I Sunshined a Record from Governor’s Office, Sigh

I have been trying since January 15, 2025, to find out which St. Louis business organization(s) or business trade association(s) nominated Darryl Gray to the Missouri Workforce Development Board.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s office, which I contacted on January 16th, says I can expect the record(s) on or before January 31st and they will let me know if the cost is over $50. January 31st would be eleven days after my email to Sunshine@governor.mo.gov.

Letter from Governor Mike Kehoe's Office

I worked for decades in public records preservation and public access. My ass would have been fired if I had told a customer that it might take eleven days to retrieve a record.

The person handling this Sunshine request is Jordan Roling, Deputy General Counsel, a seasoned member of the Missouri Bar since… July 2024.

Roling’s previous jobs, per LinkedIn, were Assistant Tennis Coach at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City and summer internships at the Cole County Prosecutor’s Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security during law school at Mizzou.

Roling’s most recent job, per Missouri Ethics Commission records, was working on the campaign of Mike Kehoe, now his boss as Governor, at $2,500 a month since August plus mileage.

Back to Darryl Gray. He has a business- Gray and Gray Associates, a political consultant business. I wrote about it here. It’s a side story to the Mayor Tishaura Jones v. Sonya Gray, Personnel Director battle. The Mayor is trying to fire her for cause. Sonya Gray is wife of Darry Gray and was, until October 28th, agent for Gray and Gray Associates.

And allow me to insert here that this whole Jones v. Gray thing would not be news click bait if mayors of the City of St. Louis had the authority to hire and fire any cabinet level appointee. The Personnel Director and Police Chief do not serve at the pleasure of the Mayor in St. Louis under the City’s arcane Charter. You want to hold Mayor Tishaura Jones accountable for the Personnel Department or Police Department, hiring and crime? Sorry. The Charter has a confusing chain of command for both. Blame the Charter Commission and Alders for not sending a fix for this mess to voters.

Back to Darry Gray. He was nominated to serve on the Workforce Development Board under former Governor Mike Parson, appointed by Parson. There’s a weird subplot involving accused rapist State Senator Steven Roberts trying to derail nominations. Of course there is.

Darryl Gray holds a “Business Representative” seat on the Board, meaning, per Board’s By Laws, he had to be nominated by one or more local business organizations and business trade associations.

I am trying to find out which business group nominated him. It seems odd that a business group nominated a political consultant to Democratic candidates. Workforce Development Board does not require a parity of political parties. Even more peculiar, a MAGA Governor appointed a Democratic consultant.

The Workforce Development Board said it did not have records. I emailed a Sunshine request to them on January 15th and heard back next day. They didn’t bother to tell me who else to ask for the record(s). This sort of thing annoys me because when I worked at City Hall, a county office, we were not allowed to say, “not my job.” We had to find the correct resource and refer, give the customer the contact info and, if by phone, try and tranfer them.

Since this is a former governor appointment, I decided to email the Governor’s Office regardless of the change in occupants. I had no idea the request would be handled by a recent tennis coach/political campaign worker.

This qualifies as a Sunshine Fail, in my opinion.

The Messianic Cult of Orange Caligula

It appears that at least one church in Missouri believes the 47th President of the United States is their Christian messiah returned.

Monday morning, I saw “And The Government Is Upo (sic) His Shoulder” “Isaiah 9 7” on a Pentecostal church’s sign. It had not been there Saturday morning.

It’s a small church in a small, poor, rural county in Missouri.

At first, I thought this had to do with a Christian holiday or holy day. But I asked around and found none between the Christian observance of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday.

In Judaism, Isaiah 9:7 is from Nevi’im (The Prophets), the second section of The Tanakh.

For a child has been born to us,
A son has been given us.
And authority has settled on his shoulders.
He has been named
“The Mighty God is planning grace;
The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler

In Judaism, Isaiah 9:7 is about King Hezekiah. I thought maybe the church was saying that the 47th President would be a great king. It’s a bat shit crazy thing to say, in my opinion. But, whatever. Not my faith house. Not my business.

Not the first time that this church has said politically charged things on their sign. There is a lot of competition in rural Missouri between Baptist and Pentecostals for members, MAGA members. Church signs and flag choices are the ultimate virtue signaling.

But I did a little searching, asked around, and discovered that Isaiah 9:7 has an entirely different meaning in Christianity. For Christians, it’s a reference to their messiah, Jesus.

If this church believes that the 47th President, a man who hates people of color, abuses women, and is Grifter in Chief for a second time, is their messiah returned and the end times are here, then the rest of us have many more problems than just a would-be dictator and his oligarch posse.

Where’s there’s one church that believes the current President is their messiah, there has to be others. Jim Jones, a Pentecostal minister turned messiah with many churches, comes to mind. The Jonestown Massacre happened while I was in college.

Sure. There has been a lot of savior-like talk. But a group of people actually worshipping an elected official as a messiah and looking forward to the end of the world would have monumental consequences for, well, everything.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Kalanchoe, a lovely house plant

15% Rate Hike, $17 more a month. Public Service Commission In Person Public Hearings on Rate Hike for Union Electric, Ameren, whatever. St. Louis City: 6 pm Jan 22 @ St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, Student Center cafeteria, 5600 Oakland Av.e St. Louis County: Noon Jan 27 @ Sunset Hills Council Chambers, 3939 S Lindbergh

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Visit a rainforest in St. Louis on a winter day: Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

January 2nd-31st St. Louis City Public Library annual Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive, all library locations, to benefit St. Louis Area Foodbank. Donate unopened, unexpired food goods. The Foodbank does offer a list of most requested foods.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Seed St. Louis Plant Sales at Carriage House on Bell

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar: It’s time to start onions, leeks, broccoli, cabbage indoors

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

Find a Native Plant/Seed vendor in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas,… (Grow Native)

St. Louis Master Gardeners Horticulture Answer Service: Monday through Thursday from 9 am. to 2:30 pm

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s High School Student Environmental Action Award

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. They still have Redbud, Elderberry, Witch-hazel, and lots more.

