By Lynn Venhaus If you grow it, they will come. But the sunflowers dotting our regional landscape have a brief life in the summer. Now is the absolute peak time, so don’t wait to make plans.
The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is 4,300-acres located south of the Missouri River in Spanish Lake. For years, the Missouri Department of Conservation has planted fields of sunflowers. It’s a couple miles’ drive from the entrance gate, which is located a few miles north of Interstate 270 on Riverview Drive. Take that exit, and then travel north about three miles. Follow the sign.
The location in North St. Louis County is at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and.Columbia Bottom has wetlands, forests, prairies and croplands. The area encompasses the 110-acre Duck Island on the Mississippi River as well as more than six miles of river frontage.
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, July 30, 2022. Lynn Venhaus photo
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that visitors can see sunflowers in the area from early July through the middle of August — depending on weather conditions. There is no charge.
The area is closed from one-half hour after sunset until one half-hour before sunrise, except for authorized hunting, fishing and boat ramp use.
The confluence is the fourth largest river system in the world — and can be observed from the site’s Confluence Viewing Platform, which is located at the end of the road.
The road that runs through the area has eight exploration stations along the way. It is a self-guided learning experience, and visitors can view surrounding habitats. The area offers hiking, biking and river access.
There is a visitor center with educational displays that will help guests become acquainted with the site. For educational programs that are offered to the general public, call ahead, as most require advanced registration.
I ventured there on July 30. These are my photos.
Families, couples, photographers explore the paths in early evening July 30, 2022. Photo by Lynn Venhaus
Eckert’s Belleville Farm
The two-acre field has gorgeous photo opportunities. The Sunflower Trail opened last weekend and runs through Aug. 7.
You must register online for a time and a date to visit. The cost is $5 plus field access admission for $6.50. Besides the field, the adventure includes one sunflower to cut and take home, a sunflower cookie from the bakery and a sunflower sticker. For more information, visit www.eckerts.com.
Someone put shades on a flower, so I had to include him/her in my selfie.
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.
Better Family Life, EarthDance Farms, Eckert’s Belleville Farm, and Metro Theater Company’s Studio are venues where very young audiences and their families can enjoy the musical and visual feast indoors and outdoors.
St. Louis’s premier professional theater for youth and families and St. Louis’ third-oldest professional theater company, presentsIn My Granny’s Garden—an ideal production for spring that celebrates the wonders of being outdoors and the magic of growing your own food. In My Granny’s Garden is inspired by the children’s book by acclaimed playwright and New York Times bestselling author Pearl Cleage and her husband, writer and director Zaron W. Burnett Jr. The production is presented in part thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor, the Whitaker Foundation.
Metro Theater Company designed In My Granny’s Garden as a roving interactive production for St. Louis’s youngest audiences, touring the St. Louis metro area for six weeks with indoor and open air performances, including creative pod seating, at four different venues: Metro Theater Company Studio (May 13-16), Better Family Life (May 20-23), EarthDance Organic Farm School (June 3-12), and Eckert’s Belleville Farm (June 16-26). Pods for 2-6 people start at $48, and MTC’s special offering, Pay-What-You-Wish Pricing, is available at seven select performances. A virtual streaming option starting at $20 is also available June 1-26. Tickets for both live performances and streaming can be purchased at metroplays.org.
In My Granny’s Garden invites the youngest audiences and their families to explore the glory of growing your own food. Watch a tiny seed become a field of corn, green beans, collard greens, and bright red tomatoes. This fun, interactive musical experience is inspired by Pearl Cleage’s and Zaron W. Burnett Jr.’s children’s book, with original paintings by world-renowned artist Radcliffe Bailey. Little ones and their grown-ups step into a musical and visual feast to discover the one superpower that fuels Granny’s garden. Premium pod purchases include a copy of the picture book for families to enjoy long after seeing the production. In My Granny’s Garden promises to leave the very young nourished in body and soul. The production is 40 minutes with optional post-performance activities, and it’s best enjoyed by ages 0-8 and their grown-ups.
Metro Theater Company’s production of In My Granny’s Garden is directed by Rosemary Newcott, who is an award-winning director who spent 20 years as the Sally G. Tomlinson Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth and Families at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. The 5-member cast of performers and musicians includes Syrhea Conaway, Alicia Revé Like, Colin McLaughlin, Camille Sharp, and Jenise Sheppard. In My Granny’s Garden was originally developed and produced by the Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia).
WHEN: May 13 – June 26, 2022Fridays at 4 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m.Sundays at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. Additional weekday morning performances offered May 16 & 23 and June 8, 9, 16 & 23 at 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: May 13-16: Metro Theater Company Studio (3311 Washington Ave, St. Louis) May 20-23: Better Family Life (5415 Page Blvd, St. Louis) June 3-12: EarthDance Organic Farm School (233 S. Dade Ave, Ferguson) June 16-26: Eckert’s Belleville Farm (951 S. Green Mt Rd, Belleville, IL) *Performances on June 10 at 4 p.m. and June 19 at 10 a.m. include audio description by MindsEye.
TICKETS: Pods for 2-6 people start at $48. Online virtual streaming begins at $20 and available June 1-26 through the MTC website https://www.metroplays.org/garden. (The video for the virtual streaming is from a filmed May performance.)
PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH TICKETS: Metro Theater Company is committed to ensure that economic barriers do not prevent families from experiencing its programs. MTC is offering Pay-What-You-Wish tickets for live performances and virtual streaming on these dates: May 13 & 20 at 4pm May 21 at 10am, 11:30am & 2pm June 3 & 17 at 4 pm More information at https://www.metroplays.org/garden.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Metro Theater Company has been approved as Missouri ArtSafe Certified. MTC continues to update its policies to protect all patrons from COVID-19 exposure risks. For In My Granny’s Garden, the following safety measures apply: • Medically eligible guests ages 12+ must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will be asked to show proof of vaccination. • Unvaccinated patrons ages 12+ with documented medical conditions must be able to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance or a negative antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance• Mask wearing is required at indoors performances at Metro Theater Company Studio and Better Family Life. • Masks are not required while seated in purchased pods during open air performances at EarthDance Farms and Eckert’s Belleville Farm. For more detailed information on Metro Theater Company’s COVID health policies, please visit metroplays.org/covid.
SUPPORT: Whitaker Foundation is the presenting sponsor of In My Granny’s Garden.
Generous additional support is provided by the Saigh Foundation and Guy B. Jaffe & Judy Schwartz Jaffe Charitable Foundation of the St. Louis Community Foundation, with in kind support from Eckert’s and Bayer. Berges Family Foundation, Regional Arts Commission, Emerson, Crawford Taylor Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Centene Charitable Trust, and Missouri Arts Council provide season institutional support.
Streaming of In My Granny’s Garden is part of MTC Remote, a new virtual initiative supported by PNC Arts Alive.
About Metro Theater Company Since 1973, Metro Theater Company has been creating productions that respect young people’s intelligence, tell compelling stories, stimulate curiosity, and provoke thoughtful reflection. The Company has reached a total audience of more than two million and has a national reputation for excellence in the field of professional theater for young audiences. Metro Theater Company has received major honors and awards, both locally and nationally. The company is led by Artistic Director Julia Flood and Managing Director Joe Gfaller. For more information, please visit http://metroplays.org.
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.
