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CITY GARDENS By Moe Godat Places to go, things to do and see and people who are leaving their mark on the world of style.
Local: Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO Photography courtesy of Mary Lou Olson, Phoebe Mussman, Justin Barr
Henry Shaw, an 18-year-old Englishman, came to St. Louis to sell hardware and cutlery; by the time of his death, he’d have planted the seed that would grow into the Missouri Botanical Garden, a National Historic Landmark and beloved jewel of St. Louis history. The woods and prairies around St. Louis were still largely untouched in 1819, the year of Shaw’s arrival. The story says that one day on a leisurely ride, Shaw found a stretch of untouched land that he decided to make his own. After 40 years of living in the St. Louis area, he opened his land to scientists and horticulturists such as Dr. George Engelmann, a
great, early American botanist. Together, they created one of the first botanical gardens in the United States. Today, the Missouri Botanical Garden, which opened to the public in 1859, offers several different types of garden areas such as formal, demonstration and internationally styled. They also offer a range of classes for visitors to teach them the importance of plant conservation and sustainability, two ideas that Henry Shaw was very passionate about in his lifetime. Come out and visit a garden, attend a class or be blown away by one of the Missouri Botanical Garden's events!
International: Gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France Photography provided by S. Lloyd
The story of the villa and gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild begins with tragedy. After her young marriage failed in the face of gambling and debt, Beatrice de Rothschild, daughter to a wealthy baron, moved back in with her family. Upon her father’s death, she inherited his wealth and moved to Cap Ferrat, a stretch of hilly land on the coast of France. The landscaping process took a total of seven years, and the Baroness called on Harold Peto and Achille Duchene, renowned landscapers across Europe and the United States. Because the hillside was largely made of rocks and constantly beaten by wind, Beatrice used dynamite to clear the hillside and brought new soil to her location from the mainland. When she began inhabiting her new villa in 1912, four hectares visible from the house were not yet landscaped. She did this so she could plan her gardens in person and visualize how they’d look from her window. The grounds contain nine different themed gardens for guests to enjoy, all connected with a path. Every year, the gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild opens its doors to painters who want to feel inspired by the gardens in an event called The Painters’ Day.
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JUNE/JULY 2019 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM