Missouri Botanical Garden

2025-26 School Year–Week Eighteen

This week started with snow, which was definitely a good beginning! And we needed it to put us in a good mood before we worked on algebra, which was all about quadratic equations including completing the square and the quadratic formula. Chickadee finally began her first Shakespearian literature study with As You Like It. In history we continued making our way toward WWII, learning about Chiang Kai-shek in China and Hirohito in Japan. In science we began a chapter on energy, learning about gravitation potential energy and elastic potential energy. We discussed the difference being being treated equally and being treated fairly by the government and how the US Constitution guarantees our right to both. We also discussed the amendments that deal with voting rights for various groups of people. For our recipe of the week from the American Girl Sweet and Savory Treats Cookbook we made “Peanut Butter-Chocolate Buckeyes” inspired by Kit, a native of Ohio.

And today we braved the cold for a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden, because we really wanted to see it while it was still covered in snow! It did not disappoint!

Somewhat unrelated, but Ladybug finally had her first official snow day this week, because the weather cancelled college for a day!

Let’s Get Glowing!

Last night was one of my favorite nights of the whole year…Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden!

I really think this is the best lights display in the area, and the Central Axis is the best of the best…I could watch it all night long (and I’m pretty sure my family thought that was my plan!)

I love how there are always new elements to the displays, like these butterflies:

And I think the gorgeous water lilies outside the Linnean House are new as well, but I’m not 100% sure. Either way, I really love them!

It’s always nice to see our favorite, familiar displays, too:

The projection on Tower Grove House was updated to a “12 Days of Christmas” theme:

It’s always nice to warm up by one of the fire pits:

One more look at the beautiful Central Axis before we go:

It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year!

The 2024 Holiday Flower and Train Show

I think this year’s Holiday Flower and Train Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden was the best one ever! I don’t know if it was just how the displays were set up, or if it was the collection of Garden building replicas in the center of the room, but it was especially captivating and I loved it!

Seriously, the replicas…they’re outstanding!

The Victorian decorations on the Christmas trees were lovely:

In addition to the replica buildings, there were plenty of other buildings set up in different vignettes representing different types of locations, from farms to towns.

The greater room was beautifully decorated, too:

I don’t care how old I get, I will never tire of seeing model trains running through a Christmas village!

Time to Glow!

It’s that most wonderful time of year…Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden!

I could spend the entire evening walking around the Central Axis…there are so many beautiful trees in addition to the lighting of the Climatron, and the music they play along with the movement of the lights really puts you in the Christmas spirit!

There are so many other beautiful displays outside the Central Axis, too.

The displays on Tower Grove House are also so much fun to watch!

I love that in addition to the familiar, there are always new decorations, too:

The Central Axis is always the best part, though!

Even on the way toward the exit, there’s plenty to see:

I especially liked this photo opp, and a nice lady offered to take a picture of all seven of us:

Merry Christmas!

2024-25 School Year–Week Fourteen

Fun things first…we spent a morning at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and checked out the Holiday Flower and Train Show while we were there…it was excellent!

Ladybug identified fallacies with proof by lack of evidence in logic. In psychology she read more about memory. Her study of US geography and culture focused on the Spanish-American War, unions, and WWI. She continued to read A Tale of Two Cities. In writing, she practiced writing both a thesis and an anti-thesis for different topics. We read Benedict of Nursia and Benedictine monasticism in religion.

Chickadee solved for mean, median, and mode in pre-algebra. She learned more about the fossil record in science. We continued to read The Trojan War. In history, she learned about some of the European wars that spilled over into the New World…we’re getting close to the American Revolution! We finished reading The Wizard of Oz, and made a special recipe from The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook…”Magic Granita Slushies.” The slushy itself was made with lemon and lime juice and zest mixed with a simple syrup, but the magic was the effect of the blue butterfly pea tea syrup turning the concoction purple!

Just a short week next week…Happy Thanksgiving!

Chickadee Thursday

We had so much fun checking out the Holiday Flower and Train Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden yesterday…it might be the best display we’ve ever seen!