This Week in Gardening & Nature

Bi-color Rembrandt Tulip after rain, raspberry and white

Plant of the Week: Tulips

April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest

May 3rd Deadline for submissions to Soulard Art Gallery juried Exhibit: The Art of Nature

Hey, Missouri Birders. Enter the Missouri Birding Challenge

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomato
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale, Lettuce
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Beans, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnips

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Free Garden Planners, most require a computer, will not work on a cell phone

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Tower Grove East Community Garden Annual Plant Sale, Lincoln County Mo Master Gardener Plant Sale

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

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

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Every yard makes a difference. Native-plant champion Doug Tallamy’s got a new book explaining how (Associated Press)

Millions of seedlings and cases of hot sauce: Behind the scenes at a Missouri state tree nursery (St. Louis Public Radio)

I don’t want to die with a freezer full of seeds. Biodiversity and preservation need rethinking. Hurricane Helene proved a hard truth: a freezer of seeds is the literal version of putting all your eggs in one basket (The Guardian)

April Issue of Missouri Conservationist

Time-Warped Gardens (Wild Ones)

Trump attack on state climate laws likely doomed, but attempts to yank funds may be next (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

As demand for AI rises, so do power thirsty data centers (Missouri Independent via States Newsroom)

Bill advances to end lifetime food aid ban for Nebraskans who served time for drug felonies (Nebraska Examiner)

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 —

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis April Blitz events. Register your neighborhood clean up and/or beautification event and request bags/tools here.

Now thru April 25th, except Wednesdays and Sundays, St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: St. Louis Watercolor Society 25th Annual Juried Exhibition. Bound to be some gorgeous flowers and nature submissions.

Now thru April 30th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Art Exhibit- Pressed, we flower, recent abstract works by Sean Duvahl Semones

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Sunday, April 13th ,STL Urban Foresters event: Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

10 am to 2 pm Sunday, April 13th, Riverlands Native Plant Festival at West Alton, Missouri: Speakers, workshops, native plant giveaway for attendees volunteering for sand prairie planting at event

11 am to 1 pm Sunday, April 13th, City Greens Market Free Annual Spring Patio Party in The Grove: Seed Swap, Chili Cook-Off, Worm Composting Workshop. Register

Monday, April 14th, Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 19th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

5:30-8 pm Tuesday, April 15th, University City School District event at University City High School: Film Screening & Director Conversation- Farming While Black with Leah Penniman. Includes light supper. Register

9:45 am Wednesday, April 16th, Missouri Sierra Club Lobby Day at Missouri State Capitol. Register

10 am Wednesday, April 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide: $5. Register

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

Noon Thursday, April 17th, Homegrown National Park Earth Day webinar: From Wasteland to Wonder presented by treecologist Basil Camu. Easy ways to help heal the earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape. Register

6 pm Thursday, April 17th, St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluff Branch, Florissant: Make It, Take It- Plant Pot. Register

6 pm Thursday, April 17th, St. Louis County Public Library Spring Gardening Swap at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, gardening tools, gardening books to swap

10 am Friday, April 18th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

11 am Friday, April 18th, St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Book Discussion- Peter Wohlleben’s “The Hidden Life of Trees.”

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 19th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order onlineby previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am Saturday, April 19th, Heartlands Conservancy event at White Rock Nature Preserve, Valmeyer, Illinois: Spring Wildflower Walk. Register

9-11 am April 19th International Institute of St. Louis event at Tower Grove Park: Race for Refugees. Register

10 am & 1 pm Saturday, April 19th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: History & Horticulture Trolley Tours with Master Guide. $5. 10 am Registration and 1 pm Registration.

1:30 pm Saturday, April 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Mushroom Hunting. Register

Family friendly. 2-5 pm Saturday, April 19th, Tower Grove Park event: Tree Fest. Music, reading of The Lorax, crafts

2 pm Saturday, April 19th, Camping 101 with River City Outdoors and Missouri Conservation Department. Register. River City Outdoors provides a Free Gear Lending Library for St. Louis City residents.

3 pm Saturday, April 19th, Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Brews and Blooms at Civil Life Brewing.

April 21st Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 26th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

4 pm April 21st St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Pollinator Party. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted: 10 am April 22nd Forest ReLeaf event: Pop Up Potting at Scott Joplin House,  help pot up some baby trees. Register

17 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: Earth Day Hike & Nature Immersion. Two miles on Bluff Creek Trail. Register

4 pm April 23rd Grow Native! webinar: Wetlands for Native Bees. Register

6 pm April 23rd St. Louis County Library event at Rock Road Branch, St. Ann:
Spring Seed Bombs. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 24th Experience Art in Nature, Tour Saint Louis Art Museum’s Sculpture Garden with Simon Kelly. Event free but Register

April 24th, 25th, 26th Southwest Illinois College Horticulture Club’s Annual Plant Sale at Belleville Campus Greenhouses (waiting on link)

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

6 pm April 24th Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good to Waste Series- Outdoor Composting: Bins and Tumblers. $15. Register

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

10:30 am April 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: EcoTones Ensemble Concert, Cross-Pollinating Music & Nature

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 25th-26th, 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.

April 25th & 26th Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale at Webster Groves Recreation Complex

5 pm April 25th U City in Bloom Opening Night Party and Plant Sale. $25

7 pm April 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Multimedia Concert- Flute Journey by Katie Dancer. Register

8 am to 1 pm April 26th Lincoln County Mo Master Gardener Plant Sale @ University of Missouri Extension, Troy: Native Perennials, Perennials, Annuals, Vegetables, Herbs, Bulbs, Unique Garden Accessories. Cash Only.

8 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to 1 pm April 26th Seven Pines Garden Club Plant Sale at Maryland Heights: annuals, perennials, vegetables

9 am until sold out April 26th Olivette in Bloom Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson

9 am to 1 pm Saturday and 11 am to 1 pm Sunday, April 26th-27th, U City in Bloom Pant Sale

10 am April 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Seed & Plant Swap

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am April 26th STL Urban Foresters event: Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

April 26th-27th Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House, Chesterfield  

Noon to 3 pm April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois. Online Pre-Ordering thru April 9th.

