Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 6311
Dedicated: 28 July 2009

(l-r) ASHS President William J. Lamont, Jr., Dr. Peter H. Raven, President and Director, Missouri Botanical Garden, James P. Cocos, Vice President, Horticulture, Missouri Botanical Garden, and ASHS Board Chair John R. Clark, pose for a photo with the dedication plaque. The plaque reads “The American Society for Horticultural Science hereby recognizes the Missouri Botanical Garden as an ASHS Horticultural Landmark. An iconic treasure in the heart of St. Louis for over 150 years, celebrated for horticultural excellence and renowned internationally for its plant science and conservtion. July 28, 2009.” Photo: Mike Neff.

In a ceremony on 28 July 2009, the Missouri Botanical Garden was dedicated as an ASHS Horticultural Landmark by the American Society for Horticultural Science. The honor is bestowed upon the highest tier of horticultural sites around the world and are chosen for their historical, scientific, aesthetic, or environmental excellence.

The award was presented to Garden President Peter H. Raven by ASHS President John R. Clark during a dedication ceremony at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which was held at the conclusion of the ASHS Annual Conference in St. Louis.

“It is a privilege for ASHS to return to St. Louis, the site of the Society’s very first annual meeting in 1903, and bestow the Landmark designation upon one of the premier botanical gardens in the world,” said Michael Neff, ASHS Executive Director.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest continually operating botanical garden in the nation, and is celebrating its 150th anniversary with special events and activities throughout 2009.

The Garden’s mission is “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life,” and is a center for science, conservation, education, and horticultural display.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is also listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Walla Wallas, colorful onion-shaped glass sculptures by artist Dale Chihuly, float in the reflecting pool outside the Climatron at the Missiouri Botanical Garden. Photo: Marlenia Neff.

 The dedication ceremony was well attended by ASHS members and other invited guests. Photo: Mike Neff.

The sight of a sea nymph riding a dolphin brightens the mood on a rainy day. “Sunglitter,” a bronze sculpture by Swedish Carl Milles (1875–1955), is one of several sculptures in and around the reflecting ponds at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Photo: Marlenia Neff.