St. Louis Area Plant and Seed 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.

Registration now closed. 11 am December 21st St. Charles City-County Library event at Spencer Road Branch: Plant & Seed Swap.

11 am January 11th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens December 14th

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 January11th

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

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

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.

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday. No longer on Twitter thanks to Elon Musk turning it into a dumpster fire.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Native New England Aster

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

Now thru January 1st at Missouri Botanical Garden: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Now thru January 4th Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Purchase Tickets.

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.

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

Spring 2025 University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Online Core Training. $200. Register

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

University of Missouri Extension online Food Preservation Course. $30. Register

Good Reads/Views —

Atmospheric rivers aren’t new. Why does it feel like we’re hearing about them more? (National Public Radio)

Alleged ‘potato cartel’ accused of conspiring to raise price of frozen fries, tater tots across U.S. Canadian companies named in lawsuits claiming shoppers have been overcharged (Canadian Broadcasting Corp)

Pass on the Pesticides and Boost Biodiversity at Home (Wild Ones)

Seed St. Louis Videos: Variety Trials, Virtual Classes, Starting Seeds Indoors, Orchard Tips, Gardening Tips & How Tos, 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,…

You can do 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 —

Noon Tuesday, November 26th, University of Illinois Extension Services online class: From Flour to Ferment: Sourdough Starter Essentials. Register

2 pm Wednesday, November 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: American Beaver. Register

Thursday, November 28th to January 1st Heartlands Conservancy event in Southern Illinois: 2024 Jingle Hike Challenge. Register

16 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Friday, November 29th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike. Register

2 pm Friday, November 29th, Missouri Conservation event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird Feeders- Seed to Suet. Register

10 am to 4 pm Saturday, November 30th, Green Gift Bazaar in Alton IL

1:30 pm Saturday, November 30th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Pinecone Bird Feeders. Registration not required.

6 pm December 4th Missouri Coalition for Environment Holiday Party. Register

7 pm December 5th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: An Evening with Owls of Both Prairies and Parks with naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw. Register

Noon December 6th University of Illinois Extension Services online class: Rise and Shine- Sourdough Bread-Making Essentials. Register

8 am December 7th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Forest Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am December 7th Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at North Riverfront Park. Register

10 am December 7th Deep Roots Kansas City webinar: Planning Your Garden for Winter Interest. Register

3 pm December 7th Forest ReLeaf Chestnut Roast at Fairground Park

15 Seats remaining. 1:30 pm December 7th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Holiday Nature Ornaments and Cocoa. Register

6 pm December 7th Missouri Sierra Club’s Eastern Missouri Group Potluck Holiday Party at Ethical Society, Clayton. Register

10 am December 9th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

7 pm December 10th Missouri Coalition for Environment & SLACO Extreme Urban Heat Policy Plan Listening Session @ Habitat for Humanity. Register

6:30 pm December 11th Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Endangered Species- The Ozark Chinquapin. Register

2 pm December 12th St. Louis County Public Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

3 pm December 13th Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Missouri Black Bears. Register

9:30 am December 14th Missouri Coalition for Environment & SLACO Extreme Urban Heat Policy Plan Listening Session @ SLACO. Register

December 15th Tower Grove Park Frosted 5k & Fun Run fundraiser. Register

2 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Missouri Foxes. Register

9 am December 20th Missouri Sierra Club’s Easterm Missouri Group Service Day at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Register

1 pm January 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 1, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

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

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.

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday. No longer on Twitter thanks to Elon Musk turning it into a dumpster fire.

Delmar’s Corporate Welfare for Rich People

There are a lot of great things happening in St. Louis City and I credit hard work by many people, including activists and Mayor Tishaura Jones. Unfortunately, there is also the ongoing epidemic of corporate welfare, which started forty years ago and is now fecklessly rubber stamped by Alders, and pretty much the City caving to the public school privatization movement.