Illinois School Teachers- March 2025 Application process begins for 2026 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Holiday Plant Care Advice. Start plant care now for 2025 holiday blooms (University of Missouri Extension)

How Art Can Advocate for Native Plant Conservation (Wild Ones)

2025: Year of the Monstera. The National Garden Bureau has chosen Monstera as its houseplant to promote during the year 2025. (University of Missouri Extension)

How to Pack a Go-Bag for an Environmental Disaster. Natural disasters can happen suddenly—be prepared for any kind of emergency, no matter where you live (Sierra Club)

Songbirds socialize on the wing during migration, new study says (University of Illinois Extension)

Survey results show continued spread of soybean cyst nematodes. Missouri and all surrounding states affected (Oklahoma Voice)

Dairy in northwest Iowa to pay $38K for fish kill, manure spill in July (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Kansas governor proposes another $30M to address dwindling water supply. Gov. Laura Kelly says it’s up to lawmakers now to ensure western Kansas doesn’t dry up and become deserted (Kansas Reflector)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

Seed St. Louis Videos: Variety Trials, Virtual Classes, Starting Seeds Indoors, Orchard Tips, Gardening Tips & How To, In the Community Garden, Youth Garden Activities & Tips, Teachers in the Garden Tutorials. I will continue promoting the online resources and activities of Seed St. Louis where appropriate. I will not, however, knowingly promote events at Maxine Clark’s school privatization campus named Delmar Divine. It is unfortunate that Seed St. Louis is now a tenant there.

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones. There’s one specific to St. Louis, one for Chicago, one for Denver, …

Native plant gardening in a pot. Missouri Botanical Garden has container designs for sun and shade.

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees, Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

6:30 pm Monday, January 20th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: What Can Climate Litigation Teach Us About Holding the Plastics Industry Responsible for Pollution Problems, presented by Bart Elmore, Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University. Register

2-5 pm Tuesday, January 21st, Saint Louis City Recycles will be at Schlafly Library to provide information about recycling in St. Louis. FREE in-home recycling bins.

5 pm Wednesday, January 21st, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Winter Webinar: Birds with Dr. Daniel Goldberg. Register

6 pm Wednesday, January 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Woodworking for Wildlife, easy woodworking projects you can do to help wildlife thrive in your community. Register

35 Seats remaining. 6 pm Thursday, January 23rd, Collinsville Park & Rec, Illinois class: Food Too Good to Waste Series- Food for Thought- Smart Planning to Reduce Food Waste. $15. Register

6 pm Doors Open. 7 pm Friday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

7 pm Friday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual event: An Evening with Raptors. Register

Saturday, January 25th thru March 4th event at Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield: Morpho Mardi Gras- Bugs, Rhythm, & Blues. Fee applies

9 am Saturday, January 25th, Heartland Conservancy event at Collinsville, Illinois: Tree Steward Winter Tree Care at Brushy Lake. Register

11 am to 4 pm Saturday, January 25th, St. Louis Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap & Homesteading Showcase at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Also, will be an unused equipment/tool/supply exchange. If you do not have seeds to share, please bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products, new kids socks, underwear for local charity.

2 pm January 27th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 2, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

6:30 pm January 27th Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: Climate Change Conversations, presented by Jamin Bray, Co-Director, Missouri Environmental Education Association. Register

Noon January 28th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Backyard Birding in Winter, intro to birding. Register

4 pm January 28th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Bluebird Basics. Register

1 pm January 29th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Bald Eagles in Missouri. Register

4 pm January 30th Missouri Invasive Plant Council webinar: Understanding Plant Invasions Using a Traits-based Framework presented by Dr. Gabriela Nunez-Mir, quantitative ecologist. Register

6 pm January 30th Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Indoor Food Gardening. Register

8 am February 1st St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

9 am and 11 am February 1st Missouri Conservation Department hikes at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Winter Walk. 1.2 miles of hilly, oak-hickory forest, paved but steep. 9 am Register and 11 am Register

February 1st thru March 9th at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm February 1st-2nd Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1 pm February 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms; is it Edible? presented by Maxine Stone, author, Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms

4 Seats remaining. 9-11 am February 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

9 am February 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour with Horticulturist – Winter Shrub Walk. $5. Register

9 am February 7th Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville, Illinois or Zoom: Bluebird Monitoring Training Session. Register

4 Seats remaining. 8-10 am February 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

9 am to 3 pm February 8th Eagle Days at Audubon Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Missouri

20 Seat remaining. 11 am February 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

1 pm February 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Get Up & Grow. Introduction to growing and using herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

1 pm February 11th Bellefontaine Cemetery Horticulture Class: Pruning Trees and Shrubsclass. $20. Register

1:30 pm February 11th University of Illinois Extension webinar: Tips and Tricks for Winter Sowing Annuals. Register

4 pm February 12th Grow Native! webinar: Resilient Yards, Keys for Successful Water Management and Pollinator Conservation presented by Dan Shaw, ecological restoration specialist. Register

9 am February 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour with Horticulturist – Winter Shrub Walk. $5. Register

10 am February 15th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Hike at Mastadon State Park, Imperial MO. Register

1 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: What’s All the Buzz About Natives? presented by Sue Leahy from Wild Ones.

