Part of a Gardenwide effort highlighting the importance of plant conservation around the world, an extensive renovation of the Bavarian Garden currently underway will improve growing conditions and allow the Garden's horticulture staff to grow more diverse collections of plants common in Germany's alpine region and other mountainous terrain.
While some plant species may move their range over time to adapt to changing environmental conditions, because alpine and rock garden plants thrive at high altitudes, there are few places for them to move. Environmental changes such as lower precipitation, lack of adequate snowfall or increases in temperature can threaten their survival.
The new Bavarian Garden landscape will incorporate a scree bed, dry stream, alpine troughs and niche planting areas, displaying a wide variety of alpine and rock garden plants hardy enough to survive in the St. Louis climate.
As of October 2012, approximately 30 tons of Missouri sandstone have been installed, with more than 60 tons of rockwork still to come.
The renovation is scheduled for completion in time for a May 2013 planting.