Garden of Glass

The Top Five–Photos of 2017

Choosing my “Top Five” photos of the year is one of my favorite more recent traditions. Of course, if I’m honest, the “Top Five” always turns into six, because I can never totally limit myself!

The first of my favorite photos came early in the year, at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Chinese Garden. Not only do I love the photo of the garden itself, I also love that is was covered in snow!

My next favorite photo is also from the Missouri Botanical Garden. The Climatron was lit up beautifully for the “Garden of Glass” exhibition, and I love the beautiful colors!

This picture from the Naper Settlement is beautiful to me both for the stunning green of the scenery, and for the women in period costume outside the log home:

Chickadee loves posing for pictures, and there was something special about her in her London shirt, holding an umbrella on a rainy day:

Back at the Missouri Botanical Garden for a lovely fall photo in the Japanese Garden during its 40th anniversary:

And a bonus picture of the Fab Five at St. Charles at Christmas Traditions…this is always one of my favorite spots for a family photo, and this year’s picture was especially amazing!

So there you have it…another year of my favorite photos. I can’t wait to see what kind of pictures I take next year!

Garden of Glass

This summer, the Missouri Botanical Garden has a special exhibit in the Climatron…Garden of Glass by Craig Mitchell Smith. The members’ preview night was Saturday, and we were very eager to attend! On the advice of the woman at the membership desk, we made sure our ticketed entry time was after dark, and we were definitely not disappointed!

Most of the glass works are in the Climatron, but there are displays in the Visitors’ Center, above the fountain outside it, in the Linnean House, and near the tram shelter. The pieces in the Climatron are beautifully lit, with the lights frequently changing colors. There are flowers, dragonflies, butterflies…even a phoenix! Some of them look unbelievably lifelike, and it’s hard to tell what in the Climatron is glass and what is actual plants!

You have to stop and really look closely at the flowers to appreciate all the details:

The fountain in front of the Visitors’ Center is lit up in a rainbow of colors:

The Garden is always beautiful, of course, but there is something special about seeing it lit up at night!

Garden of Glass will be on display through August 13. Tickets are available for both day and evening viewing, but from what we saw while we were there, I definitely think it’s best viewed after dark (evening admissions are available Thursdays-Saturdays). Make sure to take your time and really take in the show…way too many people were rushing through it the night we were there, and missing things! Like the Garden Glow, and every other special exhibit we’ve visited at the Garden over the last few years, I highly recommend it…they always put on a great show!

Glass at the Butterfly House

One of the reasons I decided to add a visit to the Butterfly House at Faust Park to our field trip day yesterday was because I heard that there more pieces created for the Garden of Glass exhibit on display there. We were not disappointed!

I think out of everything, I liked the mushrooms the best, but all the pieces are beautiful. I think that they will be moved to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the exhibit which begins in May, but for now, you can see them at the Butterfly House. I can’t wait to see what they look like lit up at night!

A Glimpse at a Garden of Glass

A new art exhibit is coming to the Missouri Botanical Garden this year…a Garden of Glass by Craig Mitchell Smith. The full display won’t begin until May, but for now, this beautiful piece is on display in the Linnean House: