“Gates Ajar,” the Como Park wedding photo backdrop for generations of Twin Cities newlyweds, has vanished.

But never fear, brides and grooms, the display will be back by wedding season.

For more than 110 years, city gardeners have adorned “Gates Ajar” with a changing palette of 15,000 plants.

With tradition comes wear and tear. “Gates Ajar’s” wood and metal substructure was falling apart, and the wire mesh that holds the plants was rusting away. The city is spending several thousand dollars to rebuild “Gates Ajar” with longer-lasting masonry.

City officials say the project will be finished by early May.

“Gates Ajar” was the brainchild of German immigrant Frederick Nussbaumer, who came to St. Paul at the urging of Horace Cleveland, the godfather of the Minneapolis and St. Paul park systems. Nussbaumer rose to become St. Paul’s parks superintendent, serving from 1891 until 1922.

Once Nussbaumer set about transforming Como Park into a world-class attraction, its popularity skyrocketed. During summer 1899, the park attracted a million visitors.

In 1894, Nussbaumer planted the first “Gates Ajar,” a nod to his homeland, where similar displays were popular in local parks. Though the planting includes no overt religious symbolism, its roots – so to speak – are in religion. The design’s “Y” shape, for example, symbolizes outstretched arms, or faith.

Though in its third location within Como Park, “Gates Ajar’s” popularity as an iconic setting for wedding photos remains strong. The gates have been in their current location since the 1950s. In 1990, a clue writer for the annual Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt referred to “Gates Ajar” in the line, “Many a couple has stood near our site.”

“Gates Ajar” is an old friend to wedding photographers.

“It’s very recognizable. It’s easily accessible. The area around there is gorgeous,” said Lisa Jaster of the St. Paul Photographer’s Guild. “If you grew up in St. Paul, it’s something that you see a lot (in wedding photos). It’s a tradition.”

The landmark’s plants are echeveria and alternanthera. This year’s palette will include red, green, yellow, pink and white. Horticulturists with the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park design each year’s display.

At one time, the gates were so popular with newlyweds that wedding parties had to make reservations to get their pictures taken.

“It’s really another symbol of the deep history that Como has,” said Michelle Furer, a Como Park Zoo and Conservatory spokeswoman.

Jason Hoppin can be reached at jhoppin@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1892.

Copyright 2007 Pioneer Press.