2 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library Seed Swap at Carpenter Library in partnership with Urban Harvest STL

2 pm February 19th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Front Yard Raingardens. Register

2 pm February 20th St. Louis County Library Black History Month event at Meramec Valley Branch: Fannie Lou Hamer: Seeds of Change. Learn about Fannie Lou Hamer and her work for food justice and start some seeds for your garden. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 21st Grow Native! Southwest Illinois Workshop at Lewis & Clark Community College, Edwardsville, Illinois: Stormwater Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 for MPF members and Grow Native! professional members, $15 for students with a valid student ID, and $30 for non-members. Includes breakfast. Register

February 26-28 Missouri Community Forestry Council’s ISA Certified Arborist Exam Preparation Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. $75. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 26th-April 2rd, Forest ReLeaf’s TreeKeepers Introductory Tree Course 2025. Register

9 am to Noon March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Annual Garage Sale

1 pm March 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Lore and Legend of Herbs with St. Louis Herb Society

3 pm March 1st St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Grow Together: Gardening Tips & Techniques

15 Seats remaining. 5 pm March 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Worms at Work & DIY Composting Bins. Supplies provided. Registration opens 9 am February 1st.

1:30 pm March 4th University of Illinois Extension webinar: Root Awakening- Spring Tree Tips. Register

March 5th University of Illinois Extension’s Gateway Green Conference at Collinsville, Illinois: Building Sustainable Landscapes, Conservation Stewardship, Tree Care. Fee applies.

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

2 pm March 5th St. Louis County Library Virtual Workshop: Native Garden Design Panel Discussion. Register

March 7th-8th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Plant & Merch Sales, Speakers/Workshops. 1 1/2 hour from St. Louis.

9 am March 8th Seed St. Louis March Plant Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell: Potatoes, Onions, Strawberries, Asparagus, more

2 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Garden Design Panel Discussion. Register

11 am March 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens February 8th

6 pm March 12th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Welcoming Native Species into Your Garden. Registration opens 10 am February 12th.

2 pm March 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: Seed Swap

10 am March 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

2 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Monarchs and Mosquitoes = Control the Pests, Protect the Pollinators. Register

March 22nd Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fox Trot 5K and Kit Crawl 10K Run/Walk Fundraiser. Register

9 am to Noon March 22nd Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1 pm March 22nd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Critical for Gardening- Get the Dirt on Soil, Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Speakers Bureau

1-4:30 pm March 30th Wild & Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO

2 pm April 2nd Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Transforming Vacant Lots into Neighborhood Greenspaces. Register

9 am April 5th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

April 6th & 7th Baker Creek Tulip Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

7 am to 5 pm April 12th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon MO

9 am April 12th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles presented by Bo Brown. Register

9 am to Noon April 22nd Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

11 am April 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens March 15th

2 pm April 16th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Pollinator Powerhouses and Keystone Plant Species. Register

6 pm April 24th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Mushrooms. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 25th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

2 pm April 30th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Oh, Deer – Dealing with Unwanted Guests in Your Landscape. Register

6 pm May 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Plant Predators- An Introduction to Carnivorous Plants with Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

20 seats remaining. 10 am May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Tomatoes 101. Register

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack: Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center

May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

9 am May 10th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

9 am to Noon May 10th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm May 10th St. Louis Hosta Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am to 5 pm May 11th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden Admission Fee.

5 pm May 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Walnut Park Library: Wild Hearts- Understanding Animal Behavior in the Wild with St. Louis Zoo

9 am to 5 pm May 17th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

2 pm May 21st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Cultivating Native Seeds in the Landscape. Register

9 am to 5 pm May 24th-25th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to Noon June 21st Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm June 21st Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

June 21-22 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets

9 am to 5 pm August 2nd-3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

Noon to 5 pm August 10th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission Fee applies. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

9 am to Noon August 16 Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm August 16th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm September 6th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

2 pm September 17th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Missouri Native Trees and Shrubs for Urban Landscapes. Register

9 am to Noon September 27th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

2 pm October 1st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: St. Louis Native Plants in a Changing Climate. Register

October 3rd-5th Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is usually a vendor and this is last opportunity to purchase native plants in St. Louis City for the year. Admission Fee applies.

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

2 pm October 15th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Gardening Maintenance Tips, Tricks and Hacks. Register

9 am October 18th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

St. Louis Area Seed and Plant Swaps and Sales

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. They still have Redbud, Elderberry, Witch Hazel, and lots more.

11 am to 4 pm January 25th St. Louis Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap & Homesteading Showcase at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Also, will be an unused equipment/tool/supply exchange. If you do not have seeds to share, please bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products, new kids socks, underwear for local charity.

11 am February 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens January 11th

2 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library Seed Swap at Carpenter Library in partnership with Urban Harvest STL

March 7th-8th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

9 am March 8th Seed St. Louis March Plant Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell: Potatoes, Onions, Strawberries, Asparagus, more

11 am March 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens February 8th

2 pm March 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: Seed Swap

11 am April 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens March 15th

9 am to 4 pm April 25th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

May 2nd-3rd Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market

May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

9 am May 10th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am July 26th-27th Shaw Cactus & Succulent Sale at Jost Event Center, St. Louis County

9 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

9 am October 18th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

Bring Back the Kick Ass Donkey

The symbol of the Democratic Party was once the donkey.

