This Week in Gardening & Nature

Englemann Prickly Pear

Plant of the Week: Prickly Pear Cactus. This is a photo of an Englemann Prickly Pear in Zion National Park, Utah. Eastern Prickly Pear is native to Missouri and most U.S. states as well as Ontario, Canada.

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar. Start Indoors This Week: Boy Choy, Eggplant, Lettuce

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Plant Sale at Washington University, Grow Native! Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, placeholder for Flora Conservancy Plant Sale 

Sign up for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Legislative Bill Tracker

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

‘Moss Appreciation Week’: a lot of celebration for a very little plant (NPR)

What Groundhogs Know About Seasonal Gardening That You Don’t (Wild Ones)

2023 Broccoli Variety Trial Results (Seed St. Louis)

Interest in ‘backyard chickens’ spikes in St. Louis area amid egg shortage, price hikes. Expert say, however, it likely isn’t a cost-effective way to combat rising prices at the grocery store. (KMOV, St. Louis)

Missouri’s grocery shelves feel impact of bird flu. Egg prices are expected to increase by 20% in 2025, largely due to the spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza. (The Beacon, Kansas City)

Missouri House bill would tax ag land used for renewable energy (Columbia Missourian)

Arkansas’ Buffalo River watershed squabble a ‘long, hard battle,’ advocate says (Arkansas Advocate)

Study shows ash disposal at Iowa coal plants leads to contaminated groundwater. Environmental groups push for the closure of coal plants; MidAmerican disputes findings (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Kentucky Senate approves bill removing state protections for wetlands, groundwater, small streams (Kentucky Lantern)

Missouri soybean research project shuts down as Trump cuts off funding. As part of the project, Missouri has been doing research on ways to help farmers combat diseases that can decimate soybean crops (Missouri Independent)

University of Illinois soybean lab’s pending closure due to USAID cuts hinders global disease research. Lab was part of network studying red leaf blotch, which could potentially decimate the crop (Capital News Illinois)

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 —

Now thru February 28th Photo Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood:  Rugged Spirit, Photographs of Scott Lawrence Angus

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

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

6-8 pm Tuesdays, March 11 to April 15, Heartlands Conservancy free six-week course in Belleville, Illinois: Tree Stewards Training. Classes in Tree Biology & Benefits, Tree Identification, Insects & Diseases, Pruning & Maintenance, Forest Ecology, Urban Tree Community Advocacy. Register

6:30 pm Monday, February 17th, Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Everything’s Connected- A closer look at the importance of predators and scavengers in their ecosystems presented by Jennifer Rader, Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Register

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

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

6 pm Thursday, February 20th, Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden, Willoughby Farm and Good Dirt Composting Collective class at Collinsville, Illinois:  Food Too Good to Waste Series- Eating Away at Food Waste. $15. Register

6 pm Thursday, February 20th, Wild Ones virtual event: Bees Beyond Honey- Understanding Native and Managed Pollinators. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, February 20th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Identifying Tracks in the Snow. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, February 21st, Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event at Belleville, Illinois: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Stewardship Day. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Friday, February 21st, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Dragonflies in Missouri. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, February 22nd Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event at Edwardsville, Illinois: Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 9 am Saturday, February 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Dresser Island Conservation Area, West Alton, Missouri: Dresser Island Hike. Register

26 Seats remaining. 10 am Saturday, February 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Backyard Birds. Register

1 pm Sunday, February 23rd, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois: Sustainability Series- Rainscaping. $15. Register

6:30 pm February 24th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Plastics, Petrochemicals, and Communities on the Frontlines presented by Shiv Srivastana, Fenceline Watch. Register

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

9:30 am to 2 pm February 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Advocacy Day in Jefferson City. Register

11 am February 26th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Owls of Missouri. Register

4 pm February 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Horizon II- One Part Wildlife, One Part Ecosystem Services, and One Part Renewable Energy. Register

6:30 pm February 26th Mid-Continent Library Kansas City Zoom class: Sap to Syrup. Learn the basics of tree selection, collection, and processing as the equipment needed to turn watery sap into delicious syrup. Register 

6 pm February 27th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class:  Mighty Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of Missouri. Register

6 pm February 28th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature at Night, How Lights Affect Ecosystems. Register

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

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

10 am March 1st Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Reflections vs Reality- Mitigating Bird Collisions. Learn why window collisions happen, the best strategies to prevent them. Register

