The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis first opened to the public in 1859. It was founded by Henry Shaw, an English businessman and entrepreneur, and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the United States. The Garden is a National Historic Landmark, a world renowned center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display and is widely considered one of the top three botanical gardens in the world. Throughout the Garden’s 79-acres grounds, living collections include more than 27,000 plants on permanent display and ca. 4,500 unique taxa, with horticultural displays including more than 16 formal thematic Gardens and two indoor conservatories. A one-acre main greenhouse complex accommodates plant propagation, plant production for indoor and outdoor use, research plants and special collections such as orchids, aroids, cacti and succulents, and aquatics.
The Bayer Event Center will open in Spring 2023 as an state-of-the-art meeting and conference venue with seating capacity for over 200 people and plenty of space for vendor displays. The Bayer Event Center has a dedicated entrance for all conference attendees, will be the main conference meeting space for registration, scientific program (talks and posters) and vendors. It also provides easy access to the main Garden grounds at any time during the conference.
The Climatron is the first geodesic dome to be used as a conservatory. It opened to the public on October 1, 1960, and encloses approximately 24,000 square feet and 1,400 different tropical plant species. The Climatron will serve as the space for our welcoming mixer on the first evening of the conference.
Valle Escondido, Tom and Pat Croat’s home is located a short 35-minute ride west of the Garden and nested within a great wooded landscape. It would serve as the space for a final farewell to friends and colleagues during the conference closing banquet on Saturday night.
Guided tours of the Gardens spaces, greenhouses, conservatories, herbarium and library will be included in the conference program during coffee breaks and/or at lunch-time. Click here for more details.
Scientific use of the collections in the Garden’s herbarium, DNA Bank, library and aroid greenhouses, before, during and after the conference should be arranged in advance by contacting the organizing committee at xivaroidconference@mobot.org.