I captured this very calming scene at the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden

A so-called Zen garden (karesansui) perfectly maintained at the Japanese Garden area of the Missouri Botanical Garden. I love this place.

Spring blossoms were peaking out at the Japanese Garden.

The Missouri Botanical Garden features a beautiful English-style manor garden.

The orchid show is always popular at the Missouris Botanical Garden.

(Click on each photograph to see a larger picture on a separate picture page.)

I always visit the Missouri Botanical Garden, in south St. Louis, when I see my family in the St. Louis area. It remains one of the constants in life that weathers the turbulence of the larger world and my personal world. It is where my mother and I have spent some of best times as we have gotten older, together.

Things have changed for us, but less so for the Garden. I like that. Perhaps I need that. It remains a beautiful place with phenomenal displays of flowers, plants, and mini ecosystems from the world over. My favorite section of the Garden is the serene and exquisitely maintained Japanese Garden.

During our visit, my mom and I also saw the lovely orchid show. The daffodils and crocuses were blooming–daffodils being the beautiful harbinger of spring. I had never seen that many before at the Garden, probably because I do not visit just before the vernal equinox. It was really nice to see the Garden right as the season was changing.

If you visit St. Louis, this should be on your top three list of things to see besides the Gateway Arch and Forest Park/Zoo/Art Museum (all in Forest Park).