Bowood Garden & Home celebrated its 10th Anniversary last Saturday. It seems hard to believe it's been in existence for that long, and at the same time hard to imagine the location has ever been anything other than the most elegant urban garden center anywhere. If all you know of this corner of the Central West End is what it is now, you would be surprised to learn that at one time a graveyard of abandoned cars occupied the corner property at Olive and Walton. The main building to the east was in such a derelict state that, shortly after John McPheeters purchased the property, the back wall fell into the alley.
The building that now houses The Studio, entry shown above, is accessible from the annual and perennial garden, shown through the windows below. The building, which was originally a residence fronting on Washington Avenue, has been completely renovated and re-imagined as an elegant light-filled meeting spot for classes, workshops, lectures and events. The bones of the structure remain, as evidenced in the original fireplace and beautiful staircase.
During Saturday afternoon's event, an instructor from Perennial St. Louis showed children how to make bog boxes called "pollinator palaces," above and below, and seed papers (not photographed).
A variety of cupcakes was provided by South City's Sweet Art Bakery.
Floral arrangements, above and in the following photographs, were created by Christine O'Brien, who plants all the seedlings at Bowood's farm in Clarksville.
Patrick O'Brien, Christine's husband, is a potter who also works at the farm. He created the beautiful pots above which are available at Bowood Garden & Home.
Olive, resting on counter left above, wandered in just after Bowood opened and found a permanent home as resident kitty and chief observer.
Bowood's events coordinator, CWEnder Elizabeth Barnes, is shown outside the entry to The Studio last January, as renovation of the space was nearing completion.
Elizabeth has put together a variety of interesting classes scheduled from now through the end of May (see schedule and sign up here).
Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive Street, (314) 454-6868.