Missouri Botanical Garden

Sights, stories and more from the Missouri Botanical Garden, an oasis in the city of St. Louis and a leading botanical research and science education center.  Plan your visit at mobot.org.

[mobotgarden]

The Missouri Botanical Garden welcomes The Cree Rider Family Band at the Whitaker Music Festival Wednesday, July 27

The Cree Rider Family Band is rooted in a country music sound, with elements of folk, americana and rock n’ roll. One part Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, one part Neil Young and Crazy Horse, the Family Band stays true to its own instincts to create a modern honky-tonk country sound that is rooted in tradition but firmly planted in the here and now. Vocals and harmony are a focus, but the full band expertly compliments each song. Known for their energetic and engaging live shows, the Cree Rider Family Band has been called a “subversive country band that wears its heart on its sleeve. You’ll dance, cry, laugh, and sing along.” Cree Rider Family Band has had songs placed episodes of Justified, True Blood, Bloodline, John Leguizamo’s Comedy Special Ghetto Klown, as well as other television shows and independent films. 

Band leader and namesake Cree Rider spoke with us earlier this summer about his music journey to the Whitaker Music Festival.  

How did you become interested in playing music?

I have three older brothers and an older sister and I always looked up to them and wanted to be cool like them. They listened to The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Michael Jackson and all the good stuff, so I think I took an active interest in music from a very young age because of them. When I discovered Bob Dylan and started realizing I could write my own songs and lyrics, it just took off from there. I got a guitar, learned a few chords and started writing songs right away at that point. I was maybe 12 or 13 years old.

Can you pick a favorite song? Why do you like it? 

There is no answer to that. I like so many songs for so many reasons and there is no one above them all. To try to answer it though...I'll pick a song that is timeless, that holds universal truths, that conveys wisdom to the listener, is gentle and reassuring, wise and thoughtful and written by a poet (Robert Hunter). I will choose Ripple by the Grateful Dead. You can play that song for children, adults, at a graduation, at a funeral. It's a very fine song.       

What is your favorite spot in St. Louis and why? 

I'll choose the easy answer here and say Shaw Garden. I've had so many friends from around the world visit, and actually there are three places that jump to my mind that are always favorites...Venice Cafe, City Museum, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. They are always blown away at how world class MoBot is. And I agree.    

    What does performing at the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden mean to you? 

It's an honor and a privilege. It's a dream. It's getting to share my love and passion in one of the most beautiful serene, spaces in the city I love. I expect it will be a highlight that I will look back upon many times in my life.         

What do you like most about the St. Louis music scene? 

The community, the accessibility, the passion and the diversity. You can find it all here, and people are creating their own art for the right reasons. We are rich and spoiled in our music culture here, and I don't think most realize how good we have it. We are free from lots of nasty influences of "the music business" or "the industry". Here, you can afford to be an artist and pursue your passions without feeling that outside pressure to conform. It's a blessing.

[mobotgarden]

The Whitaker Music Festival presents Erin Bode Wednesday, July 20 at the Missouri Botanical Garden. 

The Erin Bode Group creates music forged from the Americana of its members' midwestern roots, infused with jazz grooves and made magic by Bode's bell-like voice. In advance of her return to the Whitaker Music Festival, Bode shared more information about her musical background and what it means to perform at the Garden. 

How did you become interested in playing music?

I grew up in a musical household. I’m the youngest of four children so I saw all my siblings playing instruments and singing and I wanted to be like them. I remember at the age of three wanting very badly to be on stage like my older brother who was in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. That feeling never went away for me and I’ve worked hard to make music my profession ever since.

Can you pick a favorite song? Why do you like it?

I can’t choose just one favorite but one that makes my list of favorites is Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me”. I like it because it has so many of the elements that make a great song. It’s interesting rhythmically and has a melody that is both memorable and unexpected. The sentiment of the lyrics are both timeless and stated in a unique way and I find that I want to listen to it again and again because each time I do, I hear something new.

What is your favorite spot in St. Louis and why?

I’m not sure if you want my favorite spot to sing or just favorite spot in general so I’ll just go with my favorite spot in general. I love hiking so my favorite place to hike is in Rockwood Reservation in Wildwood. There are several hiking trails and they are all beautiful. It’s a quiet place where I like to go and be in the forest.