Today, no donkey on the DNC website.

You won’t find one on the Missouri Democratic Party’s website but you will find… cows.

No donkey on the St. Louis City Dems website, not much of anything on there. There is a donkey on the Jackson County Democrats logo tho.

Why isn’t every Democratic Party organization from national committee to township/ward organization using the donkey? Put aside, for the moment, the history of the donkey as symbol of Democrats, why is it that Democrats are now represented by a boring corporate logo D in a circle?

Democrats should return to the donkey. Not a cute donkey. A kick ass donkey.

Real donkeys fiercely defend themselves and their own. Donkeys will adopt other animals and defend them, will beat and drag a predator hunting an animal under their protection. That’s the inspirational symbol needed by the Democratic Party.

Sure. Sure. Sure. I know there are issues with donkeys as guard animals and you need to keep the family dog away unless it was reared with a baby donkey. But no one denies they defend territory by any means necessary.

We need Democrats to be guardians of the people, not corporations loyal only to profit.

The country does not need an uninspiring status quo Democratic Party. If you want to lean to the right, join MAGA.

I don’t care that rebranding the Democratic Party with the donkey is symbolic. Rebuilding a party has to start somewhere and there should be a consensus by now that D in a circle is not selling like MAGA does for Trump Family & Friends Grift Inc.

Bring back the Democratic Party donkey. Let the party be fierce, once again.

13th Ward Profile, St. Louis City

St. Louis City’s 13th Ward includes parts of old 2nd, 22nd, 27th Wards, and other Wards, and is the result of Census Redistricting and Ward Reduction.

Previous Elections

Each ward is now double the population and geographically much larger. That’s an important consideration when looking at past election results.

13th Ward 2023 General Election: Pamela Boyd 984; Norma Walker 839
13th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Pamela Boyd 751; Norma Walker 506; former Alder Lisa Middlebrook 390
27th Ward 2021 General Election: Pamela Boyd 815; Chris Carter 664
27th Ward 2021 Primary Election: Pamela Boyd 603; Chris Carter 518; Mary Ann Jackson 161
27th Ward 2017 General Election: Pamela Boyd 1,280; Antree Spikener 117
27th Ward 2017 Primary Election: Pamela Boyd, 800; Keena Carter 635; Ciera Simril 228

