Tag: Composting

This Week in Gardening and Nature

Purple and Green Sprouting Broccoli

Plant of the Week: Sprouting Broccoli, an easy Fall-Winter crop. You can separate the mini broccoli heads from leaves, sautee the leaves for quiche or add to you wok stir fry. Purple broccoli turns to green after cooking.

Cooked sprouting broccoli

November Gardening Tips: Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Indoor Plants (University of Missouri Extension)

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

How to Create Compost without a Compost Pile. Learn the pros and cons of 6 composting methods that do not require a compost pile (Horticulture magazine)

MU research looks at urban bird habitats in areas with abandoned homes, vacant lots (University of Missouri Extension) Also see A Beautiful Bird in the Neighborhood: Canopy Cover and Vegetation Structure Predict Avian Presence in High-Vacancy City by S. Moreno, A.J. Mallinak, C.H. Nilon, R.A. Pierce

Give caterpillars a ‘soft landing’ under your trees. The ecosystem will thank you (Associated Press)

Wetlands efficiently remove nitrogen pollution from surface water, leading to cost savings for municipalities (University of Illinois)

Vandals Left Graffiti Near an Iconic Landmark in Arches National Park (Outside magazine via Wayback Machine)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

Going on Now: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in Spring. 29 Tree/Shrub Varieties (American Beautyberry, Buttonbush, Deciduous Holly/Possumhaw, Dogwoods, Rose Mallow/Hibiscus, Wild Plum) and Bundles (Edible, Nut, Pollinator, Wildlife) as examples, still available.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
November 15th Old North. Register
November 15th Benton Park. Register
November 16th Shaw. Register
November 22nd Bevo. Register
December 6th Hyde Park. Register
December 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
December 13th Tower Grove East. Register
December 13th Benton Park West. Register
December 20th Benton Park. Register
December 27th Bevo. Register

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

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

5:30 to 9:30 pm or 10 pm November 15th to January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Fees apply.

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

January 2nd Deadline to Register for University of Missouri Extension’s January 2nd to April 27th Master Gardener Online Course. $200 fee includes Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual ($40 when sold separately).

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

—– DAILY —–

6 Seats remaining. 12:30 pm Tuesday, November 11th, Missouri Conservation Department class at Tower Grove Park: Habitat Helpers- Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? Make & Take wooden bird feeder, apartment-friendly and perfect for all spaces. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, November 11th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club speaker series at Old Bakery Beer, Alton, Illinois: What’s in our DIRT! presented by Dr. John L. Ferry, environmental chemist, University of Illinois. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, November 13th, Heartlands Conservancy work day in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

10 am Thursday, November 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fall Arboretum Trolley Tour. $5 suggested donation. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, November 14th, Heartlands Conservancy work day in Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9:30 am Friday, November 14th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club work day in Godfrey, Illinois: LaVista Park Invasive Species Removal. Register

10 am Friday, November 14th, University of Illinois Extension event in East St. Louis, Illinois: Fall Urban Gardening Tour at Jackie Joyner Kersee FAN Center. Register

3 pm Friday, November 14thn Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Winter Waterfowl ID. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, November 15th, Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at Ruth Port Mall, West End

Volunteers Wanted. 9:30 am Saturday, November 15th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club work day in Alton, Illinois: Fall River Road Litter Clean Up. Register

10 am to Noon Saturday, November 15th, Tower Grove Park Bike Rodeo. Register

10 am Saturday, November 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 suggested donation. Register

10 am Saturday, November 15th, Seed St. Louis event at Bell Community Garden: Community Gardener Meet-Up. Warning: By registering for this event, you grant permission for your image to appear in a public media production and in print and digital materials. Register

9 am November 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fall Tree Walk. $5 suggested donation. Register

3 pm November 19th Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

4 pm November 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Photos of Prairie Splendor with Bruce Schuette. Register

4 pm November 20th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Introduction to Winter Sparrow ID. Register

6 pm November 20th Wild Ones Webinar: Living in the Liberated Landscape, My Yard presented by landscape designer Larry Weaner. Register

6 pm November 20th Seed St. Louis virtual class: How to Start a Community Food Project. Warning: By registering for this event, you grant permission for your image to appear in a public media production and in print and digital materials. Register

For kids 2-7 years ogf age. 7 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm November 20th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids, You and Me under the Canopy- Critter Comparisons. Register

1 pm November 21st Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Birds- Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register.

7 pm November 21st Missouri Conservation Department event at Das Bevo: Conservation Adults- Nature Trivia Night. Register. Free but food/beverages available for purchase.

12 Tickets remaining. 1 pm November 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event in Sullivan, Franklin County: Cool Weather Forest Hike @ Meramec Conservation Area. 1.3-mile naturalist-guided hike with great view of Meramec River. Register

6:30 pm November 22nd Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Hootin’ Hunters – All About Missouri’s Owls. Register

5:30 pm December 4th The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

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

5 pm December 9th Wild Ones Webinar: Turn That Patch Into a Plan. Design workshop for transforming your lawn into a native plant garden. Register

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

Noon December 12th University of Illinois Extension virtual class: Bats- Why we need to conserve them and how you can help presented by Dr. Joy O’Keefe, a leading researcher in bat ecology. Register

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

2 pm December 13th St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

Noon December 18th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Visitors from the Arctic: Snow Geese. Registration opens December 4th. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Department class at Tower Grove Park: CSI-  Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

2 pm December 20th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch:
The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

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

4 pm January 28th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Wiski/Oski (River Cane), A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

9 am to 5 pm January 31st-February 1st Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

6 pm March 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability-  Introduction into Sustainability

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

Noon March 7th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability-  A Chick Chat with Second-Hen’d

6 pm March 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability-  Bees, Pollinators and Native Plants

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability-  PFAS the Forever Chemical

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm May 9th St. Louis Hosta Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm May 16th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm June 20th Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm August 1st-2nd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Noon to 5 pm August 9th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm August 15th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm September 12th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

two dozen Lantana flowers in ywllow, orange, red colors

Plant of the Week: Lantana. This tropical can be overwintered indoors. Winter 2025-26 will be our third winter with beautiful indoor Lanatana flowers when it’s dreary outside.