What does performing at the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden mean to you?

The Whitaker Festival is fantastic! There is no better atmosphere in which to hear great music than the Missouri Botanical Garden and to be a part of the line up is a true honor.

What do you like most about the St. Louis music scene?

The best part about the St. Louis music scene is the listeners. They are friendly, discerning and loyal. I’m so grateful to live in a city that has such wonderful audiences who allow us to make a living making music and who we look forward to seeing over and over again.

[annleckie]

I remember when @mobotgarden had a Desert House. I’m glad they still have all these fabulous cacti. And even more glad that they’re on display for (I think) the next month or so.

I didn’t even get pics of half of them. I need to, cause they’re pretty cool.

[mobotgarden]

A nice glimpse of our summer Dessert Exhibit in the Linnean House conservatory, featuring hundreds of cacti and succulent plants from the Garden’s extensive collection rarely seen on public display. Check it out now through July 24: www.mobot.org/desertshow

[mobotgarden]

The Garden Welcomes The Grooveliner to the 2016 Whitaker Music Festival Wednesday, June 22

In advance of their performance at the Garden, the members of the Grooveliner weigh in with their thoughts on songs, St. Louis, and more. 

How did you become interested in playing music?

John Covelli (Trombone, Keys, Vocals): My parents played a lot of different kinds of music on the record player and I loved to dance and be a part of it from the very start.

John Short (Bass guitar, Vocals): My uncle gave me an old steel string acoustic guitar he had made.  It was really hard to play and my fingers literally bled.

Ben Moore (Saxophone, Vocals): I came from a musical family. As a hobby, my pops played trumpet and my mom sang.

Matt Vianello (Guitar, Vocals): Embarrassingly, I started playing the guitar out of spite. My brother came home one day bragging about learning to play something on the guitar. I didn’t want him to be able to do another thing I couldn’t so I got a guitar. 18 years later, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Toby Mechem (Drums, Vocals): I wasn't good at anything else.  My family was great at sports and I couldn't throw or kick a ball to save my life.  But I was always drumming around the house, so my parents signed me up for band in 6th grade.  I got my first drum set when I was 14 and I've been playing out ever since.

Dave Muser (Trumpet, Vocals): Remember when MTV played music videos? Well, that was my favorite thing to watch growing up. Being in a band was probably the first long term decision I made, before I could play anything. I landed with Trumpet thanks to a challenge from my high school band director, Jeff Melsha. Big shout out to him and my family for helping me pursue what I've wanted to do since my early childhood.

Can you pick a favorite song? Why do you like it?

John Covelli: Turkish March by Beethoven because it rocks hard! 

John Short: "I Saw Her Standing There" ­ The Beatles ... my go to karaoke song. 

Ben Moore: Currently, my favorite song is "Lingus" by Snarky Puppy. I love the unusual time signature, crisp horns, and face melting keyboard solo.  

Matt Vianello: The answer to this question changes daily, but today, I’ll go with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s version of “Little Wing” because it’s SRV performing Hendrix. That can’t be beat. 

Toby Mechem: That's a hard question.  I like all kinds of music, but for pure songwriting I'd have to pick something by the Beatles (too hard to pick just one!).  They took basic rock n' roll song structure and expanded it, they had beautiful harmonies, and they made experimentation ok. 

Dave Muser: Impossible... but right now I am really digging some Superhero Killer. They hooked me! 

What is your favorite spot in St. Louis and why?·

John Covelli: The Loop because it was my first St. Louis hangout. 

John Short: The Central West End -­ meandering down Euclid on a warm summer evening, outdoor restaurants, Dressel's Pub. 

Ben Moore: Vernon's BBQ ­- the ribs and beans are on point! 

Matt Vianello: Forest Park. There is something for everyone. 

Toby Mechem:  The Loop will always hold a special place for me because that's where I started playing in St. Louis.  But I really like the triangle of venues on South Broadway (BBs, Beale, and Broadway Oyster Bar) because you can hear great blues, jazz, funk, etc on any given night.  Plus you can park somewhere and walk from place to place.  That area has a great feel to it. 

