Tag: Blue Sage

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native Blue Sage (Salvia azurea). Plant now for great color and pollinators next Fall. These can grow up to 6-7 feet tall in full sun. I cut them back early summer to make them more manageable. But tall they look great paired with native perennial Sunflowers and Goldenrod.

Plan your garden with 2026 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

September Gardening Tips for Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns, Indoor Plants  (University of Missouri Extension)

September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Garlic Planting Video (University of Missouri Extension)

Illinois study reveals another reason to save the world’s trees (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Rare plant is documented on Newton County native prairie remnant, SW Missouri. Pinnate Dogshade (KSMU Ozark Public Radio)

The feds no longer protect endangered species habitat. States say they can’t pick up the slack. Few wildlife agencies have the authority to regulate habitat under state laws. (Stateline)

Who says a vegetable garden needs full sun? Some plants do well in shadier spots (Associated Press)

Missouri River Bird Observatory Past Webinars and Virtual Nature School for Kids

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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.

Growing Vegetables Advice: Begin with a Plan, Seed Starting, Soil Management, Weed Management, Hardening Off Indoor Seedlings, Season Extension, Supporting Plants, Pest Management, Fertilizing Your Garden, Irrigation, Garden Tool Care, Container Gardens, more (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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 —

—– ONGOING —–

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 19th Old North. Register
September 19th St. Louis Place. Register
October 4th Forest Park Southeast. Register
October 17th Old North. Register
October 18th Shaw. Register

Friday, September 18th Deadline to complete Missouri Invasive Plant Council Survey

Volunteers Wanted. Volunteer for Tower Grove Park’s Plant It Forward Maintenance Program and take home a few thank you plants. Register

Apply for Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree: 3-gallon saplings are offered free of charge to public and nonprofit partners who plant and maintain the trees. Pick Ups in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, Republic, St. Louis County

6:45 am Walk Before You Work Club at Tower Grove Park with naturalist: September 23rd
October 14th
October 28th
November 5th
November 18th

September 25th Deadline to order from Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Bulb Sale. 30 high quality bulbs for $18. Daffodils: Carlton, Midwest Mix. Tulips: Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin, Pink Impression. Pick Up October 9-10 at Forest Park Greenhouse. There’s a shipping option but it’s USPS.

Now thru September 26th Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Landscape and Nature Photography by Elizabeth White

Now thru September 26th Missouri Botanical Gardens sculpture exhibit- Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

October 1st Registration Opens for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

November 15th Deadline to Enter Missouri State Parks & Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Adventure & Recreation, On The Trail, Parks Less Traveled, Making Memories, Capture the Beauty 

October Applications Open for Missouri Prairie Foundation’s 2027 Prairie Garden Grant Program for gardening and conservation groups, parks, school

November 1st Registration Closes for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

Thru December 31st Missouri Botanical Gardens photography exhibit- Gardenscapes: Patterns in Bloom. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Now thru January 4, 2027, Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum: Carolina Caycedo- Growing Deep Roots

Thru March 31, 2027, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum– The Literary Garden: The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

—– GENERAL CALENDAR —–

9 am Monday, September 14th, Heartlands Conservancy Clean Water, Bright Future Tour at Highland Silver Lake Watershed, Madison County IL. Register

8 Seats remaining. For ages 55+. 9 am Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Conservation Department Senior Picnic at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County. Register

1:30 pm Tuesday, September 15th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Bringing the Outside In- Overwintering Tender Perennial Plants. Register

7 pm Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers and Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Backyard Winter Bird Photography with Richard Day. Register

6 pm Wednesday, September 16th, Wild Ones Webinar: From Lawn to Meadow. Gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, weed management, plant competition, and long-term maintenance.  Register

Noon Thursday, September 17th, Deep Roots Kansas City Zoom Class: Growing Plants Sustainably. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Heartlands Conservancy Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day, Edwardsville IL. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

5-10 pm Friday, 9 am to 7 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5, pm Sunday, September 18th-20th, Greater St Louis Daffodil Society Fall Bulb Sale at Greentree Festival, Kirkwood

11 am Friday, September 18th, St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch: African Violets 101 presented by Amethyst African Violet Club. Register

8 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

10 am Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis County Library Plant, Cuttings, Seed Swap at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton. Register

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 19th, Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Go Deeper: A Community Land and Healing Retreat. Register

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Pollinator Network Pollinator Palooza at Weldon Spring Site, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be selling native plants.

