A portion of the proceeds from the 2008 St. Louis Wine Festival presented by Van Kampen Investments will be donated to The Flora Conservancy of Forest Park.

The Flora Conservancy of Forest Park was created to implement the Forest Park Master Plan by providing horticulture services that include everything from seed collecting to planting and maintaining the flower beds throughout the park.

It is a partnership with the Parks Department, Master Gardeners and St. Louis Community College, Meramec Campus.

It is an organization of volunteers--all who love Forest Park and are interested in helping the city's Parks Department rejuvenate, install and maintain garden beds in the park.

About 130 gardeners work on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on projects at the Jewel Box, Pagoda Circle and Murphy Lake. Gardening skill is not necessary since training classes are part of the program. All volunteers will receive horticulture training by St. Louis Master Gardeners.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for gardeners of all skill levels to participate in the restoration of Forest Park," said Anabeth Weil, Forest Park Manager and founder of the Flora Conservancy.

The Flora Conservancy of Forest Park has created beautiful perennial and annual beds adjacent to the Jewel Box using plants and materials donated by local growers and funds from the Parks Department. Through their efforts, a fountain at the Jewel Box has been repaired and refurbished with water flowing from it for the first time in 30 years.