 | The beginning
The White Garden site in 2005, prepared and ready for planting. On the other side of the trees lies the beautiful Close Memorial Park Hosta Garden, another major treat for visitors.
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 | New Plantings
On July 2nd, the beds were still being planted, but the garden was taking shape.
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 | Growing
For those unfamiliar with the Ozarks, it might be hard to believe that the garden could show so much growth by July 13th, less than two weeks later.
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 | New Beds
These beautifully designed beds, slightly raised and sloping, adjoin the Close Hosta Garden. This photo was taken July 2nd.
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 | Spring Work
Elaine Vask keeps up these two flower beds in the garden. "I'm just a volunteer," she says modestly.
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 | In Bloom
More phenomenal growth in the Ozarks--scarcely five weeks later, on August 10th, the same beds in full bloom.
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 | Three Neat Beds
At the forefront of the White Garden, these three beds are of different shapes.
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 | Geometry
The rectangular design of these beds is a good example of the formal garden design that predated the more fluid and natural garden design of today. It's almost a history lesson, and we suspect it's not by accident.
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 | Variety
This bed has a very pleasing curvilinear shape and a marvelous variety of plants, including phlox, petunias, sage, dusty miller, begonias, ox-eye daisy, and more--all in pristine white.
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 | Phlox
A better look at the marvelous Phlox in the White Garden. We're not sure, but we think this is the variety 'David' (Phlox paniculata 'David'), a highly fragrant variety that in 2002 was honored as Perennial Plant of the Year and is prized for its fullness of bloom and ease of care.
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 | The Arbor
The centerpiece of the White Garden is this beautiful metal arbor, and the light at the end of the tunnel is the Close Memorial Park Hosta Garden.
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 | A Touch of Rose
One pleasing hint of color in the White Garden--a pink rose alongside snowy begonias.
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 | Rose Mallow
One of the White Garden's most striking plants is this Rose Mallow, with the whitest petals imaginable and a crimson eye. In fact, we think it might be Crimson-eyed Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), a native plant in Missouri. It's shown with some very pretty Vincas, also white with crimson eyes.
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 | Oakleaf Hydrangea
Another standout plant in the White Garden is this Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). Just beginning to bloom here, eventually it will tower 6-8 feet and be covered with breathtaking spikes of white flowers up to a foot long. In the fall its oaklike leaves will turn red, purple, and burgundy.
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 | White Sage
This engaging plant with pristine white flowers is most likely Victoria White Sage (Salvia farinacea 'Victoria White'), a dwarf sage that grows to 2 feet tall and blooms profusely from summer till frost. It's densely branched, upright, and especially effective in mass plantings and behind smaller flowers. It likes full sun and can take some drought. Deadheading increases bloom.
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 | It Takes Work
It takes a world of work to create and maintain special gardens, and Joey Nash volunteers a good bit of it to help keep the White Garden beautiful.
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 | ...And More Work
Major Close, who happens to be Joey's grandfather, makes sure everybody gets a drink.
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 | The New Season
Edged in white daffodils, the new garden greeted its second season.
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 | A Spectacular Native
The profusion of creamy white, cloudlike flowers in May and June has some people convinced that the Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is Missouri's most spectacular native tree. Deciduous, it's found in moist woodlands and on hillsides, stream banks, glades, and bluffs. In the wild it can reach 30-35 feet tall, but in landscapes normally grows from 12 to 20 feet tall and wide. Common names include Old Man's Beard and Grancy Gray-Beard.
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