11:30 to 4:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: A Creative Field Study and Natural Gesture Community Day with North St. Louis residents sharing their work with plant material, foods, herbs, and built environment of their neighborhoods and its relationship to the Mississippi River. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Lore & Legend of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

Noon to 10 pm Saturday, September 19th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club 20th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival in Alton, Illinois

11 Seat remaining. 9 am September 21st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Gardening Like a Nature Center. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 9 am September 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Autumnal Equinox Walk at Carondelet Park with naturalist. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 6:45 am September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

For Ages 5+. 12 Tickets remaining. 5 pm September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Community Fishing- St. Louis Species School. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

For Ages 7+. 13 Tickets remaining. 6 pm September 24th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

6 pm September 24th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Vampire Scent Culture with perfumer Rubia Homa. Guests are encouraged to dress in vampire/goth attire. Garden Admission Fee applies

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

44 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 5:30-7:30 pm September 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Friday Night Fishing. All equipment provided. Register

Volunteers Wanted. September 26th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Great Mississippi River Clean Up at Alton, Illinois. Register

8 am to 4 pm September 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette. Order by prior Monday for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

10 am September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Register

10 am September 26th Kemper Art Museum event: Botanical Printing. Register

3 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 11 am September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

8 Tickets remaining. For Ages 9+. 1:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

2 pm September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Cuttings Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester. Register

18 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 3:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

4-7 pm September 26th Forest ReLeaf fundraiser: Arbormeisters 2026, ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival at Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park

7 pm September 26th Stargazing with St. Louis Astronomical Society at Tower Grove Park, weather permitting

18 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am September 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm September 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

6 pm September 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Make Your Own Bird Suet. Register

5:30 pm October 1st Panel Discussion on Plant–Human–Land Relations at
Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

For Ages 7+. 20 Tickets remaining. 6 pm October 1st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

10 am to 3 pm October 3rd Willoughby Farm Fall Farm Day in Collinsville IL. Lots of kid activities and baby highland cows to pet. $5

10 am to 4 pm October 3rd Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s House, Garden, Business Tour and Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets $17.85-$33.85

10 Seats remaining. 1 pm October 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Planting. Register

1:30 pm October 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birding from a Distance. Register

2 pm October 5th St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch:
Garden on your Windowsill, presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Wild Edibles- Roots & Tubers. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 5:30 pm October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fall Birding. Binoculars provided. Register

Noon October 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

9 am to 5 pm Friday-Sunday, October 9th-11th, Missouri Botanical Garden Best of Missouri Market. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, native plant sales, will be on East Lot. Vendor List. Garden Admission Fee applies.

7 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Lessons from a Life in Photography with Noppadol Paothong. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Wadlow Creek Bird and Plant Survey in Alton, Illinois. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 10 am October 10th Missouri Conservation Department Hike: Calvary Cemetery Prairie Exploration with conservation educator Mary Fuller Register

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register.

6:45 am October 14th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm October 15th University of Illinois Extension Class at Vintage Wine Bar in Waterloo, Illinois: From Hive to Honey- Taste, Learn, Enjoy. Register

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

10:30 am October 17th Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Persimmon Festival. Register for free trees

11 am and 1 pm October 17th Missouri Botanical Garden lecture-recital at Sachs Museum: Frets and Flora, Botanical Themes in Guitar Literature with classical guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm October 17th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

10 am to 2 pm October 18th Bring Conservation Home Expo & Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Park. Native plants for sale, local artists, bird & bat houses, activities for all ages, exhibits.

1:30 pm October 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Speak for the Trees- Community Advocacy for Urban Forests. Register

6 pm October 21st Wild Ones Webinar: Bats in the Backyard. Register

6-8 pm October 22nd Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Alpine Shop, Kirkwood: Happy Hour, Pint Night. $10. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

6:45 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm November 4th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Tea Talk with Amber Fouche- A Lesson in Tea Blending, Tea Benefits, and History

6:45 am November 5th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

5:15 pm Networking Reception and 6 pm lecture November 5th Missouri Botanical Garden: Lecture on Global Plant Conservation with Dr. Lucy Sutherland, Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales. Free

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm November 14th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: History and Use of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

2 pm November 15th Public Tour- Plants as Medicine at Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

6:45 am November 18th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm December 12th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: We Love Lavender! presented by St. Louis Herb Society

11 am to 4 pm January 30th, 2027, 16th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Prepackage your seeds and identify the seeds on package. Seed Swap 11 am to 12:30 pm for those who bring seeds to swap and who will receive an arm band to the Seed Room. After 12:30 pm people without an arm band may enter and select seeds from Seed Room. If you do not contribute seeds, bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear. These items will be given to a local charity.