Tuesday, August 26th, Application Deadline for FEMA assistance for St. Louis tornado

Learn about pressure canning, boiling water bath canning, steam canning, dehydration, and freezing your garden harvests and farmers market buys at University of Missouri Food Preservation Online Class. $30. Register

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

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: St. Louis Native Plant Swap’s Fall Swap in Kirkwood, Sustainable Backyard Network Fall Fest Sustainability Fair & Native Plant Sale, 2026 STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

8 Native Sunflowers That Support Pollinators and Birds (Wild Ones)

Grow fruit trees in small spaces with the trick known as espalier (Associated Press)

The Mimosa Webworm in Missouri (University of Missouri Extension)

5 Places You Should Never Plant Hostas, According to Gardening Experts (Martha Stewart)

When Advocacy Fails: Lessons from the Loss of Bell Bowl Prairie to Chicago Rockford International Airport expansion (Wild Ones)

The unseen harvest: Pesticides, cancer and rural Missouri’s health crisis. The counties with the highest use of pesticides per square mile are all located in Missouri’s Bootheel. Many of these counties have some of the state’s highest cancer rates and their health care options are dwindling. (Investigate Midwest)

Pesticide politics: Inside the corporate push to limit liability. As lawsuits over Roundup’s safety mount, Bayer has launched a multi-state lobbying effort to limit its legal liability. (Investigate Midwest)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

Fall Color Reports: Illinois and Missouri

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
August 23rd Bevo. Register
September 6th Hyde Park. Register
September 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
September 13th Tower Grove East. Register
September 13th Benton Park West. Register
September 20th Old North. Register
September 20th Benton Park. Register
September 21st Shaw. Register
September 27th Bevo. Register

Friday, August 29th, Deadline to submit entries for Wild Ones Photo Contest. Categories: Living Things, Home Landscapes, Signs of Spring, Events

Now thru Friday, August 29th, St. Louis City Public Library Art Exhibit at Schlafly Library: Sun Liu: Thousand Years Brilliant–Flowers & Birds from Song Dynasty

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

Now thru Sunday, August 31st, St. Louis Public Library Art Exhibit at Buder Library: Carolyn Lewis‘ Empowering Our Community, Fifty Empowerment Birds created using fabric, dried paint palettes, and dictionary pages from the 1940’s.

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

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

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

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

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

—– DAILY —–

7 am Monday, August 25th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunrise Stroll with Master Guide. 2 mile walk over moderate terrain. $5 Donation suggested. Register

5:30 pm Monday, August 25th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. 2 mile walk over moderate terrain. $5 Donation suggested. Register

Monday, August 25th Deadline to order native plants from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up August 30th at Kirkwood Farmers Market. You may also purchase from what they bring.

6 pm Monday, August 25th, University of Missouri Extension Workshop at EarthDance Organic Teaching Farm, Ferguson MO: Twilight Farm Tour – Integrated Pest Management for small farmers. $10. Register

9:30 am to 3:30 pm Tuesday, August 26th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Tour, Hike, and Swim at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, East Fork of the Black River, Reynolds County in St. Francois Mountains. Two hour drive from St. Louis. Register 

1 pm Tuesday, August 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual program: Dragonflies, The Sky’s Apex Predators. Register

21 Seats remaining. 10 am Wednesday, August 27th, Missouri Conservation Department program at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bobcats. Register

4 pm Wednesday, August 27th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Take a (Virtual) Hike on the Prairie – Summer Edition, Penn-Sylvania in Dade County. Register

For Kids ages 0-7 years. 18 Seats remaining. 10:30 am Thursday, August 28th, Missouri Conservation Department program at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Aqua Adventures. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, August 28th, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at Kiener Plaza, Downtown St. Louis: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

7 pm Thursday, August 28th, join Piasa Palisades Sierra Club at Illinois Commerce Commission Public Forum on Ameren Gas Rate Hike at East St Louis, IL.

7 pm Friday, August 29th, Missouri Conservation Department program at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Under the Stars. Register

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, August 30th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling native plants at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order in advance for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

9 am Saturday, August 30th, Urban Harvest STL workshop at Grandel Square Center for Urban Agriculture: DIY Compost Tumbler Class. You will be responsible for transporting the barrel to your site. $10. Register

6:30 pm Saturday, August 30th, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at  Carondelet Park, Bandstand: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

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

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

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

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

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

For Kids ages 7+ years. 25 Tickets remaining. 5 pm September 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Monarch Caterpillar Bracelets. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 6 pm September 5th Missouri Conservation Department Hike at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Moonrise/Sunset Walk to the Confluence. Register

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6:30 pm September 7th St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at  Saint Louis Art Museum Sculpture Garden: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Purple Coneflower

Plant of the Week: Native to many states- Coneflowers, pale pink to yellow. Plant native varieties.

Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum is still closed to the public due to Tornado damage. June 7th Beer Barons event canceled BUT Tickets will go on Sale soon for September 13th Beer Barons Tour fundraiser

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar. Check the Calendar for seeds to sow the end of June thru mid-July for August transplanting.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Additions this week: St. Charles County Library’s monthly Plant & Seed Sales & Swaps and FlyLeaf Market’s monthly Succulent & Tropical Plant Sales thru end of 2025

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

June Gardening Tips (University of Missouri Extension)

10 Plants You Should Never Grow Next to Dahlias, According to Gardening Experts (Martha Stewart)

Grow Your Own Superfood in a Jar! (University of Missouri Extension)

Roundup pesticide debate continues following failure of Bayer-backed bill (St. Louis Public Radio)

Go figure, figs are a great addition to home gardens (University of Illinois Extension)

Fewer trees post-tornado could make summer in north St. Louis hotter — and more deadly (St. Louis Public Radio)

Increasing Beneficial Insects in Row Crops and Gardens (University of Missouri Extension)

A surprise find in Michigan shows the extent of ancient Native American agriculture (NPR)

Colorado counties, towns step up to fund Forest Service workers amid federal budget cuts. Eagle, Gunnison, Pitkin and Summit Counties direct local tax dollars toward backcountry rangers who will maintain trails, douse fires and pick up trash amid surging visitation to public lands (The Colorado Sun)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
June 14th Tower Grove East. Register
june 14th Benton Park West. Register
June 15th Shaw Neighborhood. Register
June 21st Old North Neighborhood. Register
June 22nd St. Louis Place. Register
June 28th Bevo Neighborhoood. Register

June Brightside St. Louis Outdoor Clean Up & Beautification Volunteer Opportunities.

