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Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd. 314-577-9400  "When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area.   |
Model Trains and Flowers Create Delightful Holiday Spirit at Missouri Botanical Garden 
by Betty Magrath, SLFP.comphotos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) December 2, 2003 - The "Gardenland Express" flower and train show has rolled into the Missouri Botanical Garden for the holiday season. For nearly nine months, Brian DeLoux, floral display designer, and his staff have labored with loving care to create an amazingly detailed miniature landscape. Three large "G-scale" locomotives chug along 500 feet of track through miniature landscapes accented by fresh flowers and plants and illuminated by thousands of tiny lights. "Building the display was a learning experience since we didn't know what you could and couldn't do with model trains," explained DeLoux. Over train whistles and children squealing with delight, DeLoux explained how a scale model display of 1" per foot was developed using manufactured paper templates. "I went through several revisions before deciding on how to make the tracks loop around, allowing the trains to be somewhat separated and yet come together," stated DeLoux, wearing a big smile and conductor's cap. "Our installation began in October with the help of the horticultural staff and many volunteers. The first thing we installed was the train tracks, followed by the rocks and finally the buildings and tunnels. We had to use ten-year-old sawdust as this black filler so that it wouldn't compost and heat up and kill every plant." "Many of our volunteers took materials home and created the buildings you see in the display," stated DeLoux. As the trains travel over trestles, into tunnels, beside lakes and into forests, they transport freight among villages and towns. Dwarf conifers, cacti, fragrant blooms, herbs and several varieties of poinsettias add color and texture to the 5,200 square-foot floral display hall. The display also has several water features with waterfalls gurgling over huge faux rock boulders manufactured in Florida. The display has three distinctive areas represented by an Eastern passenger train, a midwest freight train and an old west area with a steam locomotive. He noted that as the model trains are not designed to run continuously, visitors may notice sudden stops and starts along the train track.
For the youngest train enthusiasts, a large "Thomas the Tank," Christmas-theme and circus choo-choos circle giant ficus trees in each corner. Visitors are encouraged to take holiday snapshots at the show's entrance, where an animated snowman, evergreen trees and plants surround an eight-foot locomotive. Entrance to the show, which continues daily through Jan. 4, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is $3 for ages 13 to 64 and $2 for seniors, in addition to Garden admission, and free for Garden members and children age 12 and under. "Gardenland Express" is sponsored by Citigroup. Exploring the Missouri Botanical Garden The Missouri Botanical Garden, fondly known as Shaw's Garden to St. Louisans, contains a formal English garden, traditional Japanese garden, Margaret Blanke Grigg Chinese garden, the Flower Trial Garden, greenhouses and extensive landscaping. The garden also features the Climatron Complex, water lily reflection ponds and the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. The Climatron® geodesic dome and rainforest conservatory was dedicated 40 years ago in October 1960, replacing an old house built in 1913. The structure incorporates principles established by innovative architect R. Buckminster Fuller and was the first application of geodesic engineering for a greenhouse. The St. Louis architecture firm of Murphy & Mackey developed plans for the facility with Garden director Frits W. Went, who coined the term, Climatron. The dome is 70 feet high and 175 feet in diameter, permitting tall palm trees to tower majestically above the tropical vista of streams, waterfalls and 1,200 different species of exotic trees and plants. Temperature ranges from 64 to 74 degrees and average humidity is 85 percent. Visitors can enjoy a sense of being in a jungle while making their way by orchids, passion flowers, hibiscus flowers, cycads and a number of endangered species. In 1976, the dome was named one of the 100 most significant architectural achievements in United States history. The Garden, covering 75 acres, is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd, just south of Hwy 44 between Vandeventer and Grand. Extended summer hours are 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Free parking on premises, as well as an extensive gift shop and restaurant with patio dining. Call GardenLine at 314-577-9400 or 800-642-8842.  Archived Pages: Best of Missouri Market 2003 Japanese Festival 2003 Celebrates Kaki An Enchanted Forest Appears At the Garden - Orchid Show 2003 Best of Missouri Market 2002 Festival Celebrates Passing of Summer Into Autumn - Japanese Festival 2002 Missouri Botanical Gardens To Launch Major Science and Math Initiative Missouri Botanical Garden Announces $8.35 Million to Support Neighborhood Economic Redevelopment Japanese Festival Celebrates 'Gingetsu' Butterfly House Merges With Missouri Botanical Garden A Celebration of Chinese Culture at the Garden New Monsanto Research Center Opens  
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