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Spring Clinic. Register

18 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 22nd St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Scape Pesto. Register

17 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Harvesting Garlic for Garlic Aioli. Register

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Blue Sage

Plant of the Week: Native Blue Sage. This will grow tall and even taller if competing with Sunflowers, Goldenrod, or other tall plants. The good news is that you can prune it back to four feet or more/less over the summer and it will still look great come Fall.

The last #GardenSunday on Bluesky is August 31st due to inability to draft posts (please don’t suggest adding another app to make Bluesky work better) and dwindling active accounts from St. Louis area. I appreciate everyone who participated in Garden Sunday for 181 weeks on Twitter and then 40 weeks on Bluesky. We had a good run. It was a lot of fun and I learned much from and was inspired by so many gardeners and nature lovers. St. Louis Area Plant and Seeds Sales and Swaps and This Week in Gardening & Nature will continue on this blog and links posted to Bluesky. Should Bluesky make changes, such as ability to draft posts, would consider bringing back Garden Sunday.

MU Extension wants your input on Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Tickborne disease can cause allergies to red meat; new survey seeks input to guide education, resources on emerging health issue. Take the survey even if you have not been affected.

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. No additions this week, only clean up.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Increase flower power by dividing overgrown perennials (University of Missouri Extension)

‘It’s like when you see the tsunami coming in’: Agricultural economists are sounding the alarm about produce prices doubling (Fortune)

Bring your annuals back to life with these tips (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

The joys of mullet gardening: neat and tidy, messy and wild(life). Inspired by the Eighties hairdo, this gardening trend is a great way to organise your plot and help wildlife. (The Times, London)

August Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Running dry on data: Missouri drought hard to measure (KBIA Radio)

Gardening’s hidden benefits: How digging in the dirt could bolster mental wellbeing (Associated Press)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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.

Growing Vegetables Advice: Begin with a Plan, Seed Starting, Soil Management, Weed Management, Hardening Off Indoor Seedlings, Season Extension, Supporting Plants, Pest Management, Fertilizing Your Garden, Irrigation, Garden Tool Care, Container Gardens, more (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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 —

—– ONGOING —–

Fall Color Reports: Illinois and Missouri

Going on now Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Tulip & Daffodil Bulb Sale. 30 bulbs only $18: Brightside’s “Midwest Mix” Daffodils – a selection of 6 varieties of fine daffodils chosen by the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society; Carlton Daffodils; “Brightside Red” hybrid Darwin Tulips; Pink Impression hybrid Darwin Tulips. Order now for October pick up October 10th-11th at Forest Park Greenhouse or pay for mailing.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 6th Hyde Park. Register
September 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
September 13th Tower Grove East. Register
September 13th Benton Park West. Register
September 20th Old North. Register
September 20th Benton Park. Register
September 21st Shaw. Register
September 27th Bevo. Register

Now thru March 31st, 2026, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Smelling the Bouquet- Plants & Scents in the Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

Sunday, August 31st, Deadline to submit entries for Missouri River Birds Observatory 10th Annual Bird Photography Contest. Prizes $100 to $1000. $25 Entry Fee per photo.

Monday, September 1st, Deadline to enter 12th Annual Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest. Categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places, People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors

September 30th Deadline to participate in University of Missouri Extension Online St. Louis City & County Gardening Needs Assessments Survey

November 15th Deadline for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program. Open to schools, nature center, after-school care programs, community centers or youth groups in need of funding for a native garden or habitat, projects such as pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, native plant monarch waystations featuring community science activities, and sensory and natural playgrounds.

November 15th Deadline to enter Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest sponsored by Missouri State Parks and Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ Rural Missouri magazine. Categories: Parks Less Traveled, Adventure & Recreation, Park Heroes & Volunteers at Work, Learning Something New, On the Trail

—– DAILY —–

Tuesday, September 2nd, Ordering Begins for Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Order early for best selection, some trees and shrubs sell out first day. Orders ship out in Spring.