2025 Election

Alder Pamela Boyd
Elected Alder: 2017, 2021, 2023
Previous Campaigns: 2013 ran for Alder
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Residence: Walnut Park West
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: Alder; was or is certified dietary manager at The Valley Stonebridge Community skilled nursing facility
Political Genealogy: mother of School Board President Toni Cousins; no relation to former Alder Jeffrey Boyd
Candidate MEC Committee
Treasurer: Brenda Montgomery, Ferguson, works at Normandy School District
January 2025 Report
$5,589.63 on hand; $0 debt
+ Raised $6,975: $2,600 21st Century St Louis PAC (Greater St. Louis); $2,600 Jerry Schlichter, attorney, Schlichter Bogard, Missouri State Historic Tax Credit advocate; $500 Spire PAC; $300 Iron Workers Local NO. 396 Voluntary Fund; $250 David C. Walters, president HY-C, owner Westwood Progress LLC owner, identified instead in report as Affinia Healthcare Board Member; $250 Protect Missouri Workers PAC
– Spent $7,011.60: $3,002 total Steve Engelhardt, fundraising, former communications director for Congressman Lacy Clay; $1,605.04 total Mark’s Quick Printing; $960.27 total RingCentral; $600.15 total Constant Contact
October 2024 Report
$5,625.73 on hand, $0 debt
+ Raised $500: $0 itemized
– Spent $2,047.78: $667.20 total RingCentral; $477 total Constant Contact
July 2024 Report
$7,173.45 on hand, $0 debt
+ Raised $7,000.06: $2,000 Jay R. Johnson, owner Greenworks Construction; $1,000 LIUNA Local 110; $1,000 Laborers’ Int Union Local 42 PAC Fund; $1,000 Clifford Franklin, owner FUSE advertising; $500 David Sweeney, attorney @ Lewis Rice, corporate welfare lobbyist; $300 Electrical Workers Voluntary Political Education & Legislative Funds – Missouri; $250 Jarrod Holst, attorney and owner 1904Group apartment developer; $250 David C. Walters, president HY-C, owner Westwood Progress LLC owner, identified instead in report as Affinia Healthcare Board Member; $250 St Louis City Legislative Club PAC.
– Spent $2,430.82: $1,253.47 total Constant Contact; $465 total Mark’s Quick Printing
April 2024 Report
$2,604.21 on hand, $0 debt
+ Raised $3,231.45: $2,600 South Side Property LLC (gas stations, Munji Abdeljabbar); $200 AFT Local 420
– Spent $2,731.45: $1,366.63 total Mark’s Quick Printing; $343.91 total Constant Contact
– Refunds: $500 Northway Market LLC (one of the Almuttan Brothers businesses)
January 2024 Report
$3,035.63 on hand; $0 debt
+ Raised $3,650: $1,000 Northway Market LLC (one of the Almuttan Brothers businesses); $250 Darryl A. Piggee, attorney @ Stone Leyton, former lobbyist for Rebuild St. Louis, Chief of Staff former Congressman Lacy Clay; $250 Paul T. Reid, Postal Workers Union; $250 Patricia Hofer, property manager; $200 Alder Laura Keys; $200 LeRoy Grant, lobbyist
– Spent $ 758.09: $465 Constant Contact
October 2023 Report
$143.69 on hand; $0 debt
+ Raised $1,200: $500 Associated General Contractors of Missouri; Nexus PAC (MAGA PAC that legally launders money for Rex Sinquefield and others, run by Matt McBride, Lashly Baer); $500 $200 Ryan Thomas LLC
– Spent $4,536.85: $1,200 total campaign worker Nona Thomson (address is a vacant lot in Spanish Lake); $900 Caring Plus, tickets
– Refunds $4,750: $2,600 South Side Property LLC (gas stations, Munji Abdeljabbar); $1,000 Eagle Foods LLC; $500 Ryan Thomas LLC; $500 R & A LLC; $150 Evergreen Resimercial Realty
July 2023 Report
$8,227.52 on hand; $0 debt (no report shows the $1,700 debt to herself being paid back or forgiven)
+ Raised $2.13 interest
– Spent $3,364.06: $1,372.91 Allmail USA Inc; $1,041.15 Mark’s Quick Printing; $600 campaign worker Nona Thomson (address is a vacant lot in Spanish Lake); $250 Constant Contact
Amended April 2023 #3 Report
$11,589.45 on hand; $1,700 debt to herself
+ Raised $8,175: $2,600 Leadership Counts; $2,000 Steve Stone, attorney @ Stone Leyton, Paul McKee’s attorney, Globe Building owner; $1,000 TheLouPAC; $1,000 total Brenda Montgomery, Normandy teacher, candidate’s MEC Treasurer; $500 former Alder Jack Coatar, attorney, now consultant in Florida; $500 Jeff Rainford, lobbyist for Bob Clark and others, Chief of Staff for former Mayor Francis Slay; $275 Rodney Hubbard (report says “retired,” not sure if this is lobbyist Rodney Hubbard Jr married to Alder Shameen Clark-Hubbard, address suggests that is the one, or Rodney Hubbard Sr. of Carr Square Tenant Organization ARPA money fame)
– Spent $7,716.18: $5,000 Media Magic; $2,250 George Poole, campaign worker
April 2023 Report #3
minus a few contributions and expenses, same as Amended April 2023 #3 Report
April 2023 Report #2
Limited Activity
April 2023 Report #1
$11,130.63 on hand; $1,700 debt to herself
+ Raised $2,900: $2,600 Laborers Int Union Local PAC Fund; $300 Sprinkler Fitters Political Education & Legislative Committee
– Spent $2,366.55: $1,415.90 Mark’s Quick Printing; $760 total George Poole, campaign work
March 2023 Report
$10,596.60 on hand; $1,700 debt to herself
+ Raised $15,400.43: $2,600 21st Century St. Louis PAC (Greater St. Louis); $2,600 LIUNA 42; $2,500 Jerry Schlichter, attorney, Schlichter Bogard, Missouri State Historic Tax Credit advocate; $1,000 Spire PAC; $1,000 IAFF 73; $500 Realtors PAC; $500 David Sweeney, corporate welfare and tax district attorney & lobbyist; $300 Operating Engineers 513
– Spent $12,273.06 spent: $2,150 total for George Poole, campaign work
February 2023 Report #2
$7,469.23 on hand; $1,700 debt to herself
+ Raised $7,950 raised: $2,600 21st Century STL (Greater St. Louis); $1,000 LIUNA Local 110; $1,000 LIUNA Local 42; $250 State Rep. Steve Butz; $250 former Mayor Vince Schoemehl
February 2023 Report #1
$2,644.11 on hand; $1,700 debt to herself
+ Raised $7,328.12: $2,600 MidAmerica Carpenters PAC; $1,700 loan from the candidate; $300 former State Rep. Josh Peters; $125 Glaziers Local 513 PAC
– Spent $7,883.85
January 2023 Report #2
$3,199.84 on hand; $0 debt
+ Raised $0
– Spent $765.19
January 2023 Report #1
$3,965.03 on hand; $0 debt
+ Raised $1,052.77: $500 Jeff Rainford, lobbyist for Bob Clark and others, Chief of Staff for former Mayor Francis Slay
– Spent $1,089.95
October 2022 Report
$4,002.21 on hand, $0 debt
+ Raised $2,956.04
– Spent $340
Contributions to Other Campaigns
2023- $100 State Rep Steve Butz; $50 former Sheriff Vernon Betts
2022- $100 Alder Laura Keys
2021- $200 former Board President Lewis Reed; $100 School Board member Toni Cousins (daughter)
2020- $100 former Alder Jeffrey Boyd; $100 accused rapist State Senator Steven Roberts

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Republican Ward Organizations

Sonya Gray, Political Consultant?

last updated 5:11 pm 01/23/2025

The first of many questions. Are the Gray and Gray of Gray and Gray Associates LLC, political consultants, Daryll Gray and St. Louis City Personnel Director Sonya Gray?

January 9, 2018, Sonya Gray, as agent, and Daryll Gray, as organizer, both using the same address on Enright, filed Gray and Gray Associates LLC with the Missouri Secretary of State. Purpose of the company was to “Provide consulting services.”

November 5, 2018, Ecumenical Leadership Council of MO Political Action Committee paid $3,400 to Darryl Gray, same Enright address, not the company, as a campaign worker.