10 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri River Bird Observatory Birds, Bees & Blooms Festival at Arrow Rock, Missouri. This is a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis and a 1 1/2 hour drive from Kansas City.

9 am to 4 pm April 26th-27th Three Rivers Community Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois: native perennials, herbs, annual bedding plants, cutting flowers, veggie seedlings

10 am April 27th to 6 pm May 4th Missouri River Bird Observatory Fundraiser: Online Auction

Noon to 2 pm April 27th St. Charles County Master Gardener Plant Sale at Missouri University Extension, St. Peters

1:30 pm April 29th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Nature’s Uninvited Guests: The Impact of Invasive Plants. Properly dealing with invasive plants can lessen environmental impact. Register

6 pm April 29th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois- Fence Picket Planter Workshop. $40 – all materials, tools, instruction included. Register

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm May 3rd-4th Tower Grove East Community Garden Annual Plant Sale, 3301 Sidney: veggies, annuals, perennials, hostas, ground covers, herbs

9 am to 4 pm May 3rd-4th Three Rivers Community Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois: native perennials, herbs, annual bedding plants, cutting flowers, veggie seedlings

11 am to 3 pm May 3rd Rustic Roots Sanctuary event at Spanish Lake: Spring Dandelion Festival

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

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Growing Herbs in Containers.

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack- Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center. No live animals tho.

1-4 pm May 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Field Trip at Hillsboro, Jefferson County MO: Valley View Glades Natural Area Hike. Register

3 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library movie event at Central Library: Green City Life Film Showing & Project. More on the documentary

7-10 pm May 3rd St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

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

7 Seats remaining. 6:30 pm May 5th St. Louis Public Library cooking class at Cabanne Library: Make Your Own Fresh Spring Rolls. Register

May 8th-9th Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Spring Plant Sale at Washington University

3 pm May 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mocktails and Garden Party. enjoy refreshing mocktails while crafting your own potted plant to take home.

2 pm May 9th St. Louis County Library class at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

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

8 am to 1 pm May 10th Flora Conservancy Plant Sale @ Greenhouse, Forest Park

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

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

9 am to Noon May 10th Illinois Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Sale at Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. It’s only an hour and a half drive or train ride from St. Louis.

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

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

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

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

7 pm May 15th St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Houseplant Propagation 101. Register

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

1:30 pm May 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests. Register

10 am May 21st St. Louis County Library class at Weber Road Branch: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, 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.

3 pm May 23rd St. Louis County event at Clark Branch: Seed & Plant Swap. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 24th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

May 26th Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, May 31st, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 31st Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to Noon May 31st Northside Workshop event in Old North: Decolonize the Garden- From Seeds to Bees. Register

10 am June 5th Gratree Farm event in Wentzville, St. Charles County: U-Cut Lavender Grand Opening. Register

8 am to 4 pm June 7th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

11 am June 14th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens May 17th

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm June 25th Kimmswick Visitor Center 25th Annual Daylily Sale. 35 Minute drive from St. Louis. Go early for best selection.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, 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 July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

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

11 am August 9th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens July 12th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Rainbow Chard

Plant of the Week: Chard

April 15th Deadine to Nominate for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Invasive Plant Action Award

Register for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program. Sold out already in St. Louis and Warrensburg. Fifteen cities still have replacement trees/shrubs. Also see Get rid of a stinky Bradford pear tree, get a free Missouri native tree (St. Louis Public Radio)

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomato
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnips

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Free Garden Planners, most require a computer, will not work on a cell phone

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Olivette in Bloom Native Plant Sale, Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale, Seven Pines Garden Club Plant Sale, SWIC Annual Plant Sale at Belleville, 3 more St. Louis County Library Seed & Plant Swaps, City Greens Spring Patio Party Seed Swap, Flora Conservancy Plant Sale

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

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

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

DOGE cuts an effort to plant thousands of trees in St. Louis, citing anti-DEI push (St. Louis Public Radio)

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)

April is National Gardening Month. Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. (University of Missouri Extension)

March Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Tariffs threaten to upend markets that Missouri and Kansas farmers depend on: ‘Absolutely bad news’ (KCUR)

Invasive Plants. 1 out of 3 plants in Illinois woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands are non-native. (University of Illinois Extension)

7 non-toxic gardening swaps that will protect you and your plants from harmful chemicals – they’re all really affordable, too. It’s simple as choosing the right, durable materials to use in your yard (Homes & Gardens)

Prescribed Burns Were Banned 3 Decades Ago. Now, Cook County Is A Leader In Urban Burning. The Forest Preserves of Cook County burns thousands of acres every year. The program, which was once banned amid neighbors’ complaints, has grown in recent years thanks in part to additional voter-approved funding. (Block Club Chicago)

Forest Park Forever Team Plants Over 3,400 Plants in One Morning (Forest Park Forever)

Some Missouri communities are trying to end fluoridation in their water systems (St. Louis Public Radio) Many water systems in Missouri already do not have fluoridated water (Centers for Disease Control)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

For Gardeners & Farmers. Register for April University of Missouri Extension Summer Vegetable Crop Success Virtual Classes: April 8th Solanaceous Crops – Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant; April 10th Cucurbit Crops – Cucumber, Squash, Melon; April 15th Sweet Corn & Green Beans; April 17th Farmer Panel & USDA and Farm Business Resources 

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis April Blitz events. Register your neighborhood clean up and/or beautification event and request bags/tools here.

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

Now thru April 25th, except Wednesdays and Sundays, St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: St. Louis Watercolor Society 25th Annual Juried Exhibition. Bound to be some gorgeous flowers and nature submissions.

