Highlights of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden

August - Rain Garden

The slope below the patio of the Carriage House classroom features the newest addition to the Whitmire Wildflower Garden – the Rain Garden. Rainwater from the roof and surrounding lawn flows into the garden, demonstrating to visitors a native plant landscaping solution to storm water runoff. Wetland plants are showcased in the basin of the rain garden and facilitate the slowing down and absorbtion of water. Featured are many showy, summer-blooming wetland plants including blue pickerel weed (Pontaderia cordata), red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) and large, soft pink flowers of native Hibiscus. The grass-like foliage of sedges (Carex sp.), reeds (Scirpus sp.) and rushes (Juncus sp.) form the foundation and unify the whole garden. This diversity of plants, a viable alternative to lawn, concrete and other impermeable surfaces, provides habitat for a multitude of animals. Birds come to eat insects and retrieve seeds, dragonflies and butterflies dart about, frogs and toads serenade in the evenings.

September - Tallgrass Prairie

There are over 20 acres of reconstructed tallgrass prairie surrounding the Whitmire Wildflower Garden. It is glorious at this time of year, bursting with color and life as the end of the growing season nears. Tallgrass prairie was once a common feature in Missouri existing throughout the state. In the Wildflower Garden, trails meander through acres of blooming Indian grass, big and little bluestem, gama grass and switch grass. In addition, tall yellow sunflowers and goldenrods rise above the grasses while fall-blooming asters impart pink, blue and purple to the scene. Much more color and animation is provided by numerous bird and butterfly species searching for seeds and nectar before the winter months set in.   The prairie is managed with periodical late winter burns alternated with mowing. 

March - Lower Woodland

A meandering path leads down a gentle slope and into the lower woodland area. Understory trees, such as pawpaw (Asimina triloba), serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) and American holly (Ilex americana), grow beneath the high canopy of oak, hickory and other large native trees. This particular woodland, within the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, is planted and managed to display for visitors the abundance of Missouri woodland species of wildflowers, shrubs and small trees. Migrating hummingbirds and emerging butterflies return in spring to forage for nectar amongst the wild red columbine, woodland phlox, wild geranium and other flowers. The trail continues on to bring visitors through lush plantings of ferns, wild ginger and Jacob's ladder past the wild hydrangea to the rustic gazebo. Here one can rest while taking in the view, do some bird watching or even spy on the occasional box turtle passing through. Further down the path is a boardwalk that passes over a small wetland in an opening of the tree canopy. Here too is a bench where one can sit watch for the little green heron that comes to hunt or the dragonflies that rest on the leaves of the rushes.

Spring blooming native plants (doc)

April – Sandy Savanna

A sandy savanna (also called pine savanna) is a rare sight, although they were once common in the Missouri Ozarks. This part of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden illustrates the characteristics of this type of habitat. Widely spaced shortleaf pines (Pinus echinata) allow light to reach the ground where grasses and wildflowers thrive. Underlying and partially exposed sandstone as well as an acid soil are typical features of this environment. Cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata) and leadplant (Amorpha canescens) are among the many legumes that typically grow in sandstone. Tall purple spikes of scaly blazingstar (Liatris scariosa var. nieulandii) attract many butterflies in midsummer. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) turns a rich orange-yellow in the fall, providing a wonderful contrast to the deep blue flowers of bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii). Occasional controlled burning is used to maintain this unique section of the garden.

May – Sedge Meadow

Immediately below the Spring Pool garden, in an opening of the woodland, is an area of consistently wet soil. The sedge meadow is planted to emulate natural wetland areas such as wet prairies, spring areas, and river flood plains. The lush growth of various wetland sedges (Carex sp.) forms the foundation of this habitat. Amongst the sedges are blue flag iris (Iris virginica) and copper iris (Iris fulva) that show off their delicate flowers in early summer. As the season progresses a diverse array of flowering plants continues to provide highlights. Summer-blooming queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and meadow phlox (Phlox maculata) stand tall, then fade to allow the fall-blooming plants such as rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) , turtlehead (Chelone obliqua ) and moist loving asters (Aster puniceus and A. novae-angliae) to provide the season finale.

June – Glade

Glades are common in the Ozarks, typically occurring on south to southwest facing slopes. A thin layer of soil over shallow bedrock creates a harsh, almost desert-like, environment that is typically maintained with occasional controlled burns. The reconstructed glade in the garden has a gently curving path that allows visitors to view the many beautiful and showy plants that thrive in this challenging and complex habitat. Here and there between exposed bedrock are colonies of spring blooming Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) and blue false indigo (Baptisia australis). Occasional clumps of rose verbena (Glandularia canadensis) and tickseed (Coeopsis lanceolata) spill out into the pathway. Pale purple coneflowers stand above grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Butterflies and other insects are never at a loss for nectar and pollen because of the amazing abundance of flowering plants in the glade.