October 22, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $13,820 to Gray and Gray Associates, same address on Enright, for GOTV services.

November 2nd, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $20,000 to Darryl G. Gray, same address on Enright, not the company, for GOTV services.

December 14, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $7,780 to Darryl G. Gray, same address on Enright, not the company, for GOTV services.

October 6, 2022, St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones announced the hiring of Sonya Jenkins-Gray as the City’s new Personnel Director.

June 5th, 2024, Missouri Governor Mike Parson appointed Darryl Gray to the Missouri Workforce Development Board. There was, prior to Governor Mike Kehoe’s inauguration, a press release for the appointment here. UPDATE: It is available tho on Internet Archive.

The Workforce Development Board’s web page shows that Darryl Gray is a Business Representative on the Board. Per the Board’s By Laws, “1) Business representatives are appointed from among individuals who are nominated by local business organizations and business trade associations.”

Which St. Louis business organization or business trade association nominated Darryl Gray to Governor Parson?

UPDATE 1: I made a Sunshine request to Workforce Development Board on January 15th for the nomination correspondence. They responded, no records on January 16th.

UPDATE 2: I made a Sunshine request for the nomination correspondence to Governor Mike Kehoe’s office, new governor sworn in on January 13th, on January 16th. Missouri’s Sunshine Law requires a response within three days. That has passed without a response.

UPDATE 3: I received a response from Governor Kehoe’s office at 9:26 am January 23rd and am now waiting for the record(s).

October 28, 2024, Daryll Gray, using an address on Waterman (not owned by him and located in a Special Business District), filed an amendment to the LLC with Missouri Secretary of State. He changed the agent to himself and the address to the Waterman address.

Why did Darryl Gray remove Sonya Gray’s as agent for the company?

There is no website for Gray and Gray Associates in St. Louis.

I did not search the Federal Election Commission database for Gray and Gray, the company or individuals.

Why was money for consulting services paid to Darryl Gray instead of the company?

Did Sonya Gray violate Civil Service Rules or Employee Code of Conduct by participating in or failing to disclose her participation in the company?

Disclosures: September 24, 2018, Darryl and Sonya Gray attended a Drinking Liberally Happy Hour, which I hosted, with guest speaker State Auditor Nicole Galloway and I donated $27 to Daryll Gray’s 2019 campaign for Alder. I have donated to the campaigns of Tishaura Jones for Mayor, most recently in December 2024.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Ornamental Cabbage

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Seed Swap at Divoll Library

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar: Have you started onions and leeks indoors? It’s time.

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

Find a Native Plant/Seed vendor in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas,… (Grow Native)

St. Louis Master Gardeners Horticulture Answer Service: Monday through Thursday from 9 am. to 2:30 pm

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s High School Student Environmental Action Award

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. They still have Redbud, Elderberry, Witch-hazel, and lots more.

Illinois School Teachers- March 2025 Application process begins for 2026 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gardening By Month: January Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

A rare yellow cardinal draws eyes to St. Louis bird-watching (St. Louis Public Radio)

Native Insect Pollinators and Their Habitats (University of Missouri Extension)

Lead is a threat to human health. It’s also killing bald eagles (St. Louis Public Radio)

Some Iowa counties give up the ability to weigh in on livestock facility construction. Counties have until the end of January to submit resolutions to DNR for 2025 (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

‘White people shouldn’t mess with it’: Native American church laments psychedelic cactus shortage. Western ‘psychedelic renaissance’ is partly to blame for dwindling supplies of peyote, which produces mescaline (The Guardian)

A recycling company wants to have a ‘ripple’ effect on glass recycling rates in St. Louis (St. Louis Public Radio)

Missouri bills would let utilities use projections to set rates, may increase prices. The legislation would apply to gas, water and sewer utilities (Missouri Independent)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones. There’s one specific to St. Louis, one for Chicago, one for Denver, …

Native plant gardening in a pot. Missouri Botanical Garden has container designs for sun and shade.

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

10 am Monday, January 13th, St. Louis County Library Zoom class: Eco-Empowerment- Start and Grow a Green Business. Register

6 pm Monday, January 13th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Suet-Yourself, Homemade Bird Feeders. Register

6:30 pm Monday, January 13th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: What Can Climate Litigation Teach Us About Holding the Plastics Industry Responsible for Pollution Problems, presented by Bart Elmore, Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University. Register

10 am Tuesday, January 14th, Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event on St. Louis Riverfront: Arch Grounds and Eads Bridge Hike. Register

10:30 am Tuesday, January 14th, Missouri River Bird Observatory event at Ethical Society of St. Louis: The Global Effect of Plastics on the Environment, presented by Dana Ripper, co-founder, MRBO.

1 pm Tuesday, January 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery horticulture class: Winter Tree ID. Indoor then out to Arboretum. $20. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, January 14th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club documentary screening at Old Bakery Beer, Belleville, Illinois: Water for Life. Register

9 am Wednesday, January 15th, University of Illinois Extension Community Tree Care Series webinar: Site, Species Selection, and Construction Damage. $10. Register

4 pm Wednesday, January 15th, Grow Native! and Missouri Prairie Foundation online Master Class: Seeded Tree Islands for Beauty, Shade, and Native Diversity presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury. Free to MPF members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 non-members. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, January 17th, Heartland Conservancy event in Belleville, Illinois: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

15 Seats remaining. 6 pm Friday, January 17th, Missouri Conservation Department’s Conservation Trivia Night at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Register

9 am to Noon January 18th Missouri Botanical Gardens event: Winter Wonders. Pot a succulent to take home. Investigate plant science with hands-on activities in the PlantLab. Explore the Climatron and Shoenberg Arid House with roving docents. Learn about the top 10 cacti for your home and the 10 least recommended. Bring your binoculars for bird watching. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

6:30 pm January 20th Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: What Can Climate Litigation Teach Us About Holding the Plastics Industry Responsible for Pollution Problems, presented by Bart Elmore, Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University. Register

2-5 pm January 21st Saint Louis City Recycles will be at Schlafly Library to provide information about recycling in St. Louis. FREE in-home recycling bins.