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

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

9 Seats remaining. 5 pm March 3rd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Worms at Work & DIY Composting Bins. Supplies provided. Register

6:30 pm March 3rd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Effects of Oil Spills on Birds presented by Ben West, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Register

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

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

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

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

12:30 pm March 5th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Rain Gardens and Native Plants. Register

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

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

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 8th Great Rivers Greenway North Riverfront Park Mulching Day. Register

3:30 pm March 7th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Wild for Seeds. Naturalist Jordi Raos will discuss some important factors for success when it comes to native plants and seeds. Register

Noon to 2 pm March 8th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Seed Swap at Hayner Public Library, Alton, Illinois. Bring your quality seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and bulbs to swap with fellow farmers and gardeners. Nothing to swap, not a problem.

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

6:30 pm 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 March 11th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Formal and Natural Garden Design Class. Register

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

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 13th Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 14th Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden Stewardship Day. Register

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

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

1 pm 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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 21st Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event at Belleville, Illinois: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Stewardship Day. 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.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am March 22nd Heartlands Conservancy volunteer event at Pontoon Beach, Illinois: Arlington Wetlands Volunteer Stewardship Day. 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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

April 26th Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale

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.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Anthurium

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

Ameren 15% Rate Hike, $17 more a month fotr electric. St. Louis County Public Service Commission In Person Public Hearing: Noon Monday, January 27th @ Sunset Hills Council Chambers, 3939 S Lindbergh

Sign up for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Legislative Bill Tracker

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week:  Riverlands Native Plant Festival, not a sale but native plant giveaway for attendees volunteering for sand prairie planting at event

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Winter planning for wildlife (Wild Ones)

Organization pushes St. Louis County for policies to get lead out of school water (St. Louis Public Radio)

Bayer urges Missouri lawmakers to pass bill critics say shields it from Roundup lawsuits. The herbicide maker has settled or been ordered to pay out billions tied to lawsuits claiming the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer (Missouri Independent)

Avian influenza forces auction and show suspensions in southwest Missouri (Missourinet)

Kansas State University researchers say red meat allergy from tick bites is becoming more common (Kansas Reflector)

A Midwest farmland owner tests a longstanding wetland conservation law called ‘swampbuster’ (Harvard Public Media)

Indigenous group buys 63 acres in proposed prison site, offers different vision for Eastern Kentucky land. Coalition opposing another federal prison in Appalachia helped with purchase (Kentucky Lantern)

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 —

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

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

2 pm Monday, January 27th, St. Louis County Library Virtual class: Helping Birds through Small Changes presented by St. Louis Audubon Society. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm Saturday thru March 9th at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Ornamental Cabbage in snow

Plant of the Week: Ornamental Cabbage

Sign up for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Legislative Bill Tracker

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

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

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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 —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Bromeliad houseplant

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

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

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

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

Forest Park Bird Checklist

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am 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.

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.

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Two Amaryllis flowers with orange speckled petals and white centers

Plant of the Week: Amaryllis

Nature Conservancy’s Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

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

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

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

Forest Park Bird Checklist

Now thru Wednesday at Missouri Botanical Garden: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

Now thru Saturday Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Purchase Tickets.

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

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Poinsettia Care Advice (University of Missouri Extension)

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants for Dogs, Cats. Horses (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

From Garden to Kitchen: the Versatility of Peppermint, includes Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Mint Limeade recipes (University of Illinois Extension)

Interesting scientific paper on the health benefits of Dandelions (National Library of Medicine)

Bayer, Corteva control vast majority of GMO seed patents (Investigate Midwest)

Floridians have no right to bodies of water ‘free of pollution,’ appeals court rules (Florida Phoenix)

Federal government approves 20-year mining ban in part of South Dakota’s Black Hills. Decision splits clean-water activists and mineral industry (South Dakota Searchlight)

Reintroducing bison to Kansas tallgrass prairies promotes biodiversity and resilience, study finds (Kansas Reflector)

USDA’s Tyson Foods investigation collected thousands of documents. Would Donald Trump end it? The USDA has withheld 18,000 records tied to its investigation into Tyson Foods, citing active enforcement. Some worry the inquiry could be dropped under a second Trump presidency (Investigate Midwest)

UK to finish with coal power after 142 years. The UK is about to stop producing any electricity from burning coal – ending its 142-year reliance on the fossil fuel. (BBC)

Lake Michigan waves could be a clean power source for remote spots like Beaver Island (Gift article, Chicago Tribune)

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

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

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 —

16 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Tuesday, December 31st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Year End Hike. Register

8 am Saturday, January 4th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

20 Tickets remaining. Noon Saturday, January 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Winter Walk with Naturalist. 2/3 mile. Register

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

3 Tickets remaining. 3 pm Saturday, January 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Photography with a Phone. Takes place on Tanglevine Trail, 1/3-mile-long flat loop. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am January 9th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Seats remaining. 8-10 am January 18th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish- All About Trout! Lessons 1 & 2. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am 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.