Among the awful things that happens in St. Louis is making public school kids pay for rich white people’s projects. Today, I’m writing projects on Delmar: Maxine Clark’s Delmar Divine, a home for privatization nonprofits, and billionaire Jim McKelvey’s Delmar Makers Place.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Some really nice places owned by good people and good organizations are also now on Delmar because of Clark and McKelvey. That’s what rich people do. They drape themselves with good to ward off criticism. If these rich people were good themselves, they would pay for these projects on their own instead of burdening taxpayers and public school kids.

Maxine Clark is the welfare queen of Build A Bear. We used #WelfareBears on Twitter back in the day.

Clark has a net worth of $22.1 Million and makes $1,370,260 a year as a director on the board of Build A Bear. The City gave the company 50% of its earning’s/payroll/income taxes and 75% tax abatement (money taken from public school kids) to move fourteen miles from St. Louis County to Downtown St. Louis.

Millionaire privatization activist Rex Sinquefield’s Dimensional Fund Advisers owned 6.4% of Build A Bear stock at the time.

Alder Cara Spencer took a walk on that vote and then Alder now Board President Megan Green voted Yes. Voting No were Alder Shane Cohn and former Alders Heather Navarro and Dan Guenther.

A 200 jobs figure was tossed around by everyone during the process but the TIF agreement only required maintaining the 170 jobs. Information was highly problematic during the process and generally a #TransparencyFail, as we called it on Twitter.

Meanwhile, as public school kids pay for the Build A Bear move, Clark spends her retirement as godmother of public school privatization in St. Louis. Reminder: charter schools are private schools funded by tax dollars meant for public schools.

Clark’s Delmar Devine is a nonprofit campus that focuses on all sorts of privatization schemes and got all sorts of corporate welfare, including tax abatement, of course. It is home to:

Opportunity Trust, hell bent on using public dollars to open charter schools

WePower (an arm of Opportunity Trust), which wants more public money to expand child care at charter schools, not being content with a sales tax grift ridiculously adopted by voters to fund training and marketing of child care at charter schools but not public schools

United 4 Children, part of the early childhood education grift which doesn’t actually fund child care but rather funds training, marketing, information

KIPP charter schools

Clark-Fox Family Foundation, supporting various anti-public school and anti-union teacher efforts and I believe working on the funding child care at charter schools initiative

Teach For America, the anti-union, anti-teachers as a degreed profession group

All of them have well paid staff and public relations budgets that most of the small noprofits the rest of us are associated with will never see. It’s really stretching the definition to use “charity” on some of them. They are nonprofit arms of political agendas.

Then there’s Delmar’s Jim McKelvey, of Square fame. He could well afford to do anythign he has in St. Louis without making public school kids pay for it.

I meant to write a lot more on all this but I need to run. Just search McKelvey’s name for the millions and millions in tax abatement and other incentives he has benefitted from.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: African Lion’s Tail, African Lion’s Ear (Leonotis leonurus). Outdoor annual in Missouri & Illinois. Mine have never grown under six feet tall. Great Summer to Fall color, currently blooming.

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads —

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones

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 —

Now thru January 1st at Missouri Botanical Garden: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Now thru January 4th Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Purchase Tickets.

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale.

6 pm November 19th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Paper Craft Circle- Paper Wisteria.

1 pm Wednesday, November 20th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

4 pm Wednesday, November 20th, Missouri Prairie Foundation online Master Class: Advanced Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management. Free to MPF members and Grow Native professional members, $15 nonmembers. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, November 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm Thursday, November 21st, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Backyard Bird Feeding. Register

6 pm November 21st Wild Ones & Native Plant Society of Texas webinar: Landscaping for Resilience. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, November 21st, Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

9 am Saturday, November 23rd, Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day near Granite City IL: Arlington Wetlands Volunteer Workday. Register

15 Seats remaining. 2 pm Saturday, November 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Urban Nature Readers Book Club. Tree themed craft and discussion of “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben. Register

2 pm November 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: American Beaver. Register

November 28th, 2024 to January 1st, 2025 Heartlands Conservancy event in Southern Illinois: 2024 Jingle Hike Challenge. Register

16 Tickets remaining. 1 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike. Register

2 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird Feeders- Seed to Suet. Register

10 am to 4 pm November 30th Green Gift Bazaar in Alton IL

1:30 pm November 30th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Pinecone Bird Feeders. Registration not required.