Dave Muser: That's hard... But I am a big fan of Venice Cafe. It blows people's minds to see artistic expression like that and it's a fun little place to play. 

What does performing at the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden mean to you?

John Covelli: This has been a well known concert series for years and I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of it! 

John Short: Henry Shaw, the philanthropist who founded the garden, was from from Sheffield, England ­- my home town. Karma! 

Ben Moore:  I'm definitely excited for the opportunity to share The Grooveliner’s music with new ears. 

Matt Vianello: Whitaker is my favorite St. Louis music festival and it’s an honor to perform at it. In my mind, Whitaker means summer, great bands, beautiful atmosphere, thousands of people who appreciate music, and B.Y.O.B.!  

Toby Mechem: It's exciting.  I've watched a lot of shows there and feel honored to be asked to play there.  And with this group of guys it means a lot.  We've got some great songs I'm looking forward to sharing with everybody. 

Dave Muser: It's a HUGE honor. Where else can a local band get an audience of 8,000+ people? Nowhere... and for FREE?! It's an amazing event for the bands and fans alike 

What do you like most about the St. Louis music scene?

John Covelli: The St. Louis music scene is filled with lots of musicians of all ages playing music together, with a lot of sharing. 

John Short: There are so many fantastic bands to see in this town ­ all kinds of musical genres. We have met a bunch of really talented, incredibly friendly musicians as we've played supportive venues like The Old Rock House, The Atomic Cowboy and Broadway Oyster Bar. 

Ben Moore: St. Louis has a generous amount of local talent and on any given night, I can find a venue with an amazing band.  

Matt Vianello: The musicians. St. Louis musicians are overwhelming supportive of each other.  

Toby Mechem: This is a great time for St. Louis music.  I feel like it's a super supportive community now, which is good for all of us.  In my experience it hasn't always been that way.  Plus, with the opening of the National Blues Museum, maybe St. Louis will finally get the exposure we deserve! 

Dave Muser: It is ever evolving and sounds better than it ever has. The community is rich in relationships and support. Music breaks down barriers of our society, and that's exactly what we need. Unity in STL.

[mobotgarden]

The Garden Welcomes ClusterPluck to the 2016 Whitaker Music Festival Wednesday, June 15, 2016

ClusterPluck mixes bluegrass, folk, rock, and country into a hearty sonic stew. Throwing tradition aside while utilizing banjo, guitar, bass, violin, mandolin, and dobro, this St. Louis, Mo 4-piece produce an up-beat, grassy energy with a little country jam for listeners of all ages to savor.

Learn more about the band in our brief interview with members Chris Rader ( vocals, banjo, guitar), Justin Torres (vocals, bass, guitar), Derek Rutter (vocals, mandolin, guitar) and Matt Gadeken (violin, vocals):

How did you become interested in playing music?

Chris: I don't remember what made me want to play music exactly but I do remember whenever i first touched a guitar that I knew I'd play forever.

Justin: I have been around music my whole life.  My father is a musician and I went to a lot of rehearsals and shows growing up. I have always been intrigued by music and wanted to be a part of it.

Matt: I grew up in a fairly musical family, but I think what really set it off for me was when I started taking piano lessons in 2nd or 3rd grade.  I really connected with my teacher and developed a curiosity for different kinds of music.  Because of that (and just a general curiosity), I took every opportunity I had to learn something new.  I started playing violin in my school orchestra in 4th grade; drums in band in 5th grade, which went on to include jazz and marching band; sang in choirs, went to contests, played in rock bands, took other instrument lessons here and there, did some college time exploring recording, live sound, etc…  So I guess you could say that desire was there from the start, and through having access to the right channels I was able to explore performing from an early age.  

Derek: I've been around music my whole life. My dad, and uncle were both in bands so growing up I pretty much had full access to whatever instruments were just laying around.

Can you pick a favorite song? Why do you like it?

Justin: I go through spurts of favorites.  Out of the songs we play, I like "Places" and "Where do we go from here" a lot. Favorite out of the bands I listen to right now would be, "Gone Wonderin" by Jackie Greene.