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.

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

puirple and green sprouting broccoli

Plant of the Week: Sprouting Broccoli, a great winter crop if you can provide protection for when the temperature drops

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

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

Forest Park Bird Checklist

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

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

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Wishing for Winter Habitat? Plant These Grasses this Spring (Wild Ones)

‘Bad for everything:’ Invasive aquatic plant hydrilla discovered in DuPage County, Illinois: Hydrilla,an aquatic plant native to Europe and Asia. (Gift article, Chicago Tribune)

How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic (KFF News)

Kansas county sues plastic companies over recycling, alleging ‘fraud and deception.’ Ford County claims in a lawsuit that plastic manufacturers knew recycling wasn’t viable but misled the public (Kansas Reflector)

Arkansas lawmakers consider suggestions to improve underfunded scrap tire recycling program (Arkansas Advocate)

Gov. Stitt to explore ‘unplugging’ Oklahoma from Southwest Power Pool grid, says he wanted to maintain the state’s sovereignty over its permitting rights and eminent domain. (Oklahoma Voice)

Huge majorities in Ohio oppose fracking our state parks, but state leaders just ignore all concerns. The short-term profit of massive companies are apparently far more important to our leaders than Ohioans’ concerns about clean water, air and land. (Ohio Capital Journal)

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

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

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. 10 am Saturday, December 28th, St. Louis Neighborhood Foresters Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

25 Tickets remaining. 1 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Year End Hike. Register

8Tickets remaining. 4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Stroll to the Confluence. Register

10 am January 1st Sierra Club Eastern Missouri New Year’s Day Walk at Forest Park. Register

10 am January 1st Piasa Palisades Sierra Club New Years Day Hike @ Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register

8 am January 4th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

6 Tickets remaining. 9 am January 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at West Alton, Missouri: Dresser Island Hike. 5-7 mile hike along the Mississippi River. Register

20 Tickets remaining. Noon January 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Winter Walk with Naturalist. 2/3 mile. Register

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

7 Tickets remaining. 3 pm January 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Photography with a Phone. Takes place on Tanglevine Trail, 1/3-mile-long flat loop. Register

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

21 Seats remaining. 6:30 pm January 9th St. Charles City-County Library event at Spencer Road Branch: Maintaining Native Plant Gardens. Register

4 Seats remaining. 8-10 am January 11th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish- All About Trout! Lessons 1 & 2. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Seats remaining. 8-10 am January 18th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish- All About Trout! Lessons 1 & 2. Register

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

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

2 pm January 22nd St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 2, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am 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.

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.

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Two photos of chamomile. Top photo is green foliage in raised wood garden bed in winter with snow. Bottom photo is chamomile in May with many white with yellow center daisy-like flowers.

Plant of the Week: Chamomile. Beautiful and tasty flowers in summer. Winter interest from self-sowing.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Seed Swaps and Plant Sales, here’s a page for them

Start Indoors This Week: Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks, Onions (if not already)
Start Indoors First Week February: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a tropical getaway this week? How about the 85°, lush, green tropical rainforest environment at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron? Free admission to City and County residents Wednesday and Saturday mornings

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

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

Good Reads —

The Bird That Lives in St. Louis — and Pretty Much Only St. Louis. Germans brought the Eurasian Tree Sparrow to Lafayette Park and it never left (Riverfront Times)

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events

6:30 pm Monday, January 22nd, Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Nearby nature- Trends in Urban Biodiversity From the Global to Local Scale with Trends in Urban Biodiversity Pittsburg State University. Register

Noon Wednesday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

1 pm Wednesday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

6 pm Thursday, January 25th, St. Charles Chapter Wild Ones Webinar: Cultivating Change with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Register

7 pm Friday, January 26th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, January 27th-28th, Orchid Society of St. Louis Orchid Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm Saturday thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Saturday, January 27th St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Branch Library, Ellisville: Seed Swap

10 am Saturday, January 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. 29 Tickets remaining. Register

