05/12/2026
Dr. Raven first visited Shaw Nature Reserve when he was considering taking the job as Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. In his autobiography, he recalls enjoying the lovely spring flora of the Midwestern U.S. for the first time at the Nature Reserve, in particular recalling the beauty of the Missouri evening primroses. “It was a lovely day in beautiful surroundings, and helped cement our desire to move to St. Louis,” he wrote.
During his nearly 40-year tenure as the Garden’s President and Director of the Garden, Dr. Raven made many meaningful contributions to the Nature Reserve, including the creation and dedication of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden in 1993.
The Whitmire Wildflower Garden showcases the beauty of Missouri’s flora with more than 500 native plant species. The 10-acre garden is enchanting throughout all seasons and uniquely alluring during springtime. We encourage you to take a stroll in Dr. Raven’s honor and admire the spring flowers now in bloom, including the Missouri evening primrose.
We invite you to read more about Dr. Raven’s remarkable life and his lasting impact on the Garden, our region, and the world: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/peter-raven