7 pm December 5th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: An Evening with Owls of Both Prairies and Parks with naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am December 7th Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at North Riverfront Park. Register

10 am December 7th Deep Roots Kansas City webinar: Planning Your Garden for Winter Interest. Register

3 pm December 7th Forest ReLeaf Chestnut Roast at Fairground Park

15 Seats remaining. 1:30 pm December 7th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Holiday Nature Ornaments and Cocoa. Register

10 am December 9th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

6:30 pm December Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Endangered Species- The Ozark Chinquapin. Register

2 pm December 12th St. Louis County Public Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

3 pm December 13th Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Missouri Black Bears. Register

December 15th Tower Grove Park Frosted 5k & Fun Run fundraiser. Register

2 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Missouri Foxes. Register

1 pm January 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 1, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

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

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.

February 15th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday. No longer on Twitter thanks to Elon Musk turning it into a dumpster fire.

Michael Butler, Defendant

You may notice people gathering signatures at the polls Tuesday to nominate Michael Butler for Mayor of St. Louis City. They are Butler’s indentured servants at the Recorder of Deeds Office or their family, or people wanting a job at Recorder Office. Support for his election is a condition of employment at the Recorder’s.

Butler, in violation of the Recorder of Deeds Employee Manual, fired employees who had not supported his 2018 campaign, beginning with his first day in office. I worked as a public records archivist at the Recorder’s and put in my retirement paperwork before getting fired. Georgie Simmons, et al v. Michael Butler, Defendent (Case No. 4:19CV10HEA, U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Missouri, Eastern Division) dragged out for years and was eventually settled for a six figure amount to Plaintiffs paid by St. Louis City taxpayers. Butler was represented by the City Counselor’s Office.

As Recorder, Butler fired additional employees or caused them to retire or otherwise leave and very few employees, if any, hired prior to January 2, 2019, are still employed in that office. The lack of institutional wisdom is probably why big mistakes happen in the office.

In 2021, Butler was Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party when the National Labor Relations Board moved forward on a case against MDC, settled a few months later in favor of Plaintiff.

Receipts from Georgie Simmons, et al v. Michael Butler, Defendant.

On August 7, 2018, Defendant Michael Butler (“Butler”) defeated the incumbent Recorder of Deeds for the City of St. Louisin the primary election for that office. On November 6, 2018, Butler won the general election. Plaintiffs Georgie Simmons (“Simmons”), Johnetta Sherrod (“Sherrod”), Robert Dillard (“Dillard”), and Julie Ellison (“Ellison”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) were employees of the City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Office (the “Office”) until they were terminated on January 2, 2019, Butler’s first day in office.

None of the Plaintiffs openly supported Butler during his political campaign. In March 2018, Butler had met with Simmons and Sherrod and asked them for their support in his political campaign. Simmons and Sherrod declined to become involved with any campaign, which caused Butler to become upset. Dillard actively campaigned for Butler’s opponent, the previous Recorder of Deeds. On August 7, 2018, Butler told Dillard that he could not “guarantee” his position if he did not support Butler’s campaign.

Between August 7, 2018, and January 2, 2019, Butler appeared in the Office on no fewer than four occasions, including September 7, November 16, December 10, and December 28. On these visits, he spoke with staff and provided assurances that no one would be fired for political retaliation for failing to support his candidacy. During the same time period, Butler’s alleged agents, including paid campaign staffer George Poole, appeared in the Office to threaten long-term employees’positions in the Office. These agents, including Poole, said that the Plaintiffs would be terminated for not supporting Butler’s political campaign. Poole appeared in the Office no fewer than five times between August 7 and December 28, 2018.

On December 17, 2018, Denise Starks, an Office employee who was also a political supporter of Butler, filed a false sexual harassment complaint against Simmons and another employee. Plaintiffs allege that this complaint was “part of Defendant Butler’s crusade against Plaintiffs to force them out of theirpositions,” filed at the behest of Butler. Butler allegedly assumed that the outgoing Recorder of Deeds would not be able to process the complaint before Butler took office. Butler then would be the one to handle the complaintand have reason to terminate Simmons for cause. In fact, the outgoing Recorder of Deeds investigated the complaint and found it to be unsubstantiated. Plaintiffs allege that Butler “took advantage of Ms. Starks by conspiring with her to file a false, frivolous complaint against Plaintiff Simmons.”