6:30 pm Tuesday, September 2nd, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at January-Wabash Park, Ferguson: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

9 am Wednesday, September 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Tour – Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

10 am Wednesday, September 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

Noon Thursday, September 4th, Deep Roots Kansas City Webinar: Urban Green Rooftop Garden: Growing Season. Register

Just a two hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City. 4-7 pm Thursday, September 4th, University of Missouri Extension event at Jefferson Farm, Columbia: Tomato Festival

For Kids ages 7+ years. 22 Tickets remaining. 5 pm Thursday, September 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Monarch Caterpillar Bracelets. Register

3 pm Friday, September 5th, Missouri Conservation Zoom Class: Missouri Black Bears. Register

8 am to Noon Saturday, September 6th, Fox Park Garden Tour. Free. Register

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, September 6th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Invasive Species Workshop. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

9:30 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 6th, Film Screening Day for “Big Medicine: York Outdoors,” a documentary on York, an enslaved servant of William Clark, at Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Madison County, Illinois

10 am Saturday, September 6th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

3 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Saturday, September 6th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Leaf ID and Leaf Prints, canvas tote bag craft. Register

6:30 pm Sunday, September 7th, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at Fairground Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

9 am September 9th The Nature Institute hiking event at Godfrey, Illinois: Roaming Naturalists, Native Fall Fruits Hike. Register

1-4 pm September 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Oak Trees. $15 Donation suggested. Register

6 pm September 9th University of Missouri Extension Virtual Class: Cover Crops & Soil Health for Vegetable Gardens. $10. Register

6 pm September 9th The Nature Institute class at Godfrey, Illinois: Plant Identification Workshop. Learn basic plant anatomy, field guide instruction, Illinois wildflower identification. $25 fee includes copy of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Register

9 am September 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Tour – Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

4 pm September 10th Missouri Prairie Foundation Wetlands Webinar Series: Wiski/Oski (River Cane)- A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am September 11th Heartlands Conservancy event at Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville, IL: Monarch Tagging and Stewardship Day presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

3-5 pm September 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mums the Word, Fall Garden Gathering

Only a two hour drive from St. Louis 4:30-7 pm September 11th Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s Ferntastic Fair in Jefferson City. Explore native ferns. Register by September 10th to receive a potted fern.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am September 12th Heartlands Conservancy event at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, IL: Monarch Tagging and Stewardship Day. Register

5 pm September 12th Audubon Center at Riverlands event at West Alton, Missouri: Riverlands Wellness- Bikes, Birds, & Brews. $20. Register

8 am to Noon September 13th Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot

9 am to Noon September 13th St. Charles Mo Master Gardeners event in St. Peters: In The Garden 2025, Fall Session-  Planting Garlic, Prepping & Planting Fall & Spring Bulbs, Fall Lawn Renovation and Maintenance. $20. Register

9 am to 1 pm September 13th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

11 am September 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens August 16th

1 pm September 13th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Mad About Mushrooms

2:30 pm September 13th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Fascinating Victorian Gardens

2:30 pm September 13th The Nature Institute hike in Godfrey, Illinois: Bird Hike with educators from Audubon Center at Riverlands. $5. Register

9:30 am to 12:30 pm September 14th St. Louis Native Plant Swap’s Fall Swap at 722 Delchester Ln, Kirkwood. Only native plants/cuttings/seeds. Write name on plants. Prefer bare roots to avoid spreading jumpworms. This is a FB event that someone sent me information on but I don’t share FB links.

1 1/2 hours from St. Louis. 11 am to 2 pm September 14th Join Missouri Prairie Foundation and Missouri Conservation Department for Monarch Tagging at Edgar Prairie, near Rolla. Register

1-4 pm September 14th Oratorio STL Workshop at St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Courtyard Urbanism: Building Cities for Families. Register

6:30 pm September 14th St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at  Love Bank, Cherokee Street: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

10 am September 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

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

6 pm September 18th Wild Ones Webinar: EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis. Register

3:30 pm September 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Seed Sowing Basics. Register

10 am September 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Trolley Tour with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

10 am to 1 pm September 20th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am to Noon September 20th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Annual Meeting & Awards Bruncheon at SqWires. Free MCE members; $45 for non-members. Register/Join

1:30 pm September 20th Join Grow Native! for a Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Wildwood Valley Walking Tour with James Faupel,  Director of Horticulture and Curator of Living Collections. Register

10 am to 2 pm September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflower Nursery and other vendors will be selling but you can also order plants for pick up at the event.