Now thru June 20th at Soulard Art Gallery: Art of Nature Exhibit

Now thru June 30th St. Louis Public Library art exhibit at Schlafly Library: Luisa Otero-Prada’s Wand of Heaven filled with vibrant flora and people. You may know Otero-Prada from her art in work in North City.

June 30th Application Deadline. Carondelet neighborhood group seeks artist to paint mural in community garden. The selected artist will receive $2,000 to complete the project and will produce the mural on a large shipping container in the garden.

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

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

DAILY

6 pm Monday, June 9th, St. Charles City-County Library event at Kisker Road Branch or Virtual: Saving the Sea Turtles. Register

9:30 am Tuesday, June 10th, Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Edwardsville, Illinois: Four Hikes, Six Ecologies near SIUE. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9:30 am Tuesday, June 10th, Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event: Tornado Damage Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

6 pm Tuesday, June 10th (this is a rescheduled due to rain event), Seed St. Louis class at Bell Garden, 3841 Bell Ave: Garden Design 101. Register

Noon Wednesday, June 11th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Workshop: Planning the Perfect Float Trip. Register

11 am Wednesday, June 11th, St. Louis County Library event at Weber Road Branch: Be Green Plant Swap

For Kids ages 2-10 years. 4 pm Wednesday, June 11th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: The Chef Bananas Show.

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Thursday, June 12th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6 pm Thursday, June 12th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature’s Night Shift- Nocturnal Pollinators. Register Can’t make it? Check out Nocturnal Pollinators (US Fish & Wildlife)

3-5 pm Friday, June 13th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

Friday-Saturday, June 13th-14th, Lebanon (Illinois) Garden Club Secret Garden Tour. $10

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, June 14th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event in Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Work Day. The former site of a municipal golf course is being restored to native plants. Register

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 14th, St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Teen Clean Up Day. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

10 am Saturday, June 14th, Urban Harvest STL class at Grandel Demonstration Farm: DIY Compost Tumbler. Free. Register. Can’t make it? Check out this helpful HGTV page with video

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

11 am Saturday, June 14th, Waste Connections Sustainability Campus class at Maryland Heights: Open Program Day- Bees, Pollinators, Native Plants

1 pm Saturday, June 14th, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War! Also see Pry House Medicinal Herb Garden, National Museum of Civil War Medicine

1 pm Saturday, June 14th, St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Plant Swap. Register

2-4 pm Saturday, June 14th, Kemper Art Museum event in museum lobby: Collective Futures. Celebrate the exhibition Seeds- Containers of a World to Come. Music, dance, art-making. Planting Microgreens; Juan William Chávez: Imaynatataq Papawan Sumaq Ch’in Chisi (How to Spend a Nice Quiet Evening with a Potato); more.

10 am June 16th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

6 pm June 16th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Paddle Prep. Learn about the gear you’ll need, trip planning, and helpful tips to navigate the streams with confidence. Register

1:30 pm June 17th University of Illinois Extension Virtual Class: Get to Know Native Bee Neighbors. Register

6 pm June 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

4 pm June 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Return of the Wapato. Wapato (Sagittaria spp.), a starchy tuber, has been utilized by the Yakama People since time immemorial. Register

5 pm June 18th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Urban Chestnut in the Grove: Happy Hour & Mississippi River Conservation Presentation feat with Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project Co-coordinator. Register

4 pm June 20th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Prairies of Missouri. Fun Fact- prairies make up 1/3 of Missouri. Register

8:30 am June 21st Seed St. Louis Tour de Plants (bike ride), Southwest City Edition. $15 suggested donation. Register

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.

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

11:30 am to 4:30 pm June 21st Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Sniff ‘n Learn- Fragrance in the Victorian Age with Mourning Society of St. Louis (dressed in period costume). 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

2 pm June 23rd St. Louis County Library class at Cliff Cave Branch: Four Seasons Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

5:30 pm June 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Wildlife Identification. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm June 24th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Super Seeds presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Explore how seeds travel and take home seeds for your next garden. Register

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

4 pm June 25th Grow Native! webinar: Master Class- Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

For Kids ages 7-14 years. 2 pm June 26th St. Louis County Public Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Plants. Register

6 pm June 26th Seed St. Louis class at Bell Garden, 3871 Bell Ave: Intro to Growing Herbs. Register

7 pm June 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk, a guided tour. Register

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

Noon June 27th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Gardening For Wildlife. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 27th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

10 am June 28th Riverbend Flower Farm workshop at Theodora Farms, Godfrey, Illinois: Floral Workshop. $30 Register

11 am June 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 1: Birding 101: Missouri’s KAKAWphony of Species presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

2 pm July 1st St. Louis Count Library Virtual Class: Container Gardening – Fruit, Vegetables and Microgreens presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

Family Fun. 6 pm July 1st St. Louis County Public Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Garden Party. Register

3-5 pm Friday, July 4th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

For Kids ages 6-12 years. 2 pm July 5th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Wild About Watermelon. Register

For Kids. 1 pm July 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library:  Swinging Through the Rainforest presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover which animals and plants live in the layers of the rainforest. Take home a rainforest plant to start your own jungle. Register

4:30 pm July 8th The Royale & Missouri Botanical Garden present Show Me Your Garden Cocktail Competition 2025. Purchase Tickets $54.70 (including fees & taxes).

For Kids ages 5-12 years. 3:30 pm July 9th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Bees and Butterflies Stories and Crafts. Register

6:30 pm July 9th St. Louis County Library Virtual program: Houseplant Hospital. Register

6 pm July 10th Seed St. Louis class at Carriage House, 3815 Bell Ave: Raised Bed Building Workshop. Free to attend. BUT Make & Take (your own delivery) Beds are $45 for 4′ x 4′ raised bed and $60 for 4′ x 8′ raised bed. –> You also have to agree to your image being used for promotion purposes. <– Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, July 12th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event in Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Work Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

11 am to 2 pm July 12th A Red Circle event at North County Community Nexus: Ice Cream + Art in the Garden. Family Ticket $7.18 which includes $2.18 Card Fee. Register

2 pm July 12th Kemper Art Museum event: Curatorial Tour of Seeds (Containers of a World to Come). Learn about the work of 10 contemporary artists from a range of geographical and cultural contexts whose practices explore plant–human–land relations. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm July 16th St. Louis County Public Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: Swinging Through the Rainforest. Register

6-9 pm July 18th Urban Harvest STL fundraiser at .Zack, Grand Center Arts District: Harvest Dinner featuring Chef David Kirkland. Tickets $81.88 and Table of 8 is $600.