Now thru April 30th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Art Exhibit- Pressed, we flower, recent abstract works by Sean Duvahl Semones

1 pm Sunday, April 6th, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Container Gardening. $15. Register

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

16 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am Monday, April 7th, Missouri Conservation Department at Carondelet Park: 2 Mile Hike. Register

Monday, April 7th, Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 12th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

15 Tickets remaining. 4 pm Tuesday, April 8th, Missouri Conservation Department at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Flowering Trees Hike. Broken Ridge Trail, 2/3-mile, paved. Register

For kids ages 5-10 year. 4 pm Tuesday, April 8th, St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library: Kids Crafts- Spoon Bugs, turn spoons into ladybugs, bees, and more

6:30 pm Tuesday, April 8th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Speaker Series at Old Bakery Beer, Alton, Illinois: Treehouse Wildlife Center. Register

9 am Wednesday, April 9th, Online Ordering Begins for May 2nd-3rd Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market

4 pm Wednesday, April 9th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom class: Fabulous Fish of Missouri’s Prairie Streams, presented by Darren Thornhill, Science Supervisor, Aquatic Diversity and Game Fish Unit, Missouri Conservation Department. Register

4-7 pm Thursday, April 10th, A Red Circle event: North St. Louis County Agricultural Education Center Open House

6 pm Thursday, April 10th, St. Louis County Library Plant Swap at Thornhill Branch

6 pm Thursday, April 10th, Theodora Farm class in Godfrey, Illinois: Sunshine & Soil- Gardening for Beginners Class. Register

6 pm Thursday, April 10th, St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Introduction to Landscape Design. Register

8 Seats remaining. 6:30 pm Thursday, April 10th, St. Charles City-County Library class at Spencer Road Branch: Companion Planting with Native Plants presented by Erin Gross, Coordinator for the Native Plant Initiative at Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm Thursday, April 10th, Illinois Libraries Present Zoom event: The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, April 11th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

2 pm Friday, April 11th, St. Louis County Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Homesteading- Gardens for Small Spaces. Register

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

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 12th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

Volunteers Wanted. 8:30 am Saturday, April 12nd, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Lincoln Shields Access: Leave No Trace Clean Up with Audubon in Riverlands, Open Space STL, Mississippi River Water Trail Association. Register

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

9:30 am Saturday, April 12th, Forest ReLeaf event at Julia Davis Library: Mini TreeKeepers Course. Register

10 am Saturday, April 12th, Grow Native! Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park Mo. $12 entry fee

10 am Saturday, April 12th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Hummingbirds 101- Creating Spaces for Natures Jewels. Register

11 am Saturday, April 12th, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: For the Birds. Learn about planting beautiful, bird-friendly plants, and providing supplemental food, water, and shelter.

12 Seats remaining. 11 am Saturday, April 12th, St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

1 pm Saturday, April 12th, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Pest Control with Herbs. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 13th STL Urban Foresters event: Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

10 am to 2 pm Sunday, April 13th, Riverlands Native Plant Festival at West Alton, Missouri: Speakers, workshops, native plant giveaway for attendees volunteering for sand prairie planting at event

11 am to 1 pm Sunday, April 13th, City Greens Market Free Annual Spring Patio Party in The Grove: Seed Swap, Chili Cook-Off, Worm Composting Workshop. Register

April 14th Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 19th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

5 pm April 14th Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: 2025 Swamp Needles Series. 12 Weeks, usually third Mondays. Learn to embroider species of conservation concern for 15 quilt blocks. You will need to supply your own embroidery hoop, fabric, needle, thread. Register

5:30-8 pm April 15th University City School District event at University City High School: Film Screening & Director Conversation- Farming While Black with Leah Penniman. Includes light supper. Register

9:45 am April 16th Missouri Sierra Club Lobby Day at Missouri State Capitol. Register

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

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluff Branch, Florissant: Make It, Take It- Plant Pot. Register

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Public Library Spring Gardening Swap at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, gardening tools, gardening books to swap

11 am April 18th St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Book Discussion- Peter Wohlleben’s “The Hidden Life of Trees.”

9-11 am April 19th International Institute of St. Louis event at Tower Grove Park: Race for Refugees. Register

8 am to 4 pm April 19th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order onlineby previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am April 19th Heartlands Conservancy event at White Rock Nature Preserve, Valmeyer, Illinois: Spring Wildflower Walk. Register

1:30 pm April 19th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Mushroom Hunting. Register

Family friendly. 2-5 pm April 19th Tower Grove Park event: Tree Fest. Music, reading of The Lorax, crafts

3 pm April 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Brews and Blooms at Civil Life Brewing.

April 21st Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 26th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

4 pm April 21st St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Pollinator Party. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted: 10 am April 22nd Forest ReLeaf event: Pop Up Potting at Scott Joplin House,  help pot up some baby trees. Register

4 pm April 23rd Grow Native! webinar: Wetlands for Native Bees. Register

6 pm April 23rd St. Louis County Library event at Rock Road Branch, St. Ann:
Spring Seed Bombs. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 24th Experience Art in Nature, Tour Saint Louis Art Museum’s Sculpture Garden with Simon Kelly. Event free but Register

April 24th, 25th, 26th Southwest Illinois College Horticulture Club’s Annual Plant Sale at Belleville Campus Greenhouses (waiting on link)

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

6 pm April 24th Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good to Waste Series- Outdoor Composting: Bins and Tumblers. $15. Register

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

10:30 am April 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: EcoTones Ensemble Concert, Cross-Pollinating Music & Nature

5 pm April 25th U City in Bloom Opening Night Party and Plant Sale. $25

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 25th-26th, 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.

April 25th & 26th Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale at Webster Groves Recreation Complex

8 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to 1 pm April 26th Seven Pines Garden Club Plant Sale at Maryland Heights: annuals, perennials, vegetables

9 am until sold out April 26th Olivette in Bloom Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson

9 am to 1 pm Saturday and 11 am to 1 pm Sunday, April 26th-27th, U City in Bloom Pant Sale

10 am April 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Seed & Plant Swap

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am April 26th STL Urban Foresters event: Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

April 26th-27th Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House, Chesterfield  

Noon to 3 pm April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois. Online Pre-Ordering thru April 9th.

