协会缘起与本地定位
圣路易斯水生园艺协会 (St. Louis Water Garden Society, SLWGS) 于 1990 年 7 月在密苏里州圣路易斯市成立, 是当地园艺师和锦鲤饲养员自发组成的非营利组织, 成员来自圣路易斯都会区及周边地区, 至今已步入第 36 年. 协会围绕植物、鱼类与水景这三个核心要素开展社会、教育与公民参与, 设有公开月度聚会与跨州野游考察.
Jewel Box 睡莲池与城市公益
协会最广为人知的长期项目是为 Forest Park 内的 Jewel Box 温室设计、栽种并维护睡莲池. 每年春季, 会员与志愿者从冬季储藏点取出植物, 一同把水池填满; 夏秋两季, 这片睡莲池成为公园免费开放的景观, 也是 SLWGS 赠给圣路易斯居民与游客的礼物. 2023 年, Forest Park 被 USA TODAY 评为全美第一城市公园, 这处睡莲池是协会最自豪的贡献.
年度 Pond-O-Rama 池塘参观与 WaterWord 月刊
协会每年 6 月举办 Pond-O-Rama 池塘参观, 自 2002 年起已是第 26 届, 通常定在父亲节那个周末, 9:00-17:00 开放, 票价成人 25 美元、5 人以上团体 20 美元, 17 岁以下儿童免费, 收入全部投入 Jewel Box 睡莲池维护. 月刊 WaterWord 在 2026 年改版后由 Jo Ann Batzer 担任出版人, 鼓励会员投稿写作与摄影, 内容涵盖每月推荐水生植物与董事会札记.
会员福利与本地合作网络
SLWGS 会员可参加月度嘉宾讲座, 免费获得 1 张 Pond-O-Rama 门票, 订阅 WaterWord 月刊, 并享受会员专属社交活动与折扣. 协会与 St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles 杂志长期合作, 后者连续多年担任 Pond-O-Rama 首席赞助商, 在门票册第 10 页提供特别优惠. 协会还与本地零售伙伴、植物园及苗圃保持互惠关系, 共同推广水生园艺.
公开活动、参观与公众参与
月度聚会会议在圣路易斯都会区面向公众开放, 常设万圣节、樱花节、慕尼黑啤酒节等主题, 邀请嘉宾讲解生态循环与池塘维护. Jewel Box 温室每周一和周二上午 9:00-12:00 免费开放. 协会组织过 Powell Gardens (堪萨斯城) 与 Ozark Fisheries (密苏里州 Stoutland) 等跨州野游. 公众可通过订阅 WaterWord、参加月度聚会或申请会员加入, 详细联系方式与日程见协会主页公开版块.
Founding and Regional Roots
The St. Louis Water Garden Society (SLWGS) was established in July 1990 in St. Louis, Missouri as a non-profit gathering of local water gardeners and koi enthusiasts. The organization draws members from across the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. The Society has now entered its 36th year of activity, with monthly meetings, an annual Pond Tour, and a long-running civic project at a landmark greenhouse.
Jewel Box Lily Ponds and Civic Stewardship
SLWGS’s signature project is the waterlily ponds at the Jewel Box greenhouse in Forest Park. Each spring, members and volunteers bring the plants out of winter storage and refill the basins; through summer and fall the ponds are a free attraction for residents and visitors. Forest Park was named the #1 city park in the United States by USA TODAY’s 10 Best in February 2023, and the SLWGS lily ponds are a small but visible part of that distinction.
Pond-O-Rama Annual Tour and the WaterWord Newsletter
Pond-O-Rama, the Society’s annual pond and water garden tour, has been held since 2002 and reached its 26th edition in 2026. It runs the weekend after Father’s Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with adult tickets at 25 USD, group tickets at 20 USD for parties of five or more, and free admission for children 17 and under. All proceeds fund the Jewel Box lily ponds. The WaterWord monthly newsletter has been redesigned for 2026 with publisher Jo Ann Batzer, featuring plant-of-the-month profiles, board messages, and member contributions.
Membership Benefits and Local Partnerships
Members of SLWGS receive a complimentary Pond-O-Rama ticket with their annual dues, access to monthly meetings with guest speakers, a subscription to WaterWord, and invitations to member-only social events. The Society partners with St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles magazine, which has served as the presenting sponsor of Pond-O-Rama for many years and runs a special offer on page 10 of the ticket booklet. Local nurseries, retail partners, and horticulture organizations collaborate on ticket distribution and member events.
Public Events, Visits, and Community Participation
Monthly meetings are open to the public and often feature themed gatherings such as Mardi Gras, Cherry Blossoms, and Oktoberfest, with invited speakers covering pond ecology, plant selection, and seasonal care. The Jewel Box greenhouse is free to visit on Monday and Tuesday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon. The Society has organized field trips to Powell Gardens near Kansas City and Ozark Fisheries in Stoutland, Missouri. Visitors can subscribe to WaterWord, attend an open meeting, or apply for membership through the contact page on the official site.
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