On January 2, 2019, Butler delivered letters of termination to Simmons and Sherrod. In essence, these letters offered Simmons and Sherrod two weeks’ pay if they gave up their right to sue Butler and the City of St. Louis. Neither Simmons nor Sherrod would sign, and Butler terminated them. Butler included non-managerial employees in the termination meetings, which Plaintiffs claim violated Simmons’ and Sherrod’s right to privacy. As Sherrod was leaving City Hall, George Poole physically confronted Sherrod in front of dozens of onlookers, causing Sherrod significant emotional distress and embarrassment.

Butler replaced Simmons and Sherrod with political associates who had no previous experience in the Recorder of Deeds Office. Plaintiffs aver that the replacements lacked requisite professional experience for the positions to which they were assigned.

The Recorder of Deeds Employee Policy & Benefit manual expressly states that an employee’s “position in the Recorder’s Office is no way impacted negatively or positively by [her or his] participation in the political process.” Defendant issued a “status” form letter for each terminated employee that did not include the reason for termination as required by policy. Additionally, Butler dated the status letters for January 7, 2019, but did not send them until January 15, 2019. This “backdating” was allegedly done in an effort to prevent Plaintiffs from requesting a disciplinary hearing within the 10-day time limit required by policy.

Plaintiffs allege that they were wrongfully terminated in violation of the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments as retaliation for not supporting Butler in his political campaign for the office of Recorder of Deeds. Plaintiffs allege that Butler’s conduct was willful and intentional and that he intentionally caused Plaintiffs emotional distress, pain and suffering, and health problems including elevated blood pressure, severe anxiety, and depression. Plaintiffs also allege loss of income and loss of potential employment opportunities due to the history of “firing” in their employment record.

Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges: violation of their First Amendmentrights (Count I); violation of their Fifth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rightsto due process (Count IIand Count III, respectively); that they are entitled to declaratory judgment (Count IV); civil conspiracy (Count V); wrongful termination (Count VI).

This Week in Gardening & Nature

bluish violet aromatic aster flowers with yellow centers on shrub

Plant of the Week: native Aromatic Aster

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

Free Trees for University City residents via Forest Releaf Missouri’s Community Canopy program. Order now for Saturday, October 19th pick up at The Green Center, 8025 Blackberry. Available Trees: Bald Cypress, Buttonbush, Redbud, River Birch, Swamp White Oak, Vernal Witchhazel, Washington Hawthorn

November 15th Deadline for Grade Schools to High Schools, Youth Groups, Community Groups with youth programs, to apply for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program Grants: native plant use in pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, Monarch waystations featuring community science activities, and sensory and natural playgrounds.

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads & Views —

Energy and climate: Where do Harris and former guy stand? (States Newsroom)

Rural Missouri groups- S.L.U.D.G.E. and C.R.A.P. threaten lawsuit over PFAS in meatpacking sludge. Meatpacking waste sludge is spread as fertilizer on farmland and can wash into waterways (Missouri Independent)

Regenerative farming practices require unlearning past advice (Columbia Missourian)

Earth’s wildlife populations have disappeared at a ‘catastrophic’ rate in the past half-century, new analysis says. The Living Planet Index found the worst declines were in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Gift article at Washington Post)

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

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 —

Now thru October 26th, St. Louis Public Library daily event at Schlafly Library: River Life: Landscape Photography exhibit by Rita Chu

Going on Now- On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. Don’t delay. Items are selling out fast, such as Beautyberry, Blackberry, Concordia Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Hazelnut, PawPaw, Spicebush.