10 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri River Bird Observatory Birds, Bees & Blooms Festival at Arrow Rock, Missouri. This is a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis and a 1 1/2 hour drive from Kansas City.

9 am to 4 pm April 26th-27th Three Rivers Community Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois: native perennials, herbs, annual bedding plants, cutting flowers, veggie seedlings

10 am April 27th to 6 pm May 4th Missouri River Bird Observatory Fundraiser: Online Auction

Noon to 2 pm April 27th St. Charles County Master Gardener Plant Sale at Missouri University Extension, St. Peters

1:30 pm April 29th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Nature’s Uninvited Guests: The Impact of Invasive Plants. Properly dealing with invasive plants can lessen environmental impact. Register

6 pm April 29th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois- Fence Picket Planter Workshop. $40 – all materials, tools, instruction included. Register

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

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

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

9 am to 4 pm May 3rd-4th Three Rivers Community Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois: native perennials, herbs, annual bedding plants, cutting flowers, veggie seedlings

11 am to 3 pm May 3rd Rustic Roots Sanctuary event at Spanish Lake: Spring Dandelion Festival

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

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Growing Herbs in Containers.

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack- Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center. No live animals tho.

1-4 pm May 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Field Trip at Hillsboro, Jefferson County MO: Valley View Glades Natural Area Hike. Register

3 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library movie event at Central Library: Green City Life Film Showing & Project. More on the documentary

7-10 pm May 3rd St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

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

7 Seats remaining. 6:30 pm May 5th St. Louis Public Library cooking class at Cabanne Library: Make Your Own Fresh Spring Rolls. Register

May 8th-9th Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Spring Plant Sale at Washington University

3 pm May 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mocktails and Garden Party. enjoy refreshing mocktails while crafting your own potted plant to take home.

2 pm May 9th St. Louis County Library class at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

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

8 am to 1 pm May 10th Flora Conservancy Plant Sale @ Greenhouse, Forest Park

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

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

9 am to Noon May 10th Illinois Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Sale at Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. It’s only an hour and a half drive or train ride from St. Louis.

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

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

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

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

7 pm May 15th St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Houseplant Propagation 101. Register

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

1:30 pm May 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests. Register

10 am May 21st St. Louis County Library class at Weber Road Branch: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, 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.

3 pm May 23rd St. Louis County event at Clark Branch: Seed & Plant Swap. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 24th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

May 26th Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, May 31st, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 31st Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to Noon May 31st Northside Workshop event in Old North: Decolonize the Garden- From Seeds to Bees. Register

10 am June 5th Gratree Farm event in Wentzville, St. Charles County: U-Cut Lavender Grand Opening. Register

8 am to 4 pm June 7th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

11 am June 14th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens May 17th

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm June 25th Kimmswick Visitor Center 25th Annual Daylily Sale. 35 Minute drive from St. Louis. Go early for best selection.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, 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 July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

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

11 am August 9th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens July 12th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Cream color with raspberry splotches Hellebore flowering at Springfield Botanical Gardens, Missouri

Plant of the Week: Hellebores

April 25th Deadline to Register community cleaning or greening Blitz Projects with Brightside St. Louis and get free Blitz Blooms annuals to plant in public spaces.

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Peppers
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Parsley, Peas, Spinach, Turnips

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Free Garden Planners, most require a computer, will not work on a cell phone

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Flyleaf Market monthly pop up Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale, Illinois Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Sale at Illinois State Fairgrounds,

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

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

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

March 17th Registration Opens for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program in 17 cities

April 15th Deadine to Nominate for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Invasive Plant Action Award

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Native Plants for Urban Balconies (Wild Ones)

Home Gardening 101: Experts share tips for St. Louis growers (St. Louis Public Radio)

EarthDance Organic Farm School’s Jess Coffin shares gardening insights (St. Louis Magazine)

Photos: Across the U.S., sky gazers marvel at the blood moon lunar eclipse (NPR)

First national analysis finds America’s butterflies are disappearing at ‘catastrophic’ rate (Phys.org)

Bill repealing Missouri law limiting utility charges heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe. The measure overturning a 1976 initiative banning charges for construction work in progress on new power plants is the third bill approved by lawmakers this year. (Missouri Independent)

Ameren Missouri makes long-term plans to build new nuclear power plant (Missouri Independent)

Iowa peregrine falcons saw ‘above average’ reproduction in 2024 (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

‘Stonewalling’: Forest Service mum on firings during wildfire briefing for congressional staff. Documents show window closing for prescribed burns this spring. (Source NM)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis March Blitz events. Register your neighborhood clean up and/or beautification event and request bags/tools here.

Now thru March 31st St. Louis Public Library photography exhibit at Schlafly Library: Gaucha Berlin’s In Bloom III, nature throughout the seasons, photos taken in the Benton Park Neighborhood

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

March 31st to April 25th, except Wednesdays and Sundays, St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: St. Louis Watercolor Society 25th Annual Juried Exhibition. Bound to be some gorgeous flowers and nature submissions.

1 pm Sunday, March 16th, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Sustainability Series- Urban Gardening. $15. Register

Monday, March 17th, Registration Opens for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program in 17 cities

6:30 pm Monday, March 17th, Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Missouri Water Policy- history and current legislation presented by Mary Culler, Missouri Stream Teams United. Register

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

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

Thursday, March 20th: Pre-ordering begins for April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois.

2 pm Thursday, March 20th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: First Day of Spring Hike, two miles on Bluff Creek Trail. Register

5 pm Thursday, March 20th, St. Louis Public Library event at Julia Davis Library: Sowing Seeds of Justice, presented by Jennings farmer Julia Thompson. Learn about urban homesteading with an emphasis on chickens.

