M I S S OUR I B O T A N IC A L G A R D E N bulletinWinter 2014–2015 Vol. 103, No. 1 www.mobot.org 1 Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin Winter 2014–2015 Did you know? Your membership provides critical support for our international and local plant science and conservation work, and Garden memberships contribute 21% of our annual operating funds. Plus, as a Garden member: President’s • You receive free admission for two adults and all children (12 and photo by Koraley Northen Comment younger) at Shaw Nature Reserve and the Butterfly House. • Special Member Days offer you exclusive activities, tram rides, and This fall I traveled to the 12th Conference discounts in the shops and café. of the United Nations Convention on • The Children’s Garden is free to you all day Tuesday (April–October). Biological Diversity in Korea. I was given the • The Garden is open for members only on Tuesday evenings in the summer. opportunity to address delegates from 187 • You are eligible for free or reduced-price admission to over 270 governments, pledging the Garden’s support botanical gardens and arboreta across the U.S. and Canada. of their commitment to plant conservation. Visit , email , While we can be very proud that the Garden www.mobot.org/membership [email protected] or call (314) 577-5118 to learn more. holds an important position of influence and helps shape world policies on biodiversity and the environment, we also acknowledge our Board of Trustees Officers William H. T. Bush Janet Hennessey responsibility as a member of the local, regional, Lelia J. Farr Chair Bert Condie III Janice A. Hermann and global community. Our work in science, Cheryl P. Morley Vice Chair Prof. Sir Peter R. Crane FRS Leslie P. Hood Peter S. Wyse Jackson, President L. B. Eckelkamp, Jr. Laure B. Hullverson education, public awareness, conservation, MA, PhD, FLS M. Peter Fischer Maureen R. Jennings horticulture, and sustainability has never been Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus Marilyn R. Fox Ellen E. Jones PhD Robert R. Hermann Celeste Kennedy more important than it is today (see page 9). Members Edward D. Higgins Lynn Koeneman In this issue of the Bulletin focused on Mrs. Walter F. Ballinger II Paula M. Keinath Janet B. Lange Daniel A. Burkhardt Rosalyn H. Kling Stephanie Littlefield our conservation work, I hope you find a Arnold W. Donald Robert E. Kresko Mary V. Longrais renewed passion for the Garden—from our Lelia J. Farr Hal A. Kroeger Virginia McCook Sharon D. Fiehler June M. Kummer Isabelle C. Morris beautiful plant displays and collections such Robert R. Hermann, Jr. James S. McDonnell III Anita D. O’Connell as our orchids (see page 16) to our outreach David M. Hollo Evelyn Edison Newman Sue B. Oertli David W. Kemper Roy Pfautch Sue M. Rapp programs that bring conservation closer to the Charles E. Kopman Mabel L. Purkerson, MD Susan N. Rowe Carolyn W. Losos Peggy Ritter Marsha J. Rusnack community (see pages 12 and 15). The Garden’s Daniel J. Ludeman Joseph F. Shaughnessy Sammy Ann Ruwitch mission to preserve and prevent any future W. Stephen Maritz Nancy R. Siwak Betty Salih Cheryl P. Morley Robert B. Smith III Mary Lee Salzer-Lutz loss of biodiversity touches on every branch of Cynthia S. Peters Nora R. Stern Nancy L. Sauerhoff our organization, and your support is vitally Nicholas L. Reding William K. Y. Tao, DSc Ron Schlapprizzi Steven C. Roberts, Sr. Jack E. Thomas Susie Littmann Schulte important to the Garden, St. Louis, and make Marsha J. Rusnack Jane S. Tschudy David Schulz no mistake, to the world as well. Rakesh Sachdev John K. Wallace, Jr. Celeste D. Sprung Stephen C. Sachs O. Sage Wightman III Carol A. Squires As we reflect on another successful year Scott C. Schnuck Roma B. Wittcoff Susan Squires Goldschmidt at the Garden—one that looked at how we Thad W. Simons Honorary Patricia Steiner Rex A. Sinquefield Surinder (Suri) Sehgal, PhD Nora R. Stern connect and grow with nature and plant a better Michael K. Stern, PhD Elizabeth Teasdale Members’ Board Jane S. Tschudy Andrew C. Taylor Parker B. McMillan, President future—my hope is that botanic gardens become Eugene M. Toombs Norma Williams Mary Ella J. Alfring Douglas R. Wolter a common ground for all of us, a beacon of Josephine Weil Chyrle Arens peace, optimism, reconciliation, and common Robert M. Williams, Jr. Jacqueline Bainter Botanical Garden Subdistrict of the Ex Officio Ann M. Bowen Metropolitan Zoological Park and cause, cherishing and protecting our natural The Honorable Charlie A. Dooley Eileen M. Carr Museum District environment. Here’s to a greener tomorrow! Thomas F. George, PhD Sue Cohen John C. McPheeters Benjamin H. Hulsey Kristen Cornett Knapp Marcia B. Mellitz Here’s to 2015! William R. Kauffman, JD Jean Corse Brian A. Murphy The Honorable Francis G. Slay Jeanne P. Crawford Martin Schweig Bishop George Wayne Smith Janelle Criscione Pamela Shephard Rick Sullivan Angela Dalton Marjorie M. Weir Mark S. Wrighton, PhD Jeanie C. Davis Francis Yueh Mary Kay Denning