6 pm July 22nd St. Louis County Public Library Virtual program: Grant Opportunities for Your Garden – Rainscaping 101 presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, July 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

2 pm July 25th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Food Preservation 101- Canning presented by University of Missouri Extension

11 am July 26th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 2: Habitat Helpers: Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

1 pm July 26th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs Around the Mediterranean

End of July: Ordering begins for Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon Tulip & Daffodil Bulb Sale. Pick Up in October.

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.

1 pm August 2nd St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

2 pm August 5th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Seed Saving and Plant Breeding presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, August 10th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event in Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Work Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

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.

1 pm August 16th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Gardens and Plants of Colonial America. Oddly does not mention labor and plants of enslaved persons.

1:30 pm June 17th University of Illinois Extension Virtual Class: Crop Rotation- Building Resilient Gardens. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, August 22nd-23rd, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am August 23rd St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 3: Bird Walk with Missouri Conservation Department. Register

Noon to 4 pm August 23rd Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Summer Picnic at Beaver Dam State Park, Royal Lakes, IL. Register

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Purple Milkweed

Plant of the Week: Butterfly magnet Milkweed. 22 Species native to Missouri. 24 Species native to Illinois. WARNING: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)  “grows readily from seed and spreads quickly by deep rhizomes. Because common milkweed can be weedy and difficult to remove, care should be used to establish the plant only in places where spread can be tolerated.”

Volunteer to help with St. Louis Tornado disaster relief and recovery. There is something for everyone to do. Personally recommend volunteering with Action St. Louis.

Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum is still closed to the public due to Tornado damage and June 7th Beer Baron event canceled

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Okra, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. No additions this week, but some editing

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

What the Peony Tells Us About War and Biodiversity (Wild Ones)

Bug n’ Garden Videos (University of Missouri Extension)

How to Make Seed Balls (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowercenter)

Exodus of USDA veterinarians and others drives fears that U.S. farms are at risk (NPR)

Mountain chickadee chatter: Scientists are decoding the songbird’s complex calls (The Conversation)

Scientists discover why some hot peppers are total wild cards. It’s yet another reason you can’t always trust the Scoville scale. (Popular Science)

Tracking the sediment carried by the muddy Mississippi. New research shows that typically, less than 10% of land-building alluvium reaches the Bird’s Foot Delta region, the southernmost reach of the river, where it meets the Gulf (The Lens NOLA)

A Kansas county and two cities move water fight to federal court as drought threatens their future (Kansas Reflector)

In 2025, Tornado Alley has become almost everything east of the Rockies − and it’s been a violent year (The Conversation)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
June 7th Hyde Park Neighborhood. Register
June 14th Tower Grove East. Register
june 14th Benton Park West. Register
June 15th Shaw Neighborhood. Register
June 21st Old North Neighborhood. Register
June 22nd St. Louis Place. Register
June 28th Bevo Neighborhoood. Register

Now thru June 20th at Soulard Art Gallery: Art of Nature Exhibit

Now thru June 30th St. Louis Public Library art exhibit at Schlafly Library: Luisa Otero-Prada’s Wand of Heaven filled with vibrant flora and people. You may know Otero-Prada from her art in work in North City.

June 30th Application Deadline. Carondelet neighborhood group seeks artist to paint mural in community garden. The selected artist will receive $2,000 to complete the project and will produce the mural on a large shipping container in the garden.

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

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

DAILY

3 pm Sunday, June 1st, Plant Meet Up #6 at Art Bar, Angard Arts Hotel . Bring plants to trade or show off. Register

Monday, June 2nd, Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, June 7th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market. This will be their Last Sale at Kirkwood Market for 2025.

2 pm Tuesday, June 3rd, St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Food Forests – Building a Food-Producing Ecosystem. Register

Noon Wednesday, June 4th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Foraging for Summer Chanterelles. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis County Library class at Parkview Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Barr Library: Wild in the City- Animals That Call St. Louis Home presented by Missouri Conservation Department.

4 pm Wednesday, June 4th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Not Just for Ducks … Reframing Wetland Conservation. Register

For ages 12-18. 4:30 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Wildflower Seed Ball Making

9 am Thursday, June 5th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Cactus Blossom Walk at Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary. Register

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

For ages 6-12 years. 10:30 am Thursday, June 5th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Baden Library: Serengeti Steve’s Reptile Experience

6 pm Thursday, June 5th, Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Garden Tools 101. Register

11 am to 10 pm Friday-Saturday, June 6th-7th, International Horseradish Festival at Collinsville, Illinois

1 pm Friday, June 6th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature Printmaking Tree Rings. Register

2 pm Friday, June 6th, St. Louis County Library class at Lewis & Clark Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 6th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

8 am to Noon Saturday, June 7th, Highland Garden Club Plant Sale at Korte Rec Center, Highland, Illinois

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

10 am to 5 pm June 7th-8th Lafayette Square Spring House & Garden Tour. Tickets $40 + fee

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 7th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library: Teen Clean Up Day in Carondelet. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

5 Seats remaining. Noon Saturday, June 7th, St. Louis Public Library workshop at Central Library: The Art of Wedding Flowers- Design, Arrange, Impress. Register

8 pm Saturday, June 7th, St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

3 Tickets remaining. 5:45 pm Sunday, June 8th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Full Strawberry Moon at the Confluence. Register

Noon June 11th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Workshop: Planning the Perfect Float Trip. Register

For Kids ages 2-10 years. 4 pm June 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: The Chef Bananas Show.