6 pm Thursday, March 20th, Wild Ones National Panel Discussion: The Advocacy Power of Public Native Gardens. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, March 21st-22nd, 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.

3:30 pm Friday, March 21st, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Plant This, Not That! Learn about great native plants and plants harmful to Missouri wildlife and ecosystems. Register

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

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

6 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm Saturday, March 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department class at Power Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

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

1 pm Saturday, March 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Non-Native Invasive Species. Register

6:30 pm March 24th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act- history, applications, and current status presented by Sarah Kendrick, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Register

4 pm March 25th Grow Native! webinar: Native Cool-Season Grasses & Sedges for Landscaping, Forage, and Wildlife Benefits. Register

6 pm March 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Mad About Mushrooms, presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Learn about harvesting, cooking, and preserving mushrooms. Register

5 pm Thursday, March 27th St. Louis Public Library event at Julia Davis Library: Sowing Seeds of Justice, presented by Jennings farmer Julia Thompson. Learn about urban homesteading with an emphasis on chickens.

9 Seats remaining. Family-friendly. 6 pm March 27th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Gear provided. Register

1 pm March 28th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Hummingbirds of Missouri. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Forest ReLeaf event at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights: March Open Nursery Potting Day. Help pot up 20,000 bare root tree seedlings. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Service Day (Trash Pick Up) on Centennial Greenway, Olive to Shaw Park, St. Louis County. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Heartland Conservancy Stewardship Day (honeysuckle removal) at Trout Hollow Hill Prairie, Monroe County/Waterloo Area, Illinois. Register

7 pm March 29th Heartlands Conservancy event at Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville, Illinois: Frog Walk. Register

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

1 pm March 30th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Sustainability Series- Knowing & Growing the Native Garden. $15. Register

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

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

7 pm April 2nd St. Louis County Library and Left Bank Books author event at Clark Family Branch: Paleontologist and Science Writer Riley Black, “When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution’s Greatest Romance.” Register

6 pm April 3rd Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Composting Series- Indoor Compostin- Vermicomposting and Bokashi. $15. Register

9 am to 3 pm April 4th Missouri Botanical Garden Arbor Day Native Tree Seedling Giveaway. Garden Admission required.

8 am to 4 pm April 5th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

8 am April 5th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

9 am April 5th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell: bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 5th Forest ReLeaf event at Old St. Marcus Cemetery: Christy Greenway Tree Planting. Register

10:30 am April 5th Seed St. Louis workshop at Bell Garden, 3841 Bell: Community Engagement for the School Garden. Register

1 pm April 6th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Composting Series- Container Gardening. $15. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 10th Heartland Conservancy event at Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6 pm April 10th St. Louis County Library Plant Swap at Thornhill Branch

6 pm April 10th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Introduction to Landscape Design. Register

2 pm April 11th St. Louis County Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Homesteading- Gardens for Small Spaces. Register

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

8 am to 4 pm April 12th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 12th Forest ReLeaf event at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights: March Open Nursery Potting Day. Help pot up 20,000 bare root tree seedlings. Register

10 am April 12th Grow Native! Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park Mo. $12 entry fee

11 am April 12th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: For the Birds. Learn about planting beautiful, bird-friendly plants, and providing supplemental food, water, and shelter.

1 pm April 12th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Pest Control with Herbs. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 13th Riverlands Native Plant Festival at West Alton, Missouri: Speakers, workshops, native plant giveaway for attendees volunteering for sand prairie planting at event

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Public Library Spring Gardening Swap at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, gardening tools, gardening books to swap

8 am to 4 pm April 19th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

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

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

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluff Branch, Florissant: Make It, Take It- Plant Pot. Register

For Ages 3-6 years. 10 am April 19th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester: Preschool STEAM- Plants and Flowers. Dress for the mess. Register

4 pm April 21st St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Pollinator Party. Register

6 pm April 23rd St. Louis County Library event at Rock Road Branch, St. Ann:
Spring Seed Bombs. Register

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

6 pm April 24th Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good to Waste Series- Outdoor Composting: Bins and Tumblers. $15. Register

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

8 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

10 am April 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Seed & Plant Swap

April 26th-27th Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House, Chesterfield  

Noon to 3 pm April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois. Online Pre-Ordering March 20th to April 9th.

10 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri River Bird Observatory Birds, Bees & Blooms Festival at Arrow Rock, Missouri. This is a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis and a 1 1/2 hour drive from Kansas City.

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

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

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

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

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Growing Herbs in Containers.

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

May 8th-9th Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Spring Plant Sale at Washington University

3 pm May 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mocktails and Garden Party. enjoy refreshing mocktails while crafting your own potted plant to take home.

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

May 10th Flora Conservancy Plant Sale @ Greenhouse, Forest Park – no link yet

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

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

9 am to Noon May 10th Illinois Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Sale at Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. It’s only an hour and a half drive or train ride from St. Louis.

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

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

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

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

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

8 am to 4 pm May 24th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 31st Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Dwarf Iris

Plant of the Week: Dwarf Iris

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Peppers
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugula, Carrots, Bok Choy, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas. Spinach, Turnips

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Free Garden Planners, most require a computer, will not work on a cell phone

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale, another St. Louis County Library Seed & Plant Swap

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

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

March 17th Registration Opens for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program in 17 cities

April 15th Deadine to Nominate for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Invasive Plant Action Award

April 25th Deadline to Register community cleaning or greening Blitz Projects with Brightside St. Louis and get free Blitz Blooms annuals to plant in public spaces.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

Companion planting: Combining plants for a healthy, well-balanced garden (University of Illinois Extension)

After losing its community garden, Ujima finds ways to grow (St. Louis Public Radio)

Gardening can protect monarch butterflies (University of Missouri Extension)

Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs. USDA funds are part of nearly $2 billion being withheld from Illinois, Pritzker says (Capital News Illinois)

Influential factory farm industry presents a massive challenge to safety of Oklahomans, animals (Oklahoma Voice)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis March Blitz events. Register your neighborhood clean up and/or beautification event and request bags/tools here.