6:30 pm September 23th Illinois Sierra Club Virtual Workshop: Clean Energy for our Communities, status of wind and solar energy throughout Illinois. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 25th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, Crestwood

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 26th-27th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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.

10 am September 27th St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Refreshments.

10 am to 1 pm September 27th Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration at Mississippi Greenway

10 am to 3 pm September 27th Missouri Pollinator Network Pollinator Palooza at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles MO. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery and other native plant vendors will be selling there.

11 am and 1 pm September 27th Missouri Botanical Garden concert at Sachs Museum: Musical Scents- Voices in the Garden, performances by Benedetta Orsi and St. Louis Women’s Chorale. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

11 am to 4 pm September 27th STL Seeding Frenzy’s Homesteaders Hoedown, Exchange & Tool Swap at Watson Trail Park, Sunset Hills

1 pm September 27th St. Louis County Library Plant Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester

4-7 pm September 27th Forest ReLeaf Fundraiser: Arbormeisters

7 Tickets available. 8:30 am September 28th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Tower Grove Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

1:30 pm September 30th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Be a Seed Shaker: Which Are Worth Saving? Register

10 am October 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. 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 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.

10 am to 3 pm October 4th Willoughby Farm’s Fall Farm Day at Collinsville, Illinois. $3 per person.

Noon to 4 pm October 4th Benton Park Neighborhood Association event: Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Six home gardens. Live music and drinks from local breweries. Tickets $35 General Admission, $65 VIP. Advance sales end September 14th. Register

1 pm October 4th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: How Indigenous People Used Native Plants for Their Health and Well-Being

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

11 am October 11th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens September 13th

11 am and 1 pm October 11th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Poetry and Scents, the poetry of Devin Johnston. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am to 2 pm October 12th Sustainable Backyard Network Fall Fest Sustainability Fair & Native Plant Sale at Garden Chapel Sanctuary, St. Louis County. Event isn’t under their calendar, scroll down link for the event flyer

4:30-9:30 pm October 14th The Royale & Missouri Botanical Gardens’s Show Me Your Harvest Cocktail Competition 2025 at The Royale. Tickets $45. Register

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

6 pm October 16th Wild Ones Virtual Event: Next Steps for Nature presented by entomologist and ecologist Doug Tallamy. Register

6-9 pm October 17th Urban Harvest Raise the Roof fundraiser at Sally’s Rooftop Garden & Terrace, Grand Center. Tickets $60.54. Register

9 am October 18th Seed St. Louis Garlic, Shallot, Plant Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell. Also selling overwintering cover crop seeds and Dig Annuals & Perennials will be selling perennials, shrubs, trees.

10 am to Noon October 18th Forest Releaf event at Scott Joplin House: Persimmon Festival and Tree Distribution

1:30 pm October 21st University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Reclaiming Runaway Landscapes. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 24th-25th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

5-8 pm October 25th Seed St. Louis event at Bell Community Garden: Fair on the Farm & Chili Cook Off

1 pm November 1st St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Decorating with Herbs

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

November 15th to January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Emerson Conservatory: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1 pm December 6th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Preventing Winter Plant Damage

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 12th-13th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens November 15th

11 am to 4 pm January 24th 15th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 South Lindbergh Blvd. Seed Swap, Vendors, Raffle. Lable seeds. If you do not have seeds to swap, donate non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear for charity. This is a FB event that someone sent me information on but I don’t share FB links.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Many stems of Blue Sage growing in outdoor garden.

Plant of the Week: native Blue Sage. These will grow tall to compete for sun. They look great next to Goldenrod and Sunflowers.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales (plant sales & swaps- plants, native plants, tree & shrub seedings + seed swaps) here’s a page for them. No additions this week, just deleted past events.

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

It’s PawPaw Season. + In St. Louis area, buy your PawPaw and Bourbon PawPaw Jams from Larder Cupboard at a local farmer’s market. + Missouri Conservation Department is now Sold Out on PawPaw seedlings but get in on the wait list if you want to try that.

We talked about Pokeweed and Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes on Twitter #GardenSunday. check out that link for information.

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.

