Enjoy the holiday flower and train display and the custom creations decking the walls of the Holiday Wreath Auction. Dine in the Sassafras cafe, serving a full dinner menu; a cash bar will also be available. Shop for unique holiday gifts at the Garden Gate Shop. 5 to 8 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center (please note: Garden grounds are closed). $5 adults and children; free Garden members.

Dec. 11 & 12, 2010
Christmas Carols in the Garden. Listen to festive holiday carols, visit Santa in his sleigh, meet Rudolph, smell chestnuts roasting on an open fire and enjoy a gingerbread house display. Don’t forget to see the choo-choos and blooms inside the Gardenland Express holiday flower and train show! 1 to 5 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center, Kemper Center for Home Gardening and Spink Pavilion. Activities included with Garden admission; Gardenland Express show is an additional $5 per person (free for Garden members).

Dec. 16, 2010
Holiday Nights. The Gardenland Express show is festively lit with twinkling lights for Thursday evening viewing! Enjoy the holiday flower and train display and the custom creations decking the walls of the Holiday Wreath Auction. Dine in the Sassafras cafe, serving a full dinner menu; a cash bar will also be available. Shop for unique holiday gifts at the Garden Gate Shop. 5 to 8 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center (please note: Garden grounds are closed). $5 adults and children; free Garden members.

Dec. 18 & 19, 2010
Christmas Carols in the Garden. Listen to festive holiday carols, visit Santa in his sleigh, meet Rudolph, smell chestnuts roasting on an open fire and enjoy a gingerbread house display. Don’t forget to see the choo-choos and blooms inside the Gardenland Express holiday flower and train show! 1 to 5 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center, Kemper Center for Home Gardening and Spink Pavilion. Activities included with Garden admission; Gardenland Express show is an additional $5 per person (free for Garden members).

Dec. 29, 2010
Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits. Kwanzaa is a Swahili term that means “first fruits,” and this contemporary African-American holiday centers around the feast table of the harvest. A Kwanzaa ceremony highlights a day of storytelling, craft and jewelry displays, and authentic African drumming and musical performances. Noon to 4 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center.

Jan. 29 through Mar. 27, 2011
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.

Feb. 5, 2011
Sixth annual Backyard Bird Festival. Bundle up, grab your binoculars and flock to the Missouri Botanical Garden for a bird-watching bonanza! Bird watchers of all ages can enjoy a day filled with guided birding walks, live exhibits, identification tips and informative classes for children and adults of all experience levels. 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center. Fees vary based on individual sessions. Advance registration required; www.mobot.org/birding or (314) 577-5140.

Mar. 19, 2011
Horticulture Therapy Awareness Day. A pretty backyard may be one of the most obvious positive results of gardening, but it is not the only gain. Experience the numerous physical and mental benefits that plants and gardening provide! 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center upper level.

Apr. 2 & 3, 2011
The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden: A Missouri Adventure reopens for the season. Join us in waking up the Children’s Garden for spring with fun activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make a craft, shake hands with mascot Finn and pot a plant to take home. 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.

May 21 & 22, 2011
Annual Chinese Culture Days celebration features a Grand Parade with 70-foot dancing dragon, martial arts, Chinese calligraphy, painting and authentic regional cuisine. Enjoy t’ai chi and tea tasting in the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden, where special tours focus on the symbolism of many plant species and architectural details. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. $12 adults (13-64), $10 seniors (65+), $5 children (3-12), $5 members. Buy tickets in advance online at www.mobot.org. No trams.

June 1, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

June 8, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

June 15, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

June 22, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

June 29, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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 6, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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 13, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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 20, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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, 2011
Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw’s 211th birthday celebration. 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.

July 27, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

Aug. 3, 2011
Whitaker Music Festival. Free evening outdoor concert. 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.

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