Now thru March 31st St. Louis Public Library photography exhibit at Schlafly Library: Gaucha Berlin’s In Bloom III, nature throughout the seasons, photos taken in the Benton Park Neighborhood

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

March 31st to April 25th, except Wednesdays and Sundays, St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: St. Louis Watercolor Society 25th Annual Juried Exhibition. Bound to be some gorgeous flowers and nature submissions.

6:30 pm Monday, March 10th, Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Plastics and Public Health: the unsettling latest in medical research presented by Megan Wolff, Beyond Plastics. Register

1- 4 pm Tuesday, March 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Formal and Natural Garden Design Class. Register

4 pm Tuesday, March 11th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Early Butterflies. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, March 11th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club speaker series at Old Bakery Beer, Alton, Illinois: US Army Corps of Engineers and Leave No Trace. Register

7 pm Tuesday, March 11th, St. Louis Audubon and the Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Webster University: The Plastic Pollution Crisis- A Threat to Ecosystems and Beyond. Register

9 am Wednesday, March 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Bulb Walk with horticulturist. $5. Register

4 pm Wednesday, March 12th, Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Grassland Grouse- Beauty, Biology, & Conservation. Join acclaimed nature photographer Noppadol Paothong for an unforgettable journey through 25 years of photographing grassland grouse. Register

5-7 pm Wednesday, March 12th, Seed St. Louis Young Friends Happy Hour at 2nd Shift Brewing, The Hill

35 Seats remaining. 6 pm Wednesday, March 12th, St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library:  Welcoming Native Species into Your Garden, presented by Ro Kicker. Free native seed packet to each participant. Register

Noon Thursday, March 13th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Organic Gardening. Register

5 pm Thursday, March 13th St. Louis Public Library event at Julia Davis Library: Sowing Seeds of Justice, presented by Jennings farmer Julia Thompson. Learn about urban homesteading with an emphasis on chickens.

6 pm Thursday, March 13th, Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good To Waste Series- Composting 101. $15. Register

6 pm Thursday, March 13th, St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester: Mad About Mushrooms, presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Learn about harvesting, cooking, and preserving mushrooms. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, March 14th, Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Service Day at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Register

3:30 pm Friday, March 14th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Native Plants- Unusual Plants. Register

7 pm Friday, March 14th, Heartlands Conservancy Full Moon Hike at Bohm Woods State Nature Preserve in Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, March 15th, Rustic Roots Sanctuary 5th Annual Seed Swap in Spanish Lake. Register

10 am Saturday, March 15th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with naturalist. $5. Register

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

1 pm Sunday, March 16th, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Sustainability Series- Urban Gardening. $15. Register

6:30 pm March 17th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Missouri Water Policy- history and current legislation presented by Mary Culler, Missouri Stream Teams United. Register

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

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

2 pm March 20th Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: First Day of Spring Hike, two miles on Bluff Creek Trail. Register

5 pm March 20th St. Louis Public Library event at Julia Davis Library: Sowing Seeds of Justice, presented by Jennings farmer Julia Thompson. Learn about urban homesteading with an emphasis on chickens.

6 pm March 20th Wild Ones National Panel Discussion: The Advocacy Power of Public Native Gardens. Register

3:30 pm March 21st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Plant This, Not That! Learn about great native plants and plants harmful to Missouri wildlife and ecosystems. Register

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

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

10 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm March 22nd Missouri Conservation Department class at Power Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

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

1 pm March 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Non-Native Invasive Species. Register

6:30 pm March 24th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act- history, applications, and current status presented by Sarah Kendrick, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Register

4 pm March 25th Grow Native! webinar: Native Cool-Season Grasses & Sedges for Landscaping, Forage, and Wildlife Benefits. Register

6 pm March 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Mad About Mushrooms, presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Learn about harvesting, cooking, and preserving mushrooms. Register

5 pm Thursday, March 27th St. Louis Public Library event at Julia Davis Library: Sowing Seeds of Justice, presented by Jennings farmer Julia Thompson. Learn about urban homesteading with an emphasis on chickens.

11 Seats remaining. Family-friendly. 6 pm March 27th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Gear provided. Register

1 pm March 28th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Hummingbirds of Missouri. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Forest ReLeaf event at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights: March Open Nursery Potting Day. Help pot up 20,000 bare root tree seedlings. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Service Day (Trash Pick Up) on Centennial Greenway, Olive to Shaw Park, St. Louis County. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 29th Heartland Conservancy Stewardship Day (honeysuckle removal) at Trout Hollow Hill Prairie, Monroe County/Waterloo Area, Illinois. Register

7 pm March 29th Heartlands Conservancy event at Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville, Illinois: Frog Walk. Register

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

1 pm March 30th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Sustainability Series- Knowing & Growing the Native Garden. $15. Register

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

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

7 pm April 2nd St. Louis County Library and Left Bank Books author event at Clark Family Branch: Paleontologist and Science Writer Riley Black, “When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution’s Greatest Romance.” Register

6 pm April 3rd Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Composting Series- Indoor Compostin- Vermicomposting and Bokashi. $15. Register

9 am to 3 pm April 4th Missouri Botanical Garden Arbor Day Native Tree Seedling Giveaway. Garden Admission required.

8 am to 4 pm April 5th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

8 am April 5th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

9 am April 5th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell: bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 5th Forest ReLeaf event at Old St. Marcus Cemetery: Christy Greenway Tree Planting. Register

10:30 am April 5th Seed St. Louis workshop at Bell Garden, 3841 Bell: Community Engagement for the School Garden. Register

1 pm April 6th Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Composting Series- Container Gardening. $15. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 10th Heartland Conservancy event at Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6 pm April 10th St. Louis County Library Plant Swap at Thornhill Branch

6 pm April 10th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Introduction to Landscape Design. Register

2 pm April 11th St. Louis County Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Homesteading- Gardens for Small Spaces. Register

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

8 am to 4 pm April 12th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 12th Forest ReLeaf event at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights: March Open Nursery Potting Day. Help pot up 20,000 bare root tree seedlings. Register

10 am April 12th Grow Native! Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park Mo. $12 entry fee

11 am April 12th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: For the Birds. Learn about planting beautiful, bird-friendly plants, and providing supplemental food, water, and shelter.