2 Tickets remaining. Seven Days between June 14th-August 8th Missouri Conservation Department’s Camp Hellbender Summer Camp Series for Adults at Rockwoods Reservation, August A. Busch Memorial CA, Columbia Bottom CA, Powder Valley Conservation NC, Carondelet Park. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am June 12th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6 pm June 12th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature’s Night Shift- Nocturnal Pollinators. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 13th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

June 13th-14th Lebanon (Illinois) Garden Club Secret Garden Tour. $10

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am June 14th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event in Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Work Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Teen Clean Up Day. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

10 am June 14th Urban Harvest STL class at Grandel Demonstration Farm: DIY Compost Tumbler. Free. Register

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

11 am June 14th Waste Connections Sustainability Campus class at Maryland Heights: Open Program Day- Bees, Pollinators, Native Plants

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

1 pm June 14th St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Plant Swap. Register

2-4 pm June 14th Kemper Art Museum event in museum lobby: Collective Futures. Celebrate the exhibition Seeds- Containers of a World to Come. Music, dance, art-making. Planting Microgreens; Juan William Chávez: Imaynatataq Papawan Sumaq Ch’in Chisi (How to Spend a Nice Quiet Evening with a Potato); more. Free. Register

10 am June 16th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

6 pm June 16th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Paddle Prep. Learn about the gear you’ll need, trip planning, and helpful tips to navigate the streams with confidence. Register

6 pm June 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

4 pm June 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Return of the Wapato. Wapato (Sagittaria spp.), a starchy tuber, has been utilized by the Yakama People since time immemorial. Register

4 pm June 20th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Prairies of Missouri. Fun Fact- prairies make up 1/3 of Missouri. Register

8:30 am June 21st Seed St. Louis Tour de Plants (bike ride), Southwest City Edition. $15 suggested donation. Register

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.

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

11:30 am to 4:30 pm June 21st Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Sniff ‘n Learn- Fragrance in the Victorian Age with Mourning Society of St. Louis (dressed in period costume). 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

2 pm June 23rd St. Louis County Library class at Cliff Cave Branch: Four Seasons Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

5:30 pm June 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Wildlife Identification. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm June 24th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Super Seeds presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Explore how seeds travel and take home seeds for your next garden. Register

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

4 pm June 25th Grow Native! webinar: Master Class- Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

7 pm June 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk, a guided tour. Register

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

Noon June 27th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Gardening For Wildlife. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 27th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

11 am June 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 1: Birding 101: Missouri’s KAKAWphony of Species presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

July 1st St. Louis Count Library Virtual Class: Container Gardening – Fruit, Vegetables and Microgreens presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

3-5 pm Friday, July 4th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

For Kids ages 6-12 years. 2 pm July 5th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Wild About Watermelon. Register

For Kids. 1 pm July 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library:  Swinging Through the Rainforest presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover which animals and plants live in the layers of the rainforest. Take home a rainforest plant to start your own jungle. Register

4:30 pm July 8th The Royale & Missouri Botanical Garden present Show Me Your Garden Cocktail Competition 2025. Purchase Tickets $54.70 (including fees & taxes).

For Kids ages 5-12 years. 3:30 pm July 9th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Bees and Butterflies Stories and Crafts. Register

6:30 pm July 9th St. Louis County Library Virtual program: Houseplant Hospital. Register

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

11 am to 2 pm July 12th A Red Circle event at North County Community Nexus: Ice Cream + Art in the Garden. Family Ticket $7.18 which includes $2.18 Card Fee. Register

2 pm July 12th Kemper Art Museum event: Curatorial Tour of Seeds (Containers of a World to Come). Learn about the work of 10 contemporary artists from a range of geographical and cultural contexts whose practices explore plant–human–land relations. Register

6 pm July 22nd St. Louis County Public Library Virtual program: Grant Opportunities for Your Garden – Rainscaping 101 presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

2 pm July 25th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Food Preservation 101- Canning presented by University of Missouri Extension

11 am July 26th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 2: Habitat Helpers: Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

1 pm July 26th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs Around the Mediterranean

End of July: Ordering begins for Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon Tulip & Daffodil Bulb Sale. Pick Up in October.

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.

1 pm August 2nd St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

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

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

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

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

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

1 pm August 16th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Gardens and Plants of Colonial America. Oddly does not mention labor and plants of enslaved persons.

11 am August 23rd St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 3: Bird Walk with Missouri Conservation Department. Register

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.

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

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

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

2 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Scarlett Heaven, a red peony with yellow center

Plant of the Week: Peonies. Shown is Scarlet Heaven.

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Okra, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: more St. Louis County Library Plant Swaps, Ste Genevieve Master Gardeners Garden Tour & Plant Sale

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Why “Sharp Sand” Is the Secret to a Successful Garden, According to Horticulturists. This coarse, gritty sand improves drainage, fights root rot, and makes soil easier to dig—here’s how to use it right. (Real Simple)

The Joy of Native Plant Gardening. Planting native flora in your yard (as opposed to grass) offers a water-saving landscape and haven for pollinators. It can also provide peace and wonder. (Mountain Journal)

Aphids plaguing UK gardens in warm spring weather, says Royal Horticultural Society. Sap-sucking insects top list of queries to gardening charity after causing significant harm to plants (The Guardian)

Missouri is still illegally denying food assistance despite court order (Missouri Independent)

Butterflies of Missouri. Introduction to Butterflies (Washington University)

What Trump’s cuts to federal climate research could mean for Illinois. State climate scientists, lawmakers seek local solutions to address climate change (Capitol News Illinois)

Report: April storms that caused “generational” flooding made 40% more likely by climate change (Arkansas Advocate)

Bike buses get St. Louis kids to school—no school bus driver needed. Nonprofit St. Louis BWorks is organizing people-powered bike buses to get kids to and from six different schools this year. (St. Louis Magazine)

DOGE cuts take almost $500K from St. Louis nonprofit that teaches kids about nature (St. Louis Public Radio)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

Volunteers Wanted. 9-11 am Tuesdays and Thursdays in May- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant It Forward program. Help dig tulips and other perennial varieties, clear display beds of debris, plant species for Summer/Fall season. Register

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis May Blitz events.

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

DAILY

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

1-4 pm Tuesday, May 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery in person horticulture class: Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardeners. $15 suggested donation. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, May 13th, Piasa Pallisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Speaker Series- Future of the Power Grid presented by Dr. Nicholas Johnson, Principia College. Learn about Illinois proposed Clean & Reliable Grid Affordability Act. Register

9 am Wednesday, May 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour- Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with horticulturist. $5 suggested donation. Register

2-6 pm Wednesday, May 14th, Spring Plant Swap at LINC St. Charles County Community Center, 9 Love Park Lane, Wentzville MO

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

6 pm Thursday, May 15th, Edwardsville Public Library class: Composting 101

6:30 pm Thursday, May 15th, Heartland Conservancy event: Third Thursday Cycling Series, Illinois.  16 miles on St. Clair County Transit District trails

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, May 16th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

10 am Friday, May 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Springtime History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide. Register

3:30 pm Friday, May 16th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Outdoor Hazards- snakes, ticks, heat, and more. Learn how to prevent and reduce run-ins with outdoor hazards. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

Only an hour drive from St. Louis. 9 am Saturday, May 17th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Carlyle Lake, Clinton County IL: Birding Walk. Register

Only an hour drive from St. Louis. 9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 17th-18th, Ste Genevieve Master Gardeners & University of Missouri Extension event: Garden Walk & Plant Sale. Visit private, historic gardens. Tickets to Walk $10 at event- cash, check, Venmo

Saturday, May 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tours with Master Guide. $5 suggested donation. Register for 10 am Tour. Register for 1:30 pm Tour.

