1401 NW Park Road, Blue Springs, MO

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Center is a 1,071-acre property established in 1982 by the Missouri Conservation Department as its first nature center in the state.  The conservation area is named after Burr Oak Creek, a tributary of the Little Blue River, which, of course, was named after all of the burr oak timber along its path. 

Our Extension Master Gardener volunteers maintain the 1,000 sq foot native plant garden on the hillside at the entrance to the nature center.  The theme of the garden is prairie.  It features plants that do well in the prairie and home landscape and is two tiered: the lower is more ‘manicured’ while the upper has taller prairie natives

 During 2025, the schedule for horticultural education sessions at the Center is listed as follows.  Extension Master Gardeners will be working at the native garden on the highlighted dates and times to answer any of your native plant and gardening questions.

• March 29, 8:30am-12:30pm “NatureScaping” Workshop event by Missouri Dept. of Conservation (Registration Required)
• March 29, 12:30-4pm Native Plant Sale (No Registration Required)                                                  
• April – No Work Day
• May 3, 9-11 am; Work and Learn: “Wake Up Your Garden”
• June 7, 9-11 am; Work Day Only
• July – No Work Day
• August 2, 9-11am; Work Day Only
• September 6, 9-11am; Work and Learn Day: “Native Beds in Fall”
• October 3, 9-11am; Garden Clean Up for October 4th “Get MO Wild!” event
• October 4, 10am-3pm: “Get MO Wild!” event by Missouri Dept. of Conservation (No Registration Required)
• November 1, 9-11am; Work and Learn: “Closing Down Native Beds”