Hillary B. Zimmerman Members Emeriti Ellen Dubinsky Non-voting advisory members: Clarence C. Barksdale Audrey Feuerbacher Ms. Janice M. Nelson Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, John H. Biggs Michael C. Heim Mr. James H. Yemm President Stephen F. Brauer 2 Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin Winter 2014–2015 Garden Hours The Garden is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week except during holiday hours (November–January). Closed on Christmas Day. The Garden stays open on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Visit www.mobot.org for more information. Contents General public outdoor walking hours begin at 7 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. General Admission $8 ($4 for residents of St. Louis City and County); children 12 and under are free. Garden members receive free admission 9 (based on level). Healing the Children’s Garden: $5 for children; adults Planet admitted free. ($3 for Garden member Unprecedented threat levels children.) Member children admitted free on Tuesdays. Open April through October. make plant conservation a top priority abroad and at home. Contact Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110 12 (314) 577-5100 • www.mobot.org By the People On the Cover For the People Tower Grove House gets decked for the holidays How conservation depends on in traditional Victorian style every year. an engaged local community. Photo by Dilip Vishwanat. Credits Editor/Designer: Andrea Androuais President’s Comment ..............2 ©2014 Missouri Botanical Garden The Bulletin is a benefit of Garden membership. News ..........................4 The BULLETIN (ISSN 0026-6507) is published quarterly by the Missouri Botanical Garden, Butterfly House .................. 14 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110. Periodicals postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Shaw Nature Reserve ............. 15 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes Horticulture .................... 16 to Bulletin, Missouri Botanical Garden, Education ...................... 17 P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299 Member Events .................. 18 Sustainability The Missouri Botanical Garden Shop & Dine .................... 19 Bulletin is printed on paper containing 100% post-consumer recycled The Story of .................... 20 content, that is, paper that you might have placed in the recycle bin in your home or office Tributes ....................... 21 this year. It is manufactured using biogas, a renewable energy source. We print locally, Why I Give ...................... 23 so there is no long-haul transportation, and we’re reinvesting in our community. We work hard to choose the most environmentally responsible paper around. So if you aren’t quite ready to go completely electronic with our online version, you can still enjoy your paper Bulletin in good conscience. Once you’ve read it, please recycle. To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life. photo by Heather Marie Osborn – mission of the Missouri Botanical Garden 3 Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin Winter 2014–2015 News Ecological Restoration Experts Join the Garden The Missouri Botanical Garden welcomed two staff members in the fall as part of a new ecological restoration program. Dr. James Aronson joined the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development (CCSD) in September. A restoration ecologist with 25 years of experience in the field, Dr. Aronson has worked as a photo Beffa by Glenn government researcher at the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Reserve Participates in eastern edge of the Reserve for over Ecology in Montpelier, France. He 30 years. Annual River Cleanup In late August, General is the co-founder of the Restoring As part of Shaw Nature Reserve’s Operations Supervisor Glenn Beffa Natural Capital Alliance and natural surroundings, the Meramec organized 28 volunteers, including co-editor of Restoring Natural River is host to a great diversity members of a local Boy Scouts Capital: Science, Business, and of plant and animal communities. troop, to pick up a half ton of Practice, which built upon a Unfortunately, it also suffers from trash along the river. Without the groundbreaking workshop at damage caused by flooding and annual efforts of these volunteers, the Garden in 2005 involving littering. As part of The Open Space that material would remain at the ecologists, economists, land Council’s Operation Clean Stream, bottom of the river indefinitely. managers, and policymakers. the Reserve has been cleaning up “They had fun and accomplished Dr. Leighton the section of the Meramec River some much-needed cleanup work,” Reid also joined the from Robertsville State Park to the CCSD, where he says Reserve Director John Behrer. will work restoring tropical forests Garden Receives IMLS the students’ interest in the science, and local Missouri technology, engineering, and math ecosystems.