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 17th, Garden America Plant Expo at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles MO. Wild Ones St. Charles Chapter will be selling native plants.

2 Seats remaining. 6 pm May 19th St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: DIY Spice Blends. Register

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

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

Noon May 21st Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class:  Intro to Canoe and Kayak. Register

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

Ages 10 years to Adult. 2:30 pm May 21st Missouri Conservation Department Virtual event: Citizen Science- Butterfly Surveys. Register

4 pm May 21st Grow Native! Zoom Master Class: Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to all Missouri Prairie Foundation dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members, or $15 for non-members. Register

6 pm May 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Designing a Native Wildflower Garden. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

9 Tickets remaining. May 23rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Creve Coeur Park-Lake: Kayaking & Carp. Must be at least 14 years of age and know how to swim. All equipment provided. Learn about invasive carp removal and paddling equipment, paddling safety, and how to paddle a kayak on a lake. Register for 10 am program. Register for 1 pm program.

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

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 24th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day. Help protect and restore one of Illinois’ rarest habitats, this sand prairie and sand savanna site. Register

2 pm May 24th Missouri Conservation Department & River City Outdoors class at Tower Grove Park: Outdoor Preparedness– Camping 101. Register. River City Outdoors runs a Free Outdoor Gear Lending Library for St. Louis City residents

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

Ages 9 to Adult. May 28th Missouri Conservation Department workshop at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register for Noon class. Register for 3:30 pm class.

6 pm May 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: How To Find An Owl In Your Neighborhood, presented by naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw, aka “The Owl Man.” Register

6 pm May 29th Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Garden Design 101. Register

6 pm May 29th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Reading Garden Book Walk. Get book recommendations, snacks, and library themed gifts and prizes. Register

5 pm May 30th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Orienteering and GPS- Geocaching. Register

6 pm May 29th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Reading Garden Book Walk. Get book recommendations, snacks, and library themed gifts and prizes. Register

8:30 am to Noon May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

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

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

9 am to Noon May 31st Grow Native! 25th Anniversary Event: Greenscape Gardens Open House, Ballwin

2 pm June 3rd St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Food Forests – Building a Food-Producing Ecosystem. Register

Noon June 4th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Foraging for Summer Chanterelles. Register

2 pm June 4th St. Louis County Library class at Parkview Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

2 pm June 4th St. Louis City Public Library event at Barr Library: Wild in the City- Animals That Call St. Louis Home presented by Missouri Conservation Department.

For ages 12-18. 4:30 pm June 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Wildflower Seed Ball Making

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

For ages 6-12 years. 10:30 am June 5th St. Louis City Public Library event at Baden Library: Serengeti Steve’s Reptile Experience

6 pm June 5th Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Garden Tools 101. Register

Family friendly. 10 Tickets remaining. 6 pm June 5th Missouri Conservation Department workshop at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

1 pm June 6th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature Printmaking Tree Rings. Register

2 pm June 6th St. Louis County Library class at Lewis & Clark Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

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

10 am to 5 pm June 7th-8th Lafayette Square House & Garden Tour. Ticket info pending

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 7th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library: Teen Clean Up Day in Carondelet. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Teen Clean Up Day. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

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

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

1 pm June 14th St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Plant Swap. Register

10 am June 16th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

6 pm June 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

8:30 am June 21st Seed St. Louis Tour de Plants (bike ride), Southwest City Edition. $15 suggested donation. Register

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.

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

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

2 pm June 23rd St. Louis County Library class at Cliff Cave Branch: Four Seasons Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm June 24th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Super Seeds presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Explore how seeds travel and take home seeds for your next garden. Register

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

11 am July 26th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 2: Habitat Helpers: Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am June 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 1: Birding 101: Missouri’s KAKAWphony of Species presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

July 1st St. Louis Count Library Virtual Class: Container Gardening – Fruit, Vegetables and Microgreens presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

For Kids ages 6-12 years. 2 pm July 5th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Wild About Watermelon. Register

For Kids. 1 pm July 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library:  Swinging Through the Rainforest presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover which animals and plants live in the layers of the rainforest. Take home a rainforest plant to start your own jungle. Register

For Kids ages 5-12 years. 3:30 pm July 9th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Bees and Butterflies Stories and Crafts. Register

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

2 pm July 25th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Food Preservation 101- Canning presented by University of Missouri Extension

1 pm July 26th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs Around the Mediterranean

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.

1 pm August 2nd St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

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

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

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

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

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

11 am July 26th St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 3: Bird Walk with Missouri Conservation Department. Register

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.

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

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

Coral Honesuckle growing on trellis

Plant of the Week: Native Coral Honeysuckle, a hummingbird magnet. Native from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia south to all states bordering the Gulf. Considered escaped in Missouri and Illinois.

Wednesday, April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest

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

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Melons, Squash
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Beans, Beets, Collards, Kale, Parsley, Peas, Spinach, Turnips

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Gardners of Florissant Annual Spring Plant Sale & Garden Bazaar, O’Fallon Mo Garden Club Plant & Rummage Sale, Kress Farm Garden Preserve Plant Sale in Hillsboro, Earth Dance Farm Plant Sale, Montgomery County Master Gardeners Plant Sale, Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sales, Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gardening This Week? Watch Out For Heavy Rain, Late Freezes And Flooded Soil (The Weather Channel)

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

April Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Anyone can grow potatoes in a container. 11 year old Sam shows you how. (Gardening Well on YouTube)

Monarch butterfly super generation live up to 9 times longer than most monarchs, migrates thousands of miles (Anderson Cooper, CBS)

Regional Climate Centers shut down abruptly last week. Here’s why it matters (Harvest Public Media, KCUR)

Tips on Sustainable Gardening (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Rethink The Garden Icons: The Tragedy of the Hyacinth (Wild Ones)

Earthjustice President Describes a “Fundamentally Different” Era of Hostility Toward Environmentalists. Abigail Dillen sees the increase of lawsuits targeting green groups as just one of the growing threats to environmental advocacy organizations — and the people who staff them. (ProPublica)

The U.S. takes a step toward allowing mining on the ocean floor, a fragile ecosystem (NPR)

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

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

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

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

Opens Friday. 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, May 2nd thru March 31st, 2026, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Smelling the Bouquet- Plants & Scents in the Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

DAILY

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

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

1 pm Sunday, April 27th,  Madison County Extension Education Foundation fundraiser at Madison County Farm Bureau Building,  900 Hillsboro Ave, Edwardsville, Illinois: Plant Bingo. $20 donation suggested. Win Plants.