1 pm April 12th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Pest Control with Herbs. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 13th Riverlands Native Plant Festival at West Alton, Missouri: Speakers, workshops, native plant giveaway for attendees volunteering for sand prairie planting at event

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Public Library Spring Gardening Swap at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, gardening tools, gardening books to swap

8 am to 4 pm April 19th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

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

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

6 pm April 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluff Branch, Florissant: Make It, Take It- Plant Pot. Register

For Ages 3-6 years. 10 am April 19th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester: Preschool STEAM- Plants and Flowers. Dress for the mess. Register

4 pm April 21st St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Pollinator Party. Register

6 pm April 23rd St. Louis County Library event at Rock Road Branch, St. Ann:
Spring Seed Bombs. Register

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

6 pm April 24th Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good to Waste Series- Outdoor Composting: Bins and Tumblers. $15. Register

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

8 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

10 am April 26th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Seed & Plant Swap

April 26th-27th Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House, Chesterfield  

Noon to 3 pm April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois. Online Pre-Ordering March 20th to April 9th.

10 am to 4 pm April 26th Missouri River Bird Observatory Birds, Bees & Blooms Festival at Arrow Rock, Missouri. This is a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis and a 1 1/2 hour drive from Kansas City.

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

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

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

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

1 pm May 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Growing Herbs in Containers.

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

May 8th-9th Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Spring Plant Sale at Washington University

3 pm May 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mocktails and Garden Party. enjoy refreshing mocktails while crafting your own potted plant to take home.

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

May 10th Flora Conservancy Plant Sale @ Greenhouse, Forest Park – no link yet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 am to 4 pm May 24th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 31st Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

Upcoming St. Louis Area Plant Sales

Plant & Seed Swaps

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

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

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

Tree & Shrub Sales

Online ordering continues 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.

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

Plant & Seedling Sales

Order Online Now thru September 26th Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. 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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

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 by Monday before event for pick up. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

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 GardenMissouri 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

Plant of the Week: native Rough Blazing Star

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. Added this week: STL County Library Succulent & Houseplant Swaps + St. Louis Community College Native Plant Sale

Wild Ones Reading List: Back-to-School Reads on Botanical Pioneers

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

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 & Views —

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

Five Fall Veggie Garden Basics (P Allen Smith)

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

How to Divide & Transplant Perennials Now (P Allen Smith)

Colorado Rattlecam. Livestream of a Prairie Rattlesnake rookery (MegaDen) at an undisclosed location in Colorado (Project RattleCam)

As crews chainsaw Joshua trees, Mojave Desert community protests solar energy project (use https://12ft.io/ to get past paywall) (Los Angeles Times)

Mr Greedy, the penguin progenitor of more than 200 chicks, dies aged 33 – 141 years old in human years per the penguin to human age calculator (The Guardian)

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, opportunites in Dutchtown, Hodiamont Tracks, North Grand, St. Louis Place near New Roots Urban Farm

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

5-7 pm Tuesday, September 10th Mallinckrodt School Garden Party

9 am Wednesday, September 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Wildwood Valley Gardens Walk with Horticulturist. Register

4 pm Wednesday, September 11th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Take a (Virtual) Hike on the Prairie (Friendly Prairie, Pettis County)– Fall Edition. Register

Volunteers wanted. 8 am Thursday, September 12th, Heartland Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL: Monarch Tagging & Stewardship at the Exploration Garden. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, September 12th, Seed St. Louis Fair on the Farm at International Farm and Botanical Heights Community Garden, 4060 Folsom. Music by Beth Bombara. State Fair theme Games. Free but food (Grace Meats & Three food truck) and drink available for purchase. Order you Seed St. Louis pint glass for $10 and get two beers at event.

Volunteers wanted. 8 am Friday, September 13th Heartland Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

Friday-Sunday, September 13th, 14th, 15th, Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

8 am Saturday, September 14th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Meramec River Greenway, Greentree Park, Kirkwood. Register

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 14th. Monarch Madness Pollinator Festival at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

10 am Saturday, September 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm Saturday, September 14th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

31 seats remaining. 2 pm Saturday, September 14th, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Winter Damage. Learn how to prevent winter garden damage. Register

6:30 pm Saturday, September 14th, Stargazing at Tower Grove Park with St. Louis Astronomical Society

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

6 pm 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. 11 Seats remaining. 10:30 am September 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Almost Fall Y’all! Register

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

6 pm 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

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

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

9:30 am 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

Ages 4th Grade to Adult. 11 am 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 September 22nd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

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

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 GardenMissouri 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

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.

Upcoming St. Louis Area Plant Sales

Plant & Seed Swaps

11 am to 1 pm September 14th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

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

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

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

Tree & Shrub Sales

Online ordering continues for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale

9:30 pm 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

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

Plant & Seedling Sales

Order Online Now thru September 26th Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. 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.

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, September 14th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order your native plants online by Monday prior to Saturday pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

10 am to 3 pm September 14th Monarch Madness Pollinator Festival at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

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 by Monday before event for pick up. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

Plant of the Week: very tall perennial sunflower, Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales (plant sales & swaps- plants, native plants, seeding + seed swaps + local discounts) here’s a page for them

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

August 31st Deadline to Enter Missouri Conservation Department’s Busch Conservation Area (St. Charles Mo) Wildlife Photography Contest. Submit photos of native Mo wildlife, trees, plants at Busch Conservation Area or Weldon Spring Conservation Area.