2 pm January 21st St. Charles City-County Library event at Linnemann Branch: How to Sour Dough with Whole Grains. Register

32 Seats remaining. 6 pm January 23rd Collinsville Park & Rec, Illinois class: Food Too Good to Waste Series- Food for Thought- Smart Planning to Reduce Food Waste. $15. Register

6 pm Doors Open. 7 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

7 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department virtual event: An Evening with Raptors. Register

January 25th thru March 4th event at Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield: Morpho Mardi Gras- Bugs, Rhythm, & Blues. Fee applies

9 am January 25th Heartland Conservancy event at Collinsville, Illinois: Tree Steward Winter Tree Care at Brushy Lake. Register

2 pm January 27th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 2, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

9 am Wednesday, January 15th, University of Illinois Extension Community Tree Care Series webinar: Planting and Improper Practices. $10. Register

6 pm January 30th Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Indoor Food Gardening. Register

8 am February 1st St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

1 pm February 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms; is it Edible? presented by Maxine Stone, author, Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms

4 Seats remaining. 9-11 am February 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

9 am February 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour with Horticulturist – Winter Shrub Walk. $5. Register

9 am February 7th Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville, Illinois or Zoom: Bluebird Monitoring Training Session. Register

4 Seats remaining. 8-10 am February 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

9 am to 3 pm February 8th Eagle Days at Audubon Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Missouri

20 Seat remaining. 11 am February 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

1 pm February 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Get Up & Grow. Introduction to growing and using herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

1 pm February 11th Bellefontaine Cemetery Horticulture Class: Pruning Trees and Shrubsclass. $20. Register

9 am February 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour with Horticulturist – Winter Shrub Walk. $5. Register

1 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: What’s All the Buzz About Natives? presented by Sue Leahy from Wild Ones.

2 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library Seed Swap at Carpenter Library in partnership with Urban Harvest STL

2 pm February 19th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Front Yard Raingardens. Register

9 am to Noon March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Annual Garage Sale

1 pm March 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Lore and Legend of Herbs with St. Louis Herb Society

15 Seats remaining. 5 pm March 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Worms at Work & DIY Composting Bins. Supplies provided. Registration opens 9 am February 1st.

March 5th University of Illinois Extension’s Gateway Green Conference at Collinsville, Illinois: Building Sustainable Landscapes, Conservation Stewardship, Tree Care. Fee applies.

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

March 7th-8th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

2 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Garden Design Panel Discussion. Register

11 am March 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens February 8th

6 pm March 12th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Welcoming Native Species into Your Garden. Registration opens 10 am February 12th.

2 pm March 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: Seed Swap

10 am March 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

2 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Monarchs and Mosquitoes = Control the Pests, Protect the Pollinators. Register

March 22nd Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fox Trot 5K and Kit Crawl 10K Run/Walk Fundraiser. Register

9 am to Noon March 22nd Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1 pm March 22nd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Critical for Gardening- Get the Dirt on Soil, Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Speakers Bureau

2 pm April 2nd Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Transforming Vacant Lots into Neighborhood Greenspaces. Register

April 6th & 7th Baker Creek Tulip Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

7 am to 5 pm April 12th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon MO

9 am April 12th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles presented by Bo Brown. Register

11 am April 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens March 15th

2 pm April 16th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Pollinator Powerhouses and Keystone Plant Species. Register

6 pm April 24th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Mushrooms. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 25th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

2 pm April 30th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Oh, Deer – Dealing with Unwanted Guests in Your Landscape. Register

6 pm May 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Plant Predators- An Introduction to Carnivorous Plants with Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

20 seats remaining. 10 am May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Tomatoes 101. Register

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack: Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center

May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am to 5 pm May 11th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden Admission Fee.

5 pm May 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Walnut Park Library: Wild Hearts- Understanding Animal Behavior in the Wild with St. Louis Zoo

2 pm May 21st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Cultivating Native Seeds in the Landscape. Register

June 21-22 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets

2 pm September 17th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Missouri Native Trees and Shrubs for Urban Landscapes. Register

2 pm October 1st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: St. Louis Native Plants in a Changing Climate. Register

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

2 pm October 15th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Gardening Maintenance Tips, Tricks and Hacks. Register

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

St. Louis Area Seed and Plant Swaps and Sales

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. They still have Redbud, Elderberry, Witchhazel, and lots more.

11 am February 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens January 11th

2 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library Seed Swap at Carpenter Library in partnership with Urban Harvest STL

March 7th-8th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

11 am March 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens February 8th

2 pm March 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: Seed Swap

11 am April 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens March 15th

May 2nd-3rd Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market

May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am July 26th-27th Shaw Cactus & Succulent Sale at Jost Event Center, St. Louis County

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Bromeliad, a houseplant in most of United States

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar: Have you started onions and leeks indoors? It’s time.