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

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

10 am Wednesday, April 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

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

9 am to 1 pm Friday, May 2nd, Montgomery County Master Gardeners Plant Sale at Hillsboro IL

10 am Friday, May 2nd, Missouri Botanical Garden virtual event: Landscape Therapy with Edwina von Gal. Free. Register

Noon-8 pm Friday and 9 am to 5 pm Sunday, May 2nd-3rd, Gardeners of Florissant Annual Spring Plant Sale & Garden Bazaar at Florissant Elks Lodge

2-7 pm Friday and 7 am to Noon Saturday, May 2nd-3rd, O’Fallon Mo Garden Club Plant & Rummage Sale

4-6 pm Friday, 9 am to 1 pm Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm Sunday, May 2nd-4th Earth Dance Farm Plant Sale at Ferguson MO

7 am to 3 pm Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, May 3rd-4th, Kress Farm Garden Preserve Plant Sale in Hillsboro, Jefferson County MO. Native plants, shrubs, trees; nonnative plants, annuals, vegetable seedlings.

8 am to Noon Saturday, May 3rd, Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot

8:30 am to Noon Saturday, May 3rd, Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves parking lot

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 3rd, Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market. $5 per person or $10 per vehicle.

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

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

10 am Saturday, May 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

8 am Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 4 pm Next Sunday, May 4th, Bring Conservation Home & Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter event: St. Louis Native Plant Tour in Webster Groves. $20. Register

Next Sunday-Monday, 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

10 am May 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. Suggested $5 donation. Register

10 Seats remaining. 2 pm May 6th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: DIY Hummingbird Feeders. Register

9 am May 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. Register

10 am May 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

4 pm May 7th Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Neotropical Bird Migration. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 8th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

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.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 9th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Castlewood State Park Service Project, Ballwin: maintaining and repairing trails, closing social trails, and picking up trash. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 9th Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL: Exploration Garden Stewardship Day. Register

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

4 pm May 9th Missouri Conservation Department virtual event: Avian IQ- Bird Trivia. Register

8 am to Noon May 10th Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale at Godfrey, Illinois

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

22 Tickets remaining. 8 am May 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles MO: Lewis and Clark Trail Hike, 8.3 miles with spectacular views of the Missouri River. Register

9 am May 10th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell. Annuals: Basil, Eggplant, Sweet Peppers, Sweet Potato Slips, Tomatoes. Perennials: native Clustered Mountain Mint, Lavender, Red Veined Sorrel, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Wild Arugula, Wild Korean Celery. Also see 10:30 am class.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Volunteer Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

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

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

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

10 am May 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with Horticulturist. Suggested $5 donation. Register

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

10 am May 10th St. Louis Audubon The Birds and the Beers event at Tower Grove Park, then 2nd Shift Brewing on The Hill. $20. Register

10:30 am May 10th Seed St. Louis in-person class at Bell Community Garden: Seed Saving & Plant Breeding 101. Register

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

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

For Kids 3-5 years of age. 7 Tickets remaining. May 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Kids- The Native Connection. Kids will help plant native milkweeds andf learn about native plants and insects. 9 am story time. 10 am milkweed activity & more. Register

2-6 pm May 14th Spring Plant Swap at LINC St. Charles County Community Center, 9 Love Park Lane, Wentzville MO

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

6:30 pm May 15th Heartland Conservancy event: Third Thursday Cycling Series, Illinois.  16 miles on St. Clair County Transit District trails. Register

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

3:30 pm May 16th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Outdoor Hazards- snakes, ticks, heat, and more. Learn how to prevent and reduce run-ins with outdoor hazards. Register

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

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

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

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

4 pm May 21st Grow Native! Zoom Master Class: Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to all Missouri Prairie Foundation dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members, or $15 for non-members. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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

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

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

4 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am May 25th St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

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

6 pm May 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: How To Find An Owl In Your Neighborhood, presented by naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw, aka “The Owl Man.” Register

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

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

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

For ages 12-18. 4:30 pm June 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Wildflower Seed Ball Making

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

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

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

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eastern Red Columbine

Plant of the Week: Native Eastern Red Columbine, a hummingbird magnet, once used as a love potion

April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest

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

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

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

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Collinsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale & Arbor Day Program, Plant Swap in Wentzville. Also did a lot of clean up.

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

A Guide to Invasive Species and Their Native Look-Alikes (Nurture Natives)

Growing Minds and Gardens: The Mental Health Benefits of Gardening with Native Plants (Wild Ones)

Happy 4/20 Day. Useful information on growing cannabis

Missouri loses $1.2B as USDA cancels climate smart program (St. Louis Public Radio)

Federal appeals court temporarily freezes multibillion-dollar Biden climate fund (States Newsroom)

Ameren asks for coal plant air pollution reprieve from Trump — and gets it (St. Louis Public Radio)

Iowa Environmental Council launches project on relationship between cancer and environment. Harkin Institute’s wellness symposium focuses on the future of clean water (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Commentary: Oklahoma has long undercharged oil and gas companies, creating an unplugged well crisis (Oklahoma Voice)

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

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

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

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

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

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

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

DAILY

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

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am Monday, April 21st, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Earth Day Invasive Species Removal at Milton School House. Register

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

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

10 am Tuesday, April 22nd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 donation suggested. Register

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

6 pm Tuesday, April 22nd, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle… ReRun! 5k at Tower Grove Park to benefit Urban Harvest STL and Open Space STL

9 am Wednesday, April 23rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Flowering Tree Walk with Horticulturist. Register

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

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

Thursday-Saturday, April 24th-26th Southwest Illinois College Horticulture Club’s Annual Plant Sale at Belleville Campus Greenhouses (behind baseball fields), 2500 Carlyle: hanging baskets, perennials, annuals, herbs, succulants, houseplants, tropicals. Cash, check, credit card.