Chris: One of my favorite songs is "I'm Gonna Be Somebody" by Travis Tritt.  It's a tale of a boy that learns guitar and dreams big while everyone says he's crazy. Turns out he hits it big and stays humble. Great Country Song...just a great song period.

Matt: No.  Maybe for a week or two, then I’m on to something else.

Derek: That's a tough one there are so many great songs out there it's tough to pick a favorite. I guess it would just depend my mood, Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughan is definitely up there on that list for sure. He can just hit that one note BAM! it just hits your soul.

What is your favorite spot in St. Louis and why?

Justin: I love the Broadway Oyster Bar and the Bootleg in the grove.

Chris: I love when we play at the Broadway Oyster Bar. The staff there are super nice and we have a good relationship. It is our home turf.  

Matt: I was going to try and give an answer unrelated to where we play, but the truth is playing music is my favorite thing to do, and my favorite place to do that in St. Louis is the Oyster Bar.  We always see a lot of familiar faces and friendly staff.  Good food, good music, good times.

Derek: I would definitely say that the Broadway Oyster Bar is by far my favorite place to play in St. Louis. They have amazing food and the crew are all top notch, and treat us very well. 

What does performing at the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden mean to you?

Justin: To me its an honor to be a part of a St. Louis tradition that showcases music and arts. So many amazing performers have been able to share their music at the botanical garden and we are very fortunate to be a part of such an awesome event.

Chris:  Getting to play among all the beauty that is blooming is always better than a smelly bar. Ha! Really though, it will be a refreshing and revitalizing way to share our music with others.

Matt: I’m excited to play for a slightly different demographic.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of friends too, but hopefully we can connect with some people that don’t make it out to our usual spots.  

Derek: The Botanical Garden is such a beautiful place. I am grateful to get the chance to be invited to play music there.

What do you like most about the St. Louis music scene?

Justin: I like how we all work together to build it more and more.  There are so many musicians we have shared the stage with time and time again and its alway a treat to be able to see how we grow as musicians and friends. Thanks so much for having us this year and it’s been nice chatting with you.

Chris: The St. Louis music scene is very diverse. There's many artists in the area whose sound is not so easy to describe.  I like bands that have a style where you can hear the unification of the sound but you can't quite pinpoint exactly what that sound is.

Matt: KDHX.

Derek: There in so much diversity in music in St. Louis. You could go from hearing jazz at one place then go a block down the street, and hear bluegrass or metal. I feel as though theres a good comradery between the musicians in the area.

[mobotgarden]

It’s a simple question: how many trees are there on Earth? The answer required 421,529 measurements from fifty countries on six continents. Now this new data has been combined to produce a stunning visualisation of our planet as you’ve never seen it before.

[mobotgarden]

Thanks to Sharon Hartzell Smith for sharing this postcard from 1921, depicting the Italian Garden (including the original location of our Juno statue) and Conservatory building (host of the Desert House, Cactus House, and more). 

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Thursday 6 August 2015

The yellow flowering stems of Lysimachia punctata (yellow loosestrife) in a garden on Harris, the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, show the power of this plant to colonise an area given sufficient moisture and a lack of strong competition! This species can be used in the border, bog garden or by a pond as a marginal plant but it can be invasive.

Jill Raggett

[theolduvaigorge]

Extinct tree grows anew from ancient jar of seeds unearthed by archaeologists

by Stephen Messenger

“For thousands of years, Judean date palm trees were one of the most recognizable and welcome sights for people living in the Middle East — widely cultivated throughout the region for their sweet fruit, and for the cool shade they offered from the blazing desert sun.

From its founding some 3,000 years ago, to the dawn of the Common Era, the trees became a staple crop in the Kingdom of Judea, even garnering several shout-outs in the Old Testament. Judean palm trees would come to serve as one of the kingdom’s chief symbols of good fortune; King David named his daughter, Tamar, after the plant’s name in Hebrew.

By the time the Roman Empire sought to usurp control of the kingdom in 70 AD, broad forests of these trees flourished as a staple crop to the Judean economy — a fact that made them a prime resource for the invading army to destroy. Sadly, around the year 500 AD, the once plentiful palm had been completely wiped out, driven to extinction for the sake of conquest.

