Garden-Lou Spotlights the St. Louis Jewel Box Renovation

The St. Louis Jewel Box in Forest Park has undergone a major ‘reboot’.

It’s one of those landmarks that most locals drive by on the way to the Muny or the zoo.

Tourists see the glass Art Deco structure and wonder what exactly it is. The St. Louis Jewel Box has been a Forest Park landmark since its completion in 1936, but many St. Louisians have either never been to the Jewel Box or haven’t been in years-myself included.

Now is the time for a visit.

**The central fountain and its ornate grate were added during the 2002 renovation.**

The nonprofit conservancy Forest Park Forever led a major renovation in 2002, taking the floor plan of the Jewel Box from meandering pathways among intensively planted beds to more open function-related space perfect for weddings, banquets, and meetings. A few of the plants from that redo remain, but the majority had become overgrown. The failing irrigation system wasn’t helping matters. A $79,000 renovation was planned. In collaboration with the City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, Forest Park Forever contracted the St. Louis branch of Ambius to renovate and provide ongoing maintenance and seasonal plant switch-outs.

**Ambius staff hard at work clearing the beds in the Jewel Box.**

And this is where it gets personal.

As new wife and young mother, I visited the Jewel Box on a bright June day back in 1988, with baby boy Paul, in tow. Little did I know that 35 years later, we both would be part of the Ambius team handling the renovation of one of the most historic structures in St. Louis and an iconic plant-geek paradise. ‘Making my Day’ is an understatement.

But now, for the serious stuff.

Roel Ventura of Ambius handpicked over 540 plants during a trip to Florida. If you like tropicals, this is the place for you. 27 Australian tree ferns (Alsophila australis, synonym Cyathea australis), 85 Xanadu philodendrons, and 84 Podocarpus were just some of the plants added to the side beds. Two impressive multi-stemmed robellini palms (Phoenix roebelenii) were added to the front bed. Bougainvillea, and chestnut vines (Tetrastigma voinierianum) replaced older, failing plants in the large hanging baskets hovering above.

**Marvin Storner, Manager of the St. Louis Ambius branch, cleans out the hanging baskets.**

Currently, over 670 bromeliads and other colorful tropicals give seasonal color to the beds, which will be switched out with Easter lilies in spring and hydrangeas in summer.

The ‘Pot-in-Pot’ method is used here. Empty pots are permanently planted where seasonal plants can be dropped in and later switched out quickly.

**An Australian tree fern uncoils a new frond in its new home at the Jewel Box.**

Even the statuary seems happy about the reboot.

The Ambius team, led by Marvin Storner, was thrilled to be part of the renovation. Most team members are from St. Louis and the surrounding metro area. The camaraderie and teamwork during the two-week renovation is a statement of each member’s passion for the Jewel Box, St. Louis, and a job well done.