Shaw Nature Reserve
If you have ever been to the Botanical Gardens, then you HAVE to visit Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit. If you are a member to the Bot Gardens you get free admission to Shaw! If not its only $5 and that’s a GREAT deal for all you get to see. This place is by far my favorite place to take pictures. I recently did a senior shoot in the flower gardens, and it was beautiful! I suggest you get a map at the welcome center. It will definitely come in handy.
There is so much to see and do here you definitely cannot see it all in one visit. A must see is the Bascom house by the wildflower garden. Over the years they have added so many new things such as a updated restroom and a pavilion. Sometimes they do tours but I have never actually been inside the house. From there you can continue around loop and see all the things. There is an old bus stop, a lake, many hiking trails, the riverfront and a pavilion to eat at. The hiking trails can range from short to long so come prepared! This place is also a photographers dream. I have come in all seasons and every time is a different experience.
They also offer many activities ranging from kids to seniors. Anything and everything from bird watching to summer camps, you name it they have it! If you decide to go during the springtime I highly suggest going and seeing the Blue Bells. They are absolutely beautiful and worth the drive to see them. I am always surprised when I mention this place and people haven’t heard of it. It makes me sad because this is one of my favorite places to go when I need a break in life.
Depending on the season this place can be full of flowers or full of beautiful colorful leaves. There is a place we stopped at once and I laid down in a pile of leaves and looked straight up. It was quite possibly on the most beautiful sights seeing the canopy of colorful trees framing the bright blue sky. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Just beautiful! Hopefully you can get to this place and experience it for yourselves.
Below are some of my favorites from my last visit. Enjoy!
Fun Fact: The first piece of land, 1,300 acres (5.3 km2), was purchased in 1925 when pollution from coal smoke in St. Louis threatened the Garden's live plant collection, especially the orchid collection. The orchids were moved to what was then known as the Gray Summit Extension in 1926. The Garden made five more land purchases between 1926-1977 amounting to the Nature Reserve's current size of 2,444 acres (9.89 km2).