10 am Thursday, April 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

5-8 pm Thursday, April 24th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: A Shakespearean Evening in the Garden. Shakespeare’s Connections with Nature, presented by Gerit Quealy, Author of Botanical Shakespeare. Performances in the Garden from STL Shakespeare Festival. Garden Admission Fee. 

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

6 pm Thursday, 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

8 am to 6 pm Friday, April 25th, and 8 am to Noon Saturday, April 26th, Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale at Webster Groves Recreation Complex

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to Noon Saturday, April 26th, Collinsville IL Garden Club event at parking lot of historic DD Collins House: Plant Sale & Arbor Day Program

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

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

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

9 am to 3 pm Saturday-Sunday, April 26th-27th, Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House, Chesterfield  

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

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

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

10 am to 4 pm Saturday, 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.

Noon to 3 pm Saturday, April 26th, Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park Pavilion, Swansea, Illinois.

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

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

1 pm Sunday, April 27th,  Madison County Extension Education Foundation fundraiser at Madison County Farm Bureau Building,  900 Hillsboro Ave, Edwardsville, Illinois: Plant Bingo. $20 donation suggested. Win Plants.

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

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

10 am April 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

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

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

10 am May 2nd Missouri Botanical Garden virtual event: Landscape Therapy with Edwina von Gal. Free. Register

9 am to 1 pm May 3rd Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market. $5 per person or $10 per vehicle.

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

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

10 am May 3rd Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 pm May 7th Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Neotropical Bird Migration. Register

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Volunteer Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

2-6 pm May 14th Spring Plant Swap at LINC St. Charles County Community Center, 9 Love Park Lane, Wentzville MO

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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

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

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

18 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am May 25th St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Asparagus stalks in glass of water in refrigerator

Plant of the Week: Asparagus

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

Register for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program in 17 cities. Also see Get rid of a stinky Bradford pear tree, get a free Missouri native tree (St. Louis Public Radio)

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: U City In Bloom Plant Sale, St. Charles County Master Gardeners Plant Sale, Three Rivers Farm Plant Sales (Elsah IL)

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

Natural Egg Dyes (P. Allen Smith)

Pruning & Care of Shade Trees (University of Missouri Extension)

An alternative to the USDA organic label could be more accessible for farmers. Can it work? (St. Louis Public Radio)

Pesticide immunity bill advances from Iowa Senate. Opponents say it gives the ‘wolf the keys to the hen house’ (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Utah becomes the first state to ban adding fluoride to drinking water (Utah News Dispatch)

Unearthed: The Mining Issue. A series. The world needs massive amounts of critical minerals to power the transition to clean energy. But as countries and industries explore new mining opportunities, a major question looms: Can all of this extraction be done without the same environmental and human costs associated with fossil fuels? (The Grist)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market: 8 am to 4 pm Saturdays,  April 5th, April 12th, April 19th, April 26th, May 31st, June 7th. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

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

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

Monday Deadline, March 31st, to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, April 5th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

6:30 pm Tuesday, April 1st, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Virtual event: America’s Great Coal Catastrophe. Presented by Jared Sullivan, the author of Valley So Low. Also, learn about the connections between the TVA and Illinois coal mines. Register

7 pm Tuesday, April 1st, Left Bank Books author event at Hi Pointe Theater: Sarah Kendzior, “The Last American Road Trip,” with Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio. Register

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

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

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

6:30 pm Thursday, April 3rd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Native Plants- Missouri’s Spring Blooms (Kansas City focus). Register

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

10:30 am Friday, April 4th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Wildflower ID. Register

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

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

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

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

10 am Saturday, April 5th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with horticulturist guide. $5. Register

10 am Saturday, April 5th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tou with master guide. Register

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

14 Tickets remaining. Noon Saturday, April 5th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Spring Ephemeral Hike with a naturalist. Hickory Ridge trail on the long loop, 1.25 miles. Register

7 pm Saturday, April 5th, Stargazing at Tower Grove Park with St. Louis Astronomical Society

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Tickets remaining. 6 pm April 17th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

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

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

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

2 pm April 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Camping 101 with River City Outdoors. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Dwarf Iris

Plant of the Week: Dwarf Iris

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

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

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

Gardening can protect monarch butterflies (University of Missouri Extension)

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Yellow Cauliflower

Plant of the Week: Cauliflower. Photo of Romanesco Broccoli, actually a cauliflower, growing at Vegetable Garden, Las Vegas Botanical Garden.

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: Bok 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: More Plant Swaps at St. Louis County Library; Partners for Native Landscaping Wprkshop & Plant Sale at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center; Project Pollinator Native Plant Sale at Sachs Butterfly House; Rustic Roots Sanctuary Seed Swap

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Missouri House debate shows GOP split over bill to protect pesticide makers. For the second year, lawmakers consider whether to side with Bayer, which faces thousands of lawsuits over failure to warn users that Roundup may cause cancer (Missouri Independent)

UMSL study will investigate pollinator activity at a roadside garden (St. Louis Public Radio)

Q&A with Bruce Morrison, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center (St. Louis Magazine)

Shaw Nature Reserve Turns 100 (KMOX Radio)

Trump’s cuts to federal wildfire crews could have ‘scary’ consequences (Stateline)

Egg prices soared after bird flu, but federal price controls kept milk prices steady — at farmers’ expense. While dairy farmers struggle with sick cows, shrinking herds, and lower milk yields, large dairy processors welcome federal price changes that allow them to take a bigger cut of farmers’ earnings. (Investigate Midwest)

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

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

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

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

6:30 pm Wednesday, 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 Thursday, February 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class:  Mighty Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of Missouri. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, February 28th, St. Louis Forestry Divison’s Natural Land Management Team’s Carondelet Park Tree Mulching Day. Register

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

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

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. 1:30 pm Saturday, March 1st, Hyde Park Restoration Project Clean Up Day. Register

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

2 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

10 Seats remaining. 10 am March 4th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Build a Bluebird House. 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.

3:30 pm March 7th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Native Plants, Wild for Seeds. Register

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.

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

23 Tickets remaining. 6 pm March 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Register

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

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

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

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

5-7 pm 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.