6:30 pm January 29th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Problems with Plastic, Worse Than You Think with Rebekah Creshkoff, Beyond Plastics. Register

4 pm January 31st Grow Native! Webinar In Bloom- Successional Native Plantings for Continuous Blooms with Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, Native Landscape Specialists at Gorman Conservation Center, Kansas City. Register

10 am Saturday, January 27th, St. Louis County Public Library Seed Swap at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville

Noon to 5 pm Sunday, January 28th, gardening event at Steampunk Brew Works, Town & Country: STL Seeding Frenzy. Lots of companies have donated seeds. Bring seeds to share and/or donate non-perishable food, hygiene products. Mushroom growing class. Raffles.

6:30 pm January 29th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Problems with Plastic, Worse Than You Think. Register

4 pm January 31st Grow Native! Webinar: In Bloom- Successional Native Plantings for Continuous Blooms with Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, Native Landscape Specialists at Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City. Register

For Ages 5+. 10:30 am February 2nd Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Missouri’s Furbearers and the Fur Trade. 19 Seats remaining. Register.

10 am February 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Brightside Building, Southwest Gardens: Eagle Power. 9 Seats available. Register

Noon February 4th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Alton YMCA, Alton IL. Register

1-4:30 pm February 4th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

6:30 pm February 5th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Rare Insects of Missouri and Their Conservation with Steve Buback, Missouri Department of Conservation. Register

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to 1 pm February 10th Friends of Belleview Farm Park: Honeysuckle Removal Workday, St. Louis County. Also see

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

7 am to Noon February 14th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout, Lesson #1 and #2. 4 Seats remaining. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference at Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, KC. $225. Register

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

7 pm February 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plants for Native Pollinators with Dr. Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo. Register

2 pm February 21st Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plant Gardening 101 with Erin Goss, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 1 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Eat Your Compost. $12. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

7 pm February 27th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: The Social Benefits of Trees with Rebecca Hankins, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Register

2 pm February 28th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native? Invasive? Exotic? Choose Eco-Logically with Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

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

7 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Using iNaturalist in Your Garden with Dr. Nina Fogel, ShutterBee & Washington University. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Libraryt: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel– Dr. Nadia Navarrete Tindall, Lincoln University; Matt Lebon, Custom Foodscaping; Dean Gunderson , Seed STL; Moderator Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6 pm March 7th 6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 2 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Composting 101. $12. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 9th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Milton Schoolhouse, Alton IL. Register

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

7 pm March 12th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds with Emily Connor, Audubon Riverlands and Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm March 13th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Container Gardening with Native Plants with Joan Klingensmith, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Planning for Future Drought with Native Plants with Shannon Callahan – St. Louis Audubon. Register

2 pm March 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Landscaping for Butterflies & Moths with Chris Hartley, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Register

March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

Noon March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm March 28th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health. $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

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

Photo of green onions growing in raised wood garden been, January 2024, Missouri

Plant of the Week: Onions. You can start seeds indoor now or buy sets from Seed St. Louis Sale on March 9th and plant

Start Indoors This Week: Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks, Onions (if not already)
Start Indoors First Week February: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Garden Tasks to do indoors this week (paywall, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Want a tropical getaway this week? How about the 85°, lush, green tropical rainforest environment at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron? Free admission to City and County residents Wednesday and Saturday mornings

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

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

Good Reads & Views —

The Bird That Lives in St. Louis — and Pretty Much Only St. Louis. Germans brought the Eurasian Tree Sparrow to Lafayette Park and it never left (Riverfront Times)

Controlled Burning in Forest Park, St. Louis City. Enjoy a front seat to see the park deploy this natural land management tool. (Channel 9 PBS YouTube channel)

Seed St. Louis YouTube Channel, lots of helpful videos on gardening

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

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

4 pm Wednesday, January 17th, Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Public Art, A Conversation with Kansas City Artist Julie Farstad. Register

Noon Thursday, January 18th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Winter Wonderland. Learn about some beautiful showy winter native plants, how to plant them effectively, and winter garden care. Register

9 am Friday, January 19th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Volunteer Day at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Register

1 pm Sunday, January 21st, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Forest Park Park Hike #2. Register

Noon January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

1 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

6 pm January 25th St. Charles Chapter Wild Ones Webinar: Cultivating Change with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Register

7 pm January 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. Register

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Noon to 5 pm January 28th gardening event at Steampunk Brew Works, Town & Country: STL Seeding Frenzy. Lots of companies have donated seeds. Bring seeds to share and/or donate non-perishable food, hygiene products. Mushroom growing class. Raffles.

