Shaw Nature Reserve (Missouri Botanical Garden)

The Shaw Nature Reserve was established in 1925 as a site for plant collection and flower cultivation outside the city of St. Louis. At that time, the city was beset by air pollution, and the reserve was intended as an ancillary site of the Missouri Botanical Garden, located west of the city. Over time, the reserve has evolved to become a center for environmental conservation and education. In 1972, the National Park Service placed a historical marker at the site, noting its significance to "natural and cultural processes through effective environmental education programs." These programs include classes and workshops, extended overnight learning experiences, and other family-friendly events. Since the 1980s, the Shaw Nature Reserve has been a focal point for the Missouri Botanical Garden's efforts in ecological habitat restoration. Because the 2500-acre reserve borders the Ozarks, it includes a rich variety of landscapes, such as upland woods, dolomite glades, prairies, and wetlands. Historic buildings on site include a log and stone visitors pavilion, as well as a complex of rustic structures from the 1850s that have been incorporated into the Dana Brown Overnight Center.

Originally known as Shaw Arboretum, the Shaw Nature Reserve was established in 1925 as part of the Missouri Botanical Garden, which was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw. Due to the smog that was affecting St. Louis in the 1920s, the Botanical Garden decided to purchase an additional tract of land outside the city where flowers could be grown and plant collections could be maintained. The reserve includes several historic buildings, such as the Maritz Trail House, a pavilion constructed of log and stone. Several rustic structures built in the 1850s were moved to the site to become part of the Dana Brown Overnight Center for extended outdoor learning experiences.

Encompassing 2500 acres of land bordering the northern edge of the Ozarks, the reserve is home to a diversity of plant and animal species. In 1972, the National Park Service erected a historical marker at the reserve. The marker notes that the site was designated as a National Environmental Education Landmark for its "distinctive values in revealing significant natural and cultural processes through effective environmental education programs."

Beginning in 1980, native habitat management and restoration became a central focus at the reserve. Woodland areas are maintained through prescribed burnings to reduce the risk of wildfires. The reserve is also committed to maintaining plant biodiversity while controlling invasive plant species. Ecologists have worked to slowly restore plant habitats and to create new prairie and wetland habitats on site.

Today, the reserve incorporates fourteen miles of hiking trails through a variety of Ozark border landscapes, such as upland woods, dolomite glades, and floodplain forest. In addition, landscapes at the reserve also include tallgrass prairie, oak hickory woodlands, savannas, and wetlands. A wooded boardwalk extends into the wetland so that visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of this key habitat.

There is also a wildflower garden, which is popular with visitors of all ages. In the spring, wildflower-themed events give the visiting public a chance to learn more about ecological landscaping, including the inclusion of pollinator-friendly plants that can be grown at home in their own gardens.

Plant and Animal Habitats, Shaw Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed April 23rd 2022. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/shaw-nature-reserve/conservation-at-shaw-nature-reserve/plants-animals-habitats.aspx.

Voight, Jason. Missouri Botanical Garden Arboretum and Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden. November 1st 2014. Accessed April 23rd 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=186591.

Shaw Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed April 23rd 2022. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/shaw-nature-reserve.aspx.

Conservation at Shaw Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed April 23rd 2022. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/shaw-nature-reserve/conservation-at-shaw-nature-reserve.aspx.

Gardens and Gardening at Shaw Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed April 23rd 2022. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/shaw-nature-reserve/gardens-gardening-at-shaw-nature-reserve.aspx.