St. Louis Spring Bloom - Top 5 Photography Locations

4/18/2014 – It’s amazing how rapidly nature turns a leaf, especially this time of the year. Getting up every morning and peaking trough the window blinds to find your patch of grass visibly a shade greener than the day before never seizes to amaze. Parks and gardens are abash with color and most outdoor photographers cannot have enough of it.

Here’s a list of locations to check out spring color in St. Louis city. This is a based on my own experience of going to and photographing at these locations in the past week or so. I obviously have not visited every park in the city so if you know of better locations, sharing your suggestions in the comments section is highly appreciated. 

1. Forest Park

This is an absolute gem of a park. There are so many varied locations within the park that it really would need a blog post on itself. The boathouse has some great tulips, the best I have seen so far this year. Other places on the must checkout list Art Hill, Jewel Box, World’s Fair Pavilion and the Zoo!

Link: http://www.forestparkforever.org/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/EMwxi

Time: 6 AM – 10 PM

Fee: Free

4/17/2014 "Apotheosis of St. Louis" statue of King Louis IX of France, Art Museum, Forest Park.

4/17/2014 Tulips at the Boathouse, Forest Park.

4/17/2014 4/17/2014 Tulips on Art Hill, Forest Park.

4/17/2014 Tulips at the Boathouse, Forest Park.

4/17/2014 Vivid spring colors, Forest Park.

2. Missouri Botanical Gardens

A perennial favourite really comes alive during spring.  The only place in St. Louis where you will certainly run into other photography enthusiasts.  An ideal location to try macro photography, the exotic  flower varieties you will not see anywhere else. Tripods are allowed in outdoor spaces but not inside any buildings or conservatories. They have a pretty extensive photo policy read here.

Link: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Vf2GF

Time: Hours change by season, check website for details. Wednesday’s and Saturday’s have early morning hours from 7AM-9AM ideal for photographers.

Fee: St. Louis City/County residents can get in free 7 AM - noon on Saturday. Admission fees required other times check website for details.

4/12/2014 "I thought I could remember the name" plants, Missouri Botanical Gardens

4/12/2014 Photographers at play, Missouri Botanical Gardens 

4/12/2014 Dew Drops Macro, Missouri Botanical Gardens

4/12/2014 Plant Macro, Missouri Botanical Gardens

4/12/2014 Under the Magnolias, Missouri Botanical Gardens

3. Tower Grove Park

Adjacent to botanical gardens this is another expansive park right in the heart of the city.  The really impressive feature of this park are the trees, there are supposed to be over 7,500 trees, of over 300 varieties. Cornelian Cherry, Magnolias and Witch Hazel amongst those which put on a show for spring.

Link: http://www.towergrovepark.org/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/DYkca

Time: 6 AM – 10 PM

Fee: Free

4/13/2014 Observation - Tower Grove Park

4/13/2014 "Amongst the giants" Tower Grove Park 

4/13/2014 Horse Carriage Ride - Tower Grove Park

4/13/2014 Spring Blossoms - Tower Grove Park

4. City Garden

A great mix of art, design and flora in the middle of downtown. There are a number of sculptures around the park which can provide an interesting challenge for composition. Other prominent backdrops would be the building surrounding the park; most prominently the Civil Courts building. The historical Old Courthouse can also be framed under the Arch from here.

Link: http://www.citygardenstl.org/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/mZSVr

Time: 6 AM – 10 PM

Fee: Free

4/12/2014 City Architecture - City Garden

5. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park (Gateway Arch/Old Courthouse)

The Arch and the surrounding park have to be on any list to do with St. Louis. The patch of daffodils in front of the Old Courthouse provides a great foreground element for photographing the domed architecture, turn the tripod around 180 degrees and you have the iconic Arch.

Link: http://www.nps.gov/jeff/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/hAZ56

Time: 6 AM – 10 PM

Fee: Free

4/12/2014 Old Courthouse St. Louis

Other honorable mentions:

Lafayette Square Park

The park in the centre of the square has some nice cherry trees ; the square itself with its beautiful Victorian architecture provides ample photographic opportunities.

Link: http://lafayettesquare.org/visit/lafayette-park/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xwBw0

Time: 6 AM – 10 PM

Fee: Free

4/13/2014 Spring blossoms - Lafayette Square Park

4/13/2014  Dreamy Homes -  Lafayette Square

Bellefontaine Cemetery

The grounds are open to public and fascinating to explore. They had the best tulips last year but unfortunately seem to be completely missing this year. Never the less the magnolias can still be quite a sight on their own.

Link: http://bellefontainecemetery.org/education-and-events/visit/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/YWcpU

Time: 8 AM – 5 PM

Fee: Free