Take a walk with Deb Hollingsworth at the Missouri Botanical Garden on a cold blustery day, and you will quickly warm to her enthusiasm for the bare landscape. Hollingsworth, a member of the Garden’s Corporate Council, is quick to point out the stark beauty of the season. “I love how the ice and snow frame everything in a different way,” she says. “I think the trees are the most beautiful at this time of year because you see the structure and bark features. The hollies are a sight to behold in the winter – the red berries are just beautiful and a great food source for the birds. And how I love to walk out to the Japanese Garden in the winter months; it’s so peaceful and serene. The Zigzag and Drum Bridge take center stage over the icy lake. I love so many of the sculptures in the winter, too. In the spring and summer there are so many things in bloom that what you are looking at is – understandably – what’s in bloom and the gorgeous color! One of my favorites is Chapungu’s ‘The Sole Provider.’ That piece really captures the essence of winter because it depicts a mother protecting her children, and she has to be strong against the struggle of difficult times. What better time to reflect on our own strength than in the harsh winter months – that’s why it’s one of my favorite places to come in the winter.”

Bundle up and come see the serene beauty of this 79-acre oasis in the city when shapes and contrasts become the visual highlights of the Garden.