October 23rd Deadline to Order Fruit Trees from Stark Brothers for pick up November 2nd at Seed St. Louis Carriage House. $20 each: Apple, Asian Pear, Elderberry, Nectarine, Peach, Pecan, Persimmon

Volunteers wanted. Tower Grove Park Plant It Forward: Help dig cannas, elephant ears, other plants; clearing display beds of debris; aid in planting 10,000+ bulbs for Spring season. 9 am Tuesday, October 15th Register; 9 am Thursday, October 17th Register

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis Blitz events (clean ups & beautification). October events. November events.

9 am to 3 pm Monday, October 14th Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Missouri Botanical Garden: Storytelling; Art; Herbal Education; FryBread Cooking Demonstration; Braiding Sweetgrass, Kin Relationality, and Native Science

9 am Tuesday, October 15th, Missouri Sierra Club Hikes at Dogwood and Mustang Trails, Greensfelder Park, St. Louis County. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 9 am Tuesday, October 15th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: Fall Colors Hike. Register

2 pm Tuesday, October 15th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Little Brown Birds- Sparrow ID. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, October 15th, St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

For 3rd-5th Graders. 4:45 pm Wednesday, October 16th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Explorers After School Club- Fall Leaves. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, October 17th, Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 17th, St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent & Seed Swap. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 17th Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville IL: Compost Swap & Potluck Meal. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, October 17th, Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

8 am Friday, October 18th, Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Workday. Register

1 Ticket remaining. 6 pm Friday, October 18th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Full Hunter’s Moonrise Over the Confluence Hike. Register

8 am Saturday, October 19th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Fee Fee Greenway, Maryland Heights. Register

9-11 am Saturday, October 19th Seed St. Louis Extended Garlic & Shallot Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell. Available hardneck garlic, softneck garlic, shallots, and overwintering cover crop seed packets.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 16 Seats remaining. Saturday, October 19th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Art- Carve a Snack-o-Lantern for wildlife. 11 Seats remaining for 9 am- Register. 16 Seats remaining for 1 pm- Register.

10 am Saturday, October 19th, St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Plant & Seed Swap. Register

Noon to 4 pm Saturday, October 19th, Benton Park Neighborhood Association’s Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Tickets $35-$65

Noon to 5 pm Saturday, October 19th, Mary Meachum Celebration at Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing, Mississippi Greenway

10 Seats remaining. 3 pm Saturday, October 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fishing Lure Painting. All supplies provided. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 8 am Sunday, October 20th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

9 am Sunday, October 20th, Bellefontaine Cemetery horticulture tour with horticulturist: Arboretum Tour- Fall Tree Walk. Register

Noon Sunday, October 20th, Missouri Prairie Foundation event in Lincoln County MO: Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day. Register

1-5 pm Sunday, October 20th, Tower Grove Park Fall Frolic

6 pm October 21st St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Carnivorous Plants presented by Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society. Register

10 am October 22nd Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

Noon October 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Bats of Missouri. Register

4 pm October 23rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Exploring Moss Diversity. Register

6 pm October 23rd Monthly Neighborhood Foresters Public Meeting at Americorps, Soulard. Register

For Kids ages 0 -7 years. 8 Seats remaining. 10:30 am October 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Pumpkins for Wildlife. Register

6 pm October 24th Wild Ones Natives webinar: Matrix Landscape Design with Benjamin Vogt. Register

1:30 pm October 25th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

6 pm October 25th Urban Harvest Raise the Roof Fundraiser at .ZACK, Kranzburg Arts, Grand. Tickets $50.

Volunteers Wanted. October 26th River de Peres Trash Bash

9 am October 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles: Lewis Trail Hike, Fall Colors. Register

Volunteers wanted. 10 am October 26th STL Neighborhood Foresters event: Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

1:30 pm October 28th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

28 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm October 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Cacti & Succulents- A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving Plants. Register

6 pm October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Owls of Missouri. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am October 29th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Workday, Swansea IL: Coneflower Planting at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park. Register

10 am October 30th Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office: Neighborhood Tree Hike, Southwest Garden to Tower Grove Park. Register

1 pm October 30th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Owls of Missouri. Register

1:30 pm November 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

7 pm November 1st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: A Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening presented by author Doug Tallamy. Register

7:45 am November 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery fundraiser: Coyote Crawl 5K & Head for the Hills 10K Run/Walk. Fees vary. Register