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads —

Pawpaw craze hits Missouri as festivals and farmers embrace the custardy native fruit. (St. Louis Public Radio)

In celebration of being a terrible gardener. There are as many ways to fail in the garden as there are plant varieties. (Gift Article @ Washington Post)

Foraging Tips. The woods: Missouri’s other place to shop for food (University of Missouri Extension)

Giant crop art portrait of Kamala Harris in Lawrence, Kansas, now complete with Tim Walz (KMUW)

St. Louis water lily reigns victorious in social media weigh-off competition (St. Louis Public Radio)

As climate change and other threats destroy the habitats of living things, biologists are beginning to think of doing the once unthinkable: finding new homes for species outside their native ranges. (Gift Article @ Washington Post)

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

Winter Cover Crops for St. Louis Area. Cover crops are any plant that you grow not to harvest but for some other benefit like weed suppression, mulch production, soil improvement, beneficial insect support, etc. (Seed St. Louis)

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 —

Volunteers Wanted for Brightside St. Louis September Blitz events

Order Online Now thru September 26th: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. 30 bulbs for $17. Carlton Daffodils; Midwest Mix Daffodils, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada; Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips; Pink Impression Tulips. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

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, Paw Paw, Spicebush.

10 am Tuesday, September 17th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

3:30 pm Tuesday, September 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Be the Host with the Most. Register 

1:30 pm Wednesday, September 18th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Fall History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide. Register

6 pm Wednesday, September 18th, St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- What’s the Buzz About Natives presented by Susan Leahy, Wild Ones. Register

For ages 0-7. 5 Seats remaining. 10:30 am Thursday, September 19th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Almost Fall Y’all! Register

6 pm Thursday, September 19th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

6 pm Thursday, September 19th, Wild Ones Webinar: The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project (Wabanaki territory now called Maine). Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Friday, September 20th, Heartlands Conservancy Monarch Tagging & Stewardship @ at Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom, Belleville IL. Register

For ages 7-17, parents also welcome. 4 pm Friday, September 20th, St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. Register

9 am to Noon Saturday, September 21st, St. Louis Community College Horticulture Program Native Plant Sale @ Meramec Campus

9 am Saturday, September 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery Wildwood Valley Gardens Walk with Horticulturist. Register

9:30 am Saturday, September 21st, Forest ReLeaf Treesilience (free trees, maybe free tree removal) Orientation at O’Fallon Park for homeowners in O’Fallon Park, Fairgrounds, Kingsway East, Ville, Greater Ville neighborhoods.  Register

10 am to 5 pm Saturday, September 21st, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s Old North House Tour: Tour of homes, gardens, murals + Arts Festival @ Crown Square + New art installation at Griot Museum. Tickets $10-$20

Ages 4th Grade to Adult. 11 am Saturday, September 21st, St. Louis Public Library arts & craft event at Schlafly Library: Plant A Plant, make and take decorate a pot and plant in it.

8:30 am Sunday, September 22nd, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

10 am to 2 pm Sunday, September 22nd, Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. 

6 pm September 23rd St. Louis County Public Library craft event at Bridgeton Trails Branch: Paint Night- DIY “Welcome” Garden Flag. Register

4 pm September 25th Grow Native Webinar: Prairie Reconstruction at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale, Crestwood.

6 pm September 26th St. Louis Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series with Jessica Ely, St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

5:30-7:30 pm September 27th Bellefontaine Cemetery Fundraiser: Beer Barons 2024, Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter IV. Tickets $30.

September 28th-29th Tower Grove Pride at Tower Grove Park

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am September 28th, Heartlands Conservancy Monarch Tagging & Stewardship @ at Arlington Wetlands, Granite City IL. Register

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am September 28th St. Louis County Public Library Autumn Plants & More Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, tools, books, gardening supplies to swap with fellow gardeners. Plants should be divided, brought in containers, and labeled.

1 pm September 28th St. Louis County Public Library Plant Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester.

4-7 pm September 28th Forest ReLeaf Fundraiser at their Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park, St. Louis County: 10th Annual ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival. Tickets start at $40.