February-March Partners for Native Landscaping 2024 Spring Series Workshops

For Ages 5+. 10:30 am February 2nd Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Missouri’s Furbearers and the Fur Trade. 19 Seats remaining. Register.

10 am February 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Brightside Building, Southwest Gardens: Eagle Power. 19 Seats available. Register

1-4:30 pm February 4th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

7 am to Noon February 14th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout, Lesson #1 and #2. 4 Seats remaining. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

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

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library- Virtual Event: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

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

Photo of red Anthurium houseplant

Holiday/Christmas Cactus tips from P. Allen Smith

Want to attract birds to your yard but not invasive Starlings? Here are some ideas.

Thru Friday Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

Cabin Fever Cure in St. Louis. Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden is a tropical getaway during winter (or any time). MoBot admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Jan 15th Deadline for Ordering Online from Seed St. Louis Annual Seed Packet Sale: $0.25-$1.00 each for veggie, fruit, herb, flower seed packets- for Pick Up Jan 21st

Jan 15th Application Deadline. Hey, teachers and parents of school gardeners, community gardens, public park gardeners: Grow Native Missouri Native Plant Prairie Garden Grants

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

9 am Tuesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 pm Saturday Missouri Conservation Dept special event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Walk to the Confluence. 11 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Jan 3rd Craft Project for K-3 Kids at Machacek Library, Lindenwood: Paper Plate Bird Feeder

Noon Jan 4th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Bloomers- Witch Hazel. Register

4 pm Jan 4th Grow Native Missouri Zoom Master Class: Landscaping with Native Wetland Plants. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

6:30 am Jan 7th Missouri Conservation Dept event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Sunrise Hike to Watch for Eagles at the Confluence. 12 Tickets remaining. Register

9 am Jan 7th Missouri Conservation Dept event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Dresser Island Hike. Register

6 pm Jan 12th Seed St. Louis Webinar Seed Starting. Register

6 pm Jan 13th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Wetland Birds. Register

10:30 am Jan 14th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Biodiversity in Your Backyard. Register

Noon Jan 18th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Wonderful Woodpeckers. Register

4 pm Jan 18th Grow Native! Online Master Class: Gardening on the Shady Side. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation ie members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

Noon Jan 19th Deep Roots Kansas City’s Virtual Event: Native Plants at Noon. Register

7 pm Jan 22nd Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: An Evening with Raptors. Register

4 pm Jan 23rd Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Homemade Suet Bird Feeders. Register

6 pm Jan 26th Seed St. Louis Webinar: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo of African Violets in tea cup and saucer planter. Flowers are purple and white purple accents

Annual Seed St. Louis Seed Packet Sale: Order Online– $0.25-$1.00 each for veggie, fruit, herb, flower seed packets- for Pick Up Dec 17th or Jan 21

Reminder: Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden is a magical great getaway during winter (or any time) and MoBot admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Hey, teachers and parents of school gardeners, community gardens, public park gardeners: Jan 15th Application Deadline for Grow Native Missouri Native Plant Prairie Garden Grants

Know what are Silva Cells?

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

Thru Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

1:30 pm Tuesday Leaf Walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Master Guide led walking tour. Register

10 am Wednesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Program: Attracting and ID Winter Birds. Register

Noon Thursday Deep Roots Kansas City virtual event: Native Plants at Noon on the Road with Missouri Conservation Dept. Register

4 pm Friday Missouri Conservation Dept events at Tower Grove Park
Discovering Night Walk. Might see owls. 18 Tickets remaining. Register
Family Craft Night @ Stupp Center. 21 Tickets remaining. Register

9:30 am Saturday Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Breakfast with the Birds. Only 4 Tickets remaining. Register

6:30 pm Dec 20th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Missouri’s Prairie Communities. Register

11 am Dec 21st Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Feeding the Birds. Register

4 pm Dec 21st Grow Native Missouri Webinar: Restoring Home: The Journey Back to Native. Register

9 am Dec 27th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 pm Dec 31st Missouri Conservation Dept special event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Walk to the Confluence. 12 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Jan 3rd Craft Project for K-3 Kids at Machacek Library, Lindenwood: Paper Plate Bird Feeder

6 pm Jan 12th Seed St. Louis Webinar Seed Starting. Register

6 pm Jan 26th Seed St. Louis Webinar: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.