1:30 pm November 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

9 am November 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery horticulture tour with horticulturist: Arboretum Tour- Fall Tree Walk. Register

4 pm November 6th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 8th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

7 pm November 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Hiking with your Hound presented by Recreation Specialist Bridget Jackson and Veterinarian Dr. Pipkin. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 9th Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at Fairground Park. Register

9 am November 9th Heartlands Conservancy event, location to be announced: Woods Walk – Winter Tree ID. Register

10 am November 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

3 pm November 9th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fall Wild Edibles. Register

10 am November 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

4:30 pm November 12th The Royale & Missouri Botanical Garden Show Me Your Garden: Harvest Round Cocktail Competition. Tickets $45. Prizes 1st place $300 Garden Glow ticket bundle and 2nd place $150 People’s Choice Award Garden Glow ticket bundle + Royale Gift card.

6:30 pm November 12th Piasa Sierra Club event at, probably Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: What is happening to our smaller spring-breeding frog species in the STL-Metro Area? Presented by Mike Dawson, Educator/Conservationist at St. Louis Zoo. Register

1:30 pm November 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

9 am November 14th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Swansea IL: Exploration Garden Volunteer Workday. Register

For Kids ages 0 -7 years. 12 Seats remaining. 10:30 am November 14th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Preparing for Winter. Register

9 am November 15th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Workday. Register

9 am November 16th Bellefontaine Cemetery horticulture tour with horticulturist: Arboretum Tour- Fall Tree Walk. Register

10 am November 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Dutch Oven Cooking. Register

12 Tickets remaining. 4:30 pm November 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Full Beaver Moonrise at the Confluence Hike. Register

8:30 am November 17th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

1:30 pm November 21st Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

6:30 pm November 21st Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

9 am November 23rd Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day near Granite City IL: Arlington Wetlands Volunteer Workday. Register

2 pm November 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: American Beaver. Register

November 28th, 2024 to January 1st, 2025 Heartlands Conservancy event in Southern Illinois: 2024 Jingle Hike Challenge. Register

1 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike. Register

2 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Missouri Foxes. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am December 7th Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at North Riverfront Park. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 29th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Sweet Potato flower, white petals and raspberry center

Plant of the Week: Sweet Potatoes, nutritious, beautiful flowers, easy to grow in a garden bed, pot, or grow bag

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

Free Trees for University City residents via Forest Releaf Missouri’s Community Canopy program. Order now for October 19th pick up at The Green Center, 8025 Blackberry. Available Trees: Bald Cypress, Buttonbush, Redbud, River Birch, Swamp White Oak, Vernal Witchhazel, Washington Hawthorn

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads & Views —

How to protect plants from frost (University of Missouri Extension)

Gardening by Month: October Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

October Gardening Tips: Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns (University of Missouri Extension)

Missouri Prairie Foundation weighs in on Artificial Intelligence

Farming among the trees: How perennial crops can help breathe life into depleted soil (Columbia Missourian)

Midwest states are spending millions to manage invasive carp in rivers and lakes. If left unchecked, conservation experts say the fish could wreak havoc on local ecosystems and fishing industries. (KCUR)

Tribes celebrate end of Klamath dam removal, largest in US history. “the structures halted the natural flow of the waterway that was once known as the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast” (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Have black plastic in your home? It could expose you to toxic chemicals. Study raises concerns recycled plastic containing flame retardants are being reused in manufacturing of consumer products (Gift article at Washington Post)

The Hidden Harm in Feeding Your Local Wildlife. Why feeding wild animals is harmful for them and us. Tidy bird feeders are the exception (US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

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 —

Now thru October 26th, St. Louis Public Library daily event at Schlafly Library: River Life: Landscape Photography exhibit by Rita Chu

Volunteers wanted. Tower Grove Park Plant It Forward: Help dig cannas, elephant ears, other plants; clearing display beds of debris; aid in planting 10,000+ bulbs for Spring season. 9 am Thursday, October 10th Register; 9 am Tuesday, October 15th Register; 9 am Thursday, October 17th Register

