St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles has enjoyed a valued 19-year partnership with the Missouri Botanical Garden. Opened in 1859 by Henry Shaw as a place for the city’s residents to love, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been a landmark in St. Louis for more than 150 years. Each issue, we will share a small slice of the garden with you in Shaw’s Vision. Discover the beauty and knowledge this St. Louis gem has to offer.

Dedicated in 1977, the 14-acre Japanese Garden, one of the largest in North America, represents an evolution of centuries of tradition and a multiplicity of distinctly Japanese cultural influences. Incorporating carefully designed plantings, waterfalls, beaches and islands, the Japanese Garden invites visitors to experience the thrill of personal interpretation and discovery in a serene landscape that's uniquely beautiful in every season.

Joanne Fogarty, Missouri Botanical Garden docent and member, shares why this particular section of the Garden is so special to her:

“I was there from the beginning; 40 years ago, I witnessed, firsthand, the lake being constructed and had the opportunity to meet landscape architect Professor Koichi Kawana, a native of Japan and lecturer on environmental design and landscape architecture. It makes it even more special to watch the maturation of the garden after all this time. One of my greatest joys is being able to see the teahouse island. The plum arbor is an especially lovely place to have a still moment, and I love to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Watching the horticulturists prune the conifers, trees and other plants is fascinating; the simplicity of the garden is deceiving – there is so much time and meticulous care of the Garden.”