September 1st Deadline to Enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photography Contest. Submit photos of Natural Resources, Unique Places (state parks, historic sites), People Enjoying Outdoors

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 —

Beekeeping 101 (P. Allen Smith)

Many homeowners associations don’t let people raise chickens in their backyards. But a new Missouri law going into effect this month says HOAs must allow it. (KCUR)

St. Louis University claiming it can’t afford the deal is absurd. Community garden uprooted in north St. Louis after SLPS, SLU deal gone wrong. Food equity non-profit UJIMA was one of several nonprofits sent an eviction notice by the school district (KSDK)

National Black Farmers Group Says Supporting GOP Ticket Is “Off the Table” After JD Vance’s Attack. “He owes us an apology.” (Mother Jones)

USDA to take ‘additional step’ in testing beef from former dairy cattle for bird flu (Missouri Independent)

Kids drink contaminated water at schools, but testing for lead isn’t required in most states (required in Missouri and Illinois). Despite aging pipes and vulnerable children, schools face no national requirement to test for lead. Gift article (Washington Post)

Invasive zebra mussels detected on aquarium Marimo moss balls. If established in local waters, zebra mussels would be capable of causing significant infrastructure and environmental damage. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

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

Going on now: August Artists at the Gallery, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Photographer Steve Springmeyer’s Portraits of the Southwest and watercolor artist Wylie Longmire‘s scenes of forests and rivers of St. Louis and rural eastern Missouri.

Going on now. Online Ordering for 3 am to 7 pm Friday, September 6th, Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market in Gray Summit, Franklin County.

Going on now. Online Ordering Deadline 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.

Shakespeare in the Park, The Tempest: 6:30 pm Wednesday, August 21st at Fairground Park, Fairground Neighborhood; 6:30 pm Friday, August 23rd at Love Bank Park, Cherokee Neighborhood;

10 am Tuesday, August 20th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

8 Tickets remaining. 10 am Tuesday, August 20th, Tower Grove Park Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 5 pm Thursday, August 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 22nd, Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 22nd, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Nature Speaks…Through Art History. Learn about Robert Duncanson and Edward Bannister, two 19th-century Black artists known for their nature landscapes. Garden admission fee required.

Saturday-Sunday, August 24th-25th Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park

9 am Saturday Missouri Conservation Department online class: Preparing for Monarchs. Register

2-5 pm Saturday, August 24th, Soulard Art and Floral Auction at Soulard Station, fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group.

5:30 pm Saturday, August 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture tour with Master Guide: Sunset Stroll. Register

8 am Sunday, August 25th, Southwest Garden Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

4 pm August 28th Grow Native Webinar: Collecting Native Seeds and Winter Sowing. Register

6:30 pm August 28th Mid-Continent Public Library (Kansas City) Zoom Class: Native Plants for Pollinators. Register

8:30 am August 31st Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event in Hillsboro, Jefferson County: Kress Farm Garden Preserve Talk, Tour, Hike. Register

September 1st On Line Ordering begins for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale

2 pm September 3rd Missouri Conservation Department online class: Missouri Waterfowl Identification. Register

10:30 am September 4th Missouri Conservation Department online class: Magnificent Monarchs. Register

For Adults and Kids with Adults. 17 Seats remaining. 6 pm September 6th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market, Gray Summit, Franklin County. Order online for pick up event day or purchase onsite. Missouri Botanical Garden Members- Free. Non-members: $5 each or $10 per car

8 am to 4 pm Saturdays. September 7th & 14th. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order your native plants online by Monday prior to Saturday pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

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

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 1 pm September 7th Fox Park Neighborhood Garden Tour. Register

10 am September 7th Body N Soul Urban Farm event, Old North Neighborhood: Pot Party- Paint Your Own Containers. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 7th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County. Entry Fee $12 per car.

5 pm September 7th Heartlands Conservancy Fundraiser at Rock Springs Park, O’Fallon, IL: Farm to Fork. Tickets $100.

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

8 am September 14th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Meramec River Greenway, Greentree Park, Kirkwood. Register

10 am to 3 pm September 14th Monarch Madness Pollinator Festival at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

11 am to 1 pm September 14th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

2 pm September 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Winter Damage. Learn how to prevent winter garden damage. Register

6:30 pm September 14th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park with St. Louis Astronomical Society

9 am September 17th

6 pm 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. 11 Seats remaining. 10:30 am September 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Almost Fall Y’all! Register

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

10 am to 2 pm September 20th Urban Harvest STL and Perennial Class at Grandel Square Center for Urban Agriculture demonstration farm: Building a Garden Bed-Mini Greenhouse Edition. Free. Register

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

9:30 pm 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

Ages 4th Grade to Adult. 11 am 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 September 22nd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

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

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 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.

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 GardenMissouri 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

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

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

Upcoming St. Louis Area Plant Sales

Independent Garden Center Discounts

Thru August 31st: End of Season Sale @ The Garden Shop on Hampton. Deep Discounts on select annuals & perennial- $2 for 4-inch pot, $4 for a quart-sized pot, $6 for 1/2 gallon pots. They also have Fall veggie seedlings.

Summer Sale @ Bowood Farms in Central West End. 25% Off Trees & Shrubs. 50% Off Patio Tropicals.

Plant & Seed Swaps

11 am to 1 pm September 14th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

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

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

Tree & Shrub Sales

September 1st On Line Ordering begins for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale

9:30 pm 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

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

Plant & Seedling Sales

Going on now. Online Ordering for 3 am to 7 pm Friday, September 6th, Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market in Gray Summit, Franklin County.

Going on now. Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. 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.

Noon to 5 pm August 18th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission fee required.

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market, Gray Summit, Franklin County. Online Ordering Begins August 9th for Pick Up event day. Plants will also be be sold on site.

8 am to 4 pm Saturdays, September 7th & 14th. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order your native plants online by Monday prior to Saturday pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am to 2 pm September 7th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County. Entry Fee $12 per car.

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

10 am to 3 pm September 14th Monarch Madness Pollinator Festival at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

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

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 by Monday before event for pick up. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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