In the centuries that followed, first-hand knowledge of the tree slipped from memory to legend. Up until recently, that is.

During excavations at the site of Herod the Great’s palace in Israel in the early 1960’s, archeologists unearthed a small stockpile of seeds stowed in a clay jar dating back 2,000 years. For the next four decades, the ancient seeds were kept in a drawer at Tel Aviv’s Bar-Ilan University. But then, in 2005, botanical researcher Elaine Solowey decided to plant one and see what, if anything, would sprout.

“I assumed the food in the seed would be no good after all that time. How could it be?“ said Solowey. She was soon proven wrong.

Amazingly, the multi-millennial seed did indeed sprout — producing a sapling no one had seen in centuries, becoming the oldest known tree seed to germinate.

Today, the living archeological treasure continues to grow and thrive; In 2011, it even produced its first flower — a heartening sign that the ancient survivor was eager to reproduce. It has been proposed that the tree be cross-bred with closely related palm types, but it would likely take years for it to begin producing any of its famed fruits. Meanwhile, Solowey is working to revive other age-old trees from their long dormancy.”

***Does anyone in the know have any comments?

(Source: Tree Hugger)

[lilmissoatsy]

HOLY FUCK

[leupagus]

Apparently this tree is lookin’ for a lady

[grassangel]

Here’s a ten year update. The scientist, Elaine Solowey, has germinated and grown other ancient date palm seeds and there are a couple of female plants that Methuselah could pollinate. 

[pacificnorthwestdoodles]

:)

[greenpeaceusa]

We need YOUR help to stand up for forests! The Boreal forest is crucial habitat for threatened and endangered species, such as the woodland caribou. It also plays a critical role in the fight against climate change. But unsustainable logging practices are destroying pieces of this forest every day. We need to put an end to this. Rite Aid, the third-largest drugstore in the country, is buying millions of pounds of paper from a company linked to destructive logging operations in endangered forests in the Boreal but the company doesn’t seem to care about being involved with this type of destruction. Each and every one of us must step up and tell Rite Aid to change their ways and adopt a comprehensive, forest-friendly paper policy! Add YOUR voice!

[mothernaturenetwork]

Merchant’s Garden: Bringing the farm to the city Young entrepreneur wants to bring fresh food to inner city residents through aquaponics.

[mobotgarden]

A High-Tech Way to Print Your Own Garden

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Thanks to a 2013 project by students at Slovenia’s University of Maribor, Mary might well respond, “by way of a 3-D printer.” The modified CNC (computerized numerical control) machine called PrintGREEN would certainly simplify the process needed to make Mary’s garden grow by simply printing it out for her—no spades or trowels necessary.

[smithsonianlibrariesarchives]

It’s National Moth week! Tonight, leave the porch light on and see what types of moths live in your neighborhood. (Just don’t let them in if you value your wool sweaters.) If you live in Eastern North America, you may see Actias luna, the luna moth. Adult luna moths have only vestigial mouth-parts and do not feed; this phase of their life cycle is dedicated only to mating and laying eggs.

gif from Biologia Centrali Americana Insecta. Lepidoptera-Heterocera v.3

Actias maenas (large) and Leucophlebia lineata (small) from  The cabinet of oriental entomology

Various species (including Actias luna #7) from The moth book

[huntingtonlibrary]

Yay for moth gifs!!!!!!!  And for Moth Week!!!  Here’s an ungiffed moth from our library collections (look closely):

(Photographer unknown, Moth, date unknown, 35mm color slide. Otis Marston Colorado River Collection. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.)

[mirnah]

After women, flowers are the most divine creations.

- Christian Dior

[mothernaturenetwork]

Top 10 ways well-managed forests and SFI make a world of difference

The clean air we breathe and water we drink are only part of the story of sustainable forestry. And if you have hiked in a forest or enjoyed the shade of a tree on a city sidewalk you have experienced the benefits of trees and forests firsthand.

[amor-por-los-cactus]

Succulents echeveria

[sociology-of-space]

The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think

Gregory Bateson (via sociology-of-space)