Shaw Nature Reserve
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In 1925 the Missouri Botanical Garden purchased five adjoining farms to provide a refuge for plant collections threatened by industrial pollution, especially the orchid collection. The orchids were moved to what was then known as the Gray Summit Extension in 1926. Today, the Nature Reserve continues to provide a refuge for plants and wildlife and a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with nature.
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Since the 1970s, the Nature Reserve has been a regional leader for ecological restoration, native plant horticulture and conservation, and environmental education. The Nature Reserve’s extensive prairie, wetland, glade, and woodland habitats, and the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, provide an exceptional outdoor laboratory for educational programs, ecological research, and exploration of
the natural world.