Noon Tuesday, October 8th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar, Thriving Communities series: Current Funding Opportunities for Energy and the Environment Explore grants available for community environmental projects. Presenters will explore funding opportunities for three different needs: stormwater management, clean energy projects for rural areas, and the revitalization of polluted brownfields. Register

10 am Tuesday, October 8th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, October 8th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Missouri Stream Team program. Register

9 am Wednesday, October 9th, Bellefontaine Cemetery tour with Horticulturist: Fall Tree Walk. Register

1:30 pm Wednesday, October 9th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm Wednesday, October 9th, Grow Native Zoom Class: Native Ferns in Missouri and their Potential as Specialty Crops. Register

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 10th-12th University of Missouri @ St. Louis Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series, The Buffalo Treaty

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, October 10th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville IL: Volunteer Training- Native Seed Collection. Register

For School Gardeners. 4:30 pm Thursday, October 10th, Seed St. Louis Fall School Gardener Meet-Up & Perennial Plant Swap at Pershing Elementary School Garden, University City. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 10th, Seed St. Louis event at DIG Annuals and Perennials, Benton Park West: Food for Years- Best Perennial Vegetables for a Fall & Winter Harvest. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, October 11th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, October 11th, Missouri Sierra Club Volunteer Day at Don Robinson State Park, Cedar Hill, Jefferson County MO. Register

12 Tickets remaining. 6 pm Friday. October 11th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk Hike with Naturalist. Register

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival– vegan harvest soup, fresh apple cider, music by Hillary Fitz. Order trees. Apple (5 gallon Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious; Chinese Chestnut (3 gallon Grafted Peach, Grafted Qing, Grafted Sleeping Giant); Chokeberry (3 gallon Viking Black); Elderberry (3 gallon Bob Gordon, Pocahontas, Ranch); Hazelnut (3 gallon The Beast, Grand Traverse); Pawpaw (3 gallon Grafted Allegheny, Grafted Mango, Grafted Rappahannock, Grafted Susquehanna); Pecan (3 gallon Grafted Kanza, Grafted Pawnee); Plum (3 gallon American Plum); Persimmon (3 gallon Grafted Meader, Grafted Nikita’s Gift); Serviceberry (3 gallon Grafted Downy)

10 am Saturday, October 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

2 pm Saturday, October 12th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability, The Buffalo Treaty collaborative event series, two presentations. 1) Keystone Species & Sovereignty = Rejuvenation, Innovation and Wonder, presented by Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, JD (Assinaboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana). 2) The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species, a talk and book-signing with author Wes Olson and photographer Johane Janelle. Garden Admission fee required. Event is free with Garden Admission but Registration required by October 10th.

3 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Gallery Talk- Rita Chu and River Life: Deconstructing the Images. More on photographer Rita Chu.

6 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

Volunteers wanted. 9 am Sunday, October 13th, STL Neighborhood Foresters Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

9 Tickets remaining. Must be at least 6 years of age. Noon Sunday, October 13th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Cane Pole Fishing. Pole provided and you get to take one home. Register

9 am October 15th Missouri Sierra Club Hikes at Dogwood and Mustang Trails, Greensfelder Park, St. Louis County. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 9 am October 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: Fall Colors Hike. Register

2 pm October 15th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Little Brown Birds- Sparrow ID. Register

6:30 pm October 15th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

For 3rd-5th Graders. 4:45 pm October 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Explorers After School Club- Fall Leaves. Register

6 pm October 17th St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent Swap. Register

6:30 pm October 17th Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

8 am October 18th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Workday. Register

8 am October 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Fee Fee Greenway, Maryland Heights. Register

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 16 Seats remaining. October 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Art- Carve a Snack-o-Lantern for wildlife. 11 Seats remaining for 9 am- Register.16 Seats remaining for 1 pm- Register.

10 am October 19th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Houseplant Swap. Register

Noon to 4 pm October 19th Benton Park Neighborhood Association’s Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Tickets $35-$65

14 Tickets remaining. 8 am October 20th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

Noon October 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation event in Lincoln County MO: Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day. Register

1-5 pm October 20th Tower Grove Park Fall Frolic