9 am to 1 pm September Metropolitan Parks & Rec Tax District (dba Great Rivers Greenway) Bridge Boogie at Chain of Rocks Park

6 pm October 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- Mark Glenshaw of Forest Park Owls. Register

October 4-6 Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden: Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Buy from what the bring or order online for pick up at event. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

6:30-9 pm October The Garden Shop’s Sip & Soil, Fall Edition. Tickets $45 includes houseplant of your choosing, 6″ planter, supplies to paint, and at least two Fall themed cocktails

9 am to 1 pm October 12th Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival

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

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

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

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

4 pm November 7th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

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

Blue Sage

Plant of the Week: Blue Sage

Order Brightside St. Louis Daffodil & Tulip Bulbs Online for October Pick Up: Carlton Daffodil Bulbs 30 @ $15; Midwest Mix Daffodil Bulbs 30 @ $17; Brightside Red Tulip Bulbs 30 @ $17; Pink Impressions Tulip Bulb: 30 @ $17

St. Louis Area Upcoming Plant Sales List– Native Plants, Pretties

Download the Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Sept 1st Deadline to enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources 2023 Photo Contest Categories: Natural Resources; Unique Places: state parks and historic sites; People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors.

—– Good Reads

Tips on Storing Tomatoes from University of Missouri County Extension Service

Noticing leaves and stems disappearing on your tomato or tomatillo plants? You’ve got hornworms and here’s some advice from Missouri Botanical Garden

Turn up the flavor and nutrition by planting turnips

August-September is prime time for iris division and planting. More information on iris from Greater St. Louis Iris Society

August issue of Missouri Conservationist magazine features Bellefontaine, Calvary, and Greenwood cemeteries of St. Louis: Resting in Peace with Nature. Bellefontaine Cemetery has suspended tours due to early July storm damage.

———- Events

Noon Tuesday, August 15th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Outdoor Skills- Reading the River. Learn the fundamentals of how to travel down a waterway safely. Register

4 pm Wednesday, August 16th Grow Native! Webinar: Learning to Grow Native- Four Seasons of Transformation in a Residential Landscape. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, August 17th Sunset Stroll @ Bellefontaine Cemetery: 2 Hour Horticulture & History Guided Waking Tour. Register

10 am Saturday, August 19th Seed St. Louis Tasting the Rainbow Class: Garden Recipes for Kids at Bell Garden. Register

10 am Saturday, August 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Guided Horticulture & History Tour. $5. Register

11:30 am Saturday, August 19th Seed St. Louis Tomato Tasting & Potluck at Bell Garden. Register

5 pm Saturday, August 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Annual Dinner & Auction, Stoney Creek Hotel, Columbia. Tickets

August 26th Washington County 14th Annual Home Grown Farm Tour

8 am August 26th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk @ Sunset Greenway, Florissant, St. Louis County. Register

9 am to Noon August 26th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am August 26th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- What’s Blooming? Register

Noon to 5 pm August 27th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

2 pm August 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Creature Feature- Kingsnakes. Register

6:30 pm August 29th Mid Continent Public Library (Kansas City area) Zoom Event: Monarch Mania. Register

August 30th to September 4th  Greater St. Louis Daylily Society Online Sale & Auction

4 pm August 30th Grow Native! Webinar: Soft Landings- Providing Year-Round Sanctuary for Pollinators. Register

6 pm August 31st Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Season Extension and Winter Gardening. Register

8 am September 2nd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk @ Forest Park. Register

9 am to 5 om September 9th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

8 am September 9th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk @ Mississippi Greenway, Cliff Cave Park, St. Louis County. Register

10 am to 2 pm September 9th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

10 am to 5 pm September 16th Old North St. Louis House & Garden Tour + Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets

2 pm September 16th EcoTones Urban Prairie Concert at Bellefontaine Cemetery. $10-$50. Tickets

5:30 pm September 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Guided Hike of Deer Lake Savanna in Forest Park. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 21st Grow Native! Native Plant Sale at St. Louis Community College @ Meramec

8 am September 23rd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk @ Meramec Greenway, Al Foster Trailhead, Wildwood, St. Louis County. Register

6 pm September 28th Kiener Plaza Tree Walk & Talk with Forest ReLeaf

3:30-6:30 pm September 28th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale @ Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

1 pm October 21st Missouri Prairie Foundation Members Field Trip: Bellefontaine Cemetery Fall Tree Walk

9 am to 3:30 pm November 8th Grow Native! Professionals Conference @ University of Missouri- Columbia. $20 per person for Grow Native! professional members (and their staff). Zoom option: $30 for non-members. Register


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