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

Find a Native Plant/Seed vendor in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas,… (Grow Native)

St. Louis Master Gardeners Horticulture Answer Service: Monday through Thursday from 9 am. to 2:30 pm

Forest Park Bird Checklist

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s High School Student Environmental Action Award

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. They still have Redbud, Elderberry, Witchhazel, and lots more.

Illinois School Teachers- March 2025 Application process begins for 2026 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gardening By Month: January Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

Kernels of hope: Inside Missouri’s seed conservation efforts (Columbia Missourian)

Video. Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, Lynchburg, Virginia. The garden of Harlem Renaissance poet and civil rights activist Anne Spencer (The Garden Conservancy)

A cicada: ‘What cicadas leave behind is a kind of crystallized memory’ (The Guardian)

Bald eagles, now officially the national bird, not uncommon within Chicago (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is rebuilding under Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker after more than a decade spent shedding inspectors, slowing the policing of air and water pollution and feuding with the state attorney general’s office. (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

Chicago keeps its New Year’s resolution: All city buildings now use 100% clean power. To achieve its climate goals, the city helped finance the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi. (Grist Magazine)

Yes, Denver successfully cut its goose population by feeding families in need (Colorado Public Radio)

Fossil Fuel Interests Are Working to Kill Solar in One Ohio County. The Hometown Newspaper Is Helping (ProPublica)

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones. There’s one specific to St. Louis, one for Chicago, one for Denver, …

Native plant gardening in a pot. Missouri Botanical Garden has container designs for sun and shade.

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

6:30 pm Monday, January 6th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: Series Introduction & Towards Restoration Agriculture in Missouri, presented by Zach Miller, Preserve Engagement Manager, The Nature Conservancy. Register

9 am to Noon Saturday, January 11th, St. Charles County Master Gardeners Class: Succession Planting & Lighting for Indoor Seedlings. $20. Register

10 am Saturday, January 11th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Kestrel Nesting Boxes. Register

5 Seats remaining. Ages 16+. 10 am January 11th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Art in the Park, Canvas & Cocoa. Paint a deer. All materials provided. Register

17 Seats remaining. 11 am January 11th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am January 12th St. Louis Neighborhood Foresters Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

6 pm January 13th Missouri Conservation Department online class: Suet-Yourself, Homemade Bird Feeders. Register

6:30 pm January 13th Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series on Zoom: What Can Climate Litigation Teach Us About Holding the Plastics Industry Responsible for Pollution Problems, presented by Bart Elmore, Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University. Register

10 am January 14th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event on St. Louis Riverfront: Arch Grounds and Eads Bridge Hike. Register

10:30 am January 14th Missouri River Bird Observatory event at Ethical Society of St. Louis: The Global Effect of Plastics on the Environment, presented by Dana Ripper, co-founder, MRBO.

6:30 pm January 14th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club documentary screening at Old Bakery Beer, Belleville, Illinois: Water for Life. Register

4 pm January 15th Grow Native! and Missouri Prairie Foundation online Master Class: Seeded Tree Islands for Beauty, Shade, and Native Diversity presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury. Free to MPF members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 non-members. Register

23 Seats remaining. 6 pm January 17th Missouri Conservation Department’s Conservation Trivia Night at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Register

2-5 pm January 21st Saint Louis City Recycles will be at Schlafly Library to provide information about recycling in St. Louis. FREE in-home recycling bins.

2 pm January 21st St. Charles City-County Library event at Linnemann Branch: How to Sour Dough with Whole Grains. Register

5 Seats remaining. 6 pm January 23rd Collinsville Park & Rec, Illinois class: Food Too Good to Waste Series- Food for Thought- Smart Planning to Reduce Food Waste. $15. Register

6 pm Doors Open. 7 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

7 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department virtual event: An Evening with Raptors. Register

January 25th thru March 4th event at Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield: Morpho Mardi Gras- Bugs, Rhythm, & Blues. Fee applies

2 pm January 27th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 2, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

6 pm January 30th Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Indoor Food Gardening. Register

8 am February 1st St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

1 pm February 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms; is it Edible? presented by Maxine Stone, author, Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms

5 Seats remaining. 9-11 am February 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

10 Seats remaining. 8-10 am February 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Pond to Plate, All About Trout! Register

9 am to 3 pm February 8th Eagle Days at Audubon Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Missouri

11 am February 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens January11th

1 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Divoll Library: What’s All the Buzz About Natives? presented by Sue Leahy from Wild Ones.

2 pm February 15th St. Louis Public Library Seed Swap at Carpenter Library in partnership with Urban Harvest STL

March 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Lore and Legend of Herbs with St. Louis Herb Society

11 am March 8th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens February 8th

9 am to Noon March 22nd Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1 pm March 22nd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Critical for Gardening- Get the Dirt on Soil, Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Speakers Bureau

April 6th & 7th Baker Creek Tulip Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

7 am to 5 pm April 12th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon MO

9 am April 12th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles presented by Bo Brown. Register

11 am April 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens March 15th

6 pm April 24th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Mushrooms. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 25th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

6 pm May 1st St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Plant Predators- An Introduction to Carnivorous Plants with Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

20 seats remaining. 10 am May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Tomatoes 101. Register

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack: Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center

May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am to 5 pm May 11th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden Admission Fee.

5 pm May 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Walnut Park Library: Wild Hearts- Understanding Animal Behavior in the Wild with St. Louis Zoo

June 21-22 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.