Tag: Container Gardening

This Week in Gardening and Nature

Hacinth Bean with pea-like pink to purple flowers on vine

Plant of the Week: non-native, annual Hyacinth Bean, a lovely scented vine for a fence or pole and hummingbird magnet.

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

$15 Home Soil Testing at University of Missouri Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory

St. Louis Master Gardeners Horticulture Answer Service: Monday through 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.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Only addition is a link for January seed swap

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

National Gardening Library has lots of helpful guides (USDA)

5 Places You Should Never Plant Mums, According to Gardening Experts (The Spruce)

Benton Park’s lake is back, after being drained amid sinkhole saga (St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Wayback Machine)

Asian longhorned ticks on the move in Illinois, new detection found in Clay County (University of Illinois Extension)

Bird flu seen in central Nebraska dairy cattle (Nebraska Examiner)

Oklahoma’s earthquakes could help avoid induced seismicity from carbon storage (Oklahoma Voice)

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: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in Spring. 39 Tree Varieties (Dogwoods, Rose Mallow/Hibiscus, Wild Plum as examples) and Bundles (Edible, Nut, Pollinator, Wildlife) still available. 24 Varieties Sold Out.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 27th Bevo. Register
September 27th Tower Grove East. Register
September 28th St. Louis Place. Register
October 18th Benton Park. Register
October 25th Bevo. Register
November 15th Benton Park. Register
December 20th Benton Park. Register
December 27th Bevo. Register

September 26th Deadline to Order. 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.

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

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, September 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Mighty Monarchs. Register

1 pm Tuesday, September 23rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Horticulture Class: Gardening with Native Fruits Trees & Edible Plants. Walking tour + classroom survey of some of our wild food sources in Missouri. $15 Donation suggested. Register

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

10 Seats remaining. For Kids 0-7 years. 10:30 am Thursday, September 25th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids, You and Me under the Canopy- Ansty Ants. Register

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

6 pm Thursday, September 25th, Seed St. Louis Class Virtual Class: Transitioning to Fall Container Gardening. Register

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.

7-10 pm Friday, September 26th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Moth Ball. Moth BioBlitz for citizen scientists, Crafts at Nature Center, PolliTat Parlour, More. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, September 27th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Honeysuckle Removal at the Hall’s Ferry Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge. Register

9 am to Noon Saturday, 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 Saturday, 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 Saturday, 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 Saturday, 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 Saturday, September 27th, STL Seeding Frenzy’s Homesteaders Hoedown, Exchange & Tool Swap at Watson Trail Park, Sunset Hills

Noon to 3 pm Saturday, September 27th, Edwardsville IL Public Library Houseplant Swap. Noon and 1 pm drop off your houseplants, clippings, unused garden seeds to give them a second life. Those who drop off a plant will have priority access to the swap.

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

For Kids 6-11 years of age, caregiver must attend. 2 pm Saturday, September 27th St. Louis Public Library from Schlafly Library to Forest Park: Nature Art Walk.

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

Saturday, September 27th, Heartlands Conservancy Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Anniversary Tours in Waterloo, Illinois.  9:30 am Tour- Register. 11:15 am Tour- Register.

2-6 pm Sunday, September 28th, LongStory Coffee’s fundraiser for Belleville Heart Garden: Harvest Festival, Year of the Bumblebee at High Street between LongStory Coffee and Garden. For Kids: Paint-a-Pot, Garden Scavenger Hunt, Bird Feeder Craft. Music by Mellow D. Food & Beverages & Merch vendors. Garden Tours. More.  

1-5 pm Sunday, September 28th U City in Bloom’s Plein Air Festival and Garden Tour. $25.

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

Registration Begins: 9 am October 1st Heartlands Conservancy 2025 Jingle Hike Challenge

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

6 pm October 1st Edwardsville IL Library class: Canning with Confidence

23 Tickets remaining. 9 am October 2nd Missouri Conservation Department hike in St. Louis City: North Riverfront Park Hike. 3 miles. Register

6 pm October 2nd Deep Roots KC Webinar: Native Plants- Curious by Nature, Native Gardening with Pop Culture Aesthetics Gardening. Cottage-Core to Goth and Mid-Century Modern to Tropical. Register

3-7 pm Friday and 9 am to Noon Saturday, October 3rd-4th, O’Fallon Mo Garden Club’s Neighborhood Plant and Rummage Sale. Perennials, natives, bulbs, houseplants

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 1 pm October 4th The Nature Institute event at Godfrey, Illinois: Forest Fest 

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

11 am to 6 pm October 4th Tower Grove Park event: Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival

7 pm October 4th St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

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

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm October 4th Misssouri Conservation Department craft event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Art- Leaf Print Bandanas. Includes 1/3-mile walk on Tanglevine Trail to collect leaves. Register

28 Tickets remaining. 6:30 pm October 4th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Hunter’s Moon Walk to the Confluence. Register

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

23 Tickets remaining. 6 am October 5th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Birds & Brews- Birding Hike with Coffee. Register

7 pm October 6th The Nature Institute event at trails of the Mississippi Sanctuary and Olin Nature Preserve, Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

Volunters Wanted. 9 am October 8th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6:30 pm October 8th Piasa Pallisades Sierra Club virtual author event:  Jeff Biggers’ “Reckoning at Eagle Creek,” a discussion with award-winning journalist and cultural historian. Register

25 Tickets remaining. 9 am October 9th Missouri Conservation Department hike in St. Louis City: Lafayette Park Hike. 1.5 miles. Register

5:30 pm October 9th Seed St. Louis Class at Bell Community Garden: Food All Winter- Harvesting & Storing Fall Crops. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 10th Heartlands Conservancy event in Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

1 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Wild Edibles- May the Forage Be With You. Learn about hickory nuts, chestnuts, walnuts and wild fruits like pawpaws, persimmons and grapes. Register

4-7:30 pm October 10th St. Louis Community College @ Meramec HortiCULTURE Exchange Open House & Self Guided Tours

8 am to 12:30 pm October 11th St. Louis Community College @ Meramec HortiCULTURE Exchange Transforming Community Symposium with keynote speaker Doug Tallamy, entomologist, ecologist, and author.

10:30 am October 11th Seed St. Louis Class at Bell Community Garden: Building a Children’s Garden. Register

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

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

2 pm October 14th St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Fall Gardening Wrap-Up presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

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

6 pm October 14th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Historic & Primitive Skills, Bushcraft Skills Series- Advanced Friction Fire. Learn about Hand Drill, Pump Drill, Fire Saw, and other methods used to start fires. Register

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

1 pm October 16th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Uncovering the Winter Secrets of Whip-poor-wills. Register

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

6 pm October 16th Deep Roots KC Webinar: Native Plants- Curious by Nature, Native Gardening with Pop Culture Aesthetics Part II. Cottage-Core to Goth and Mid-Century Modern to Tropical. Register

6:30 pm October 16th Heartlands Conservancy Third Thursday Bike Ride. 16 miles on St. Clair County Transit District trails. Register

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

24 Seats remaining. 6 pm October 17th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Adults- Fall Paint and Sip. Register

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

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

10 am October 18th Heartlands Conservancy event at Storck Woods Nature Preserve, Washington County, Nashville, Illinois: Woods Walk. Register

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

2 pm October 21st St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Composting 101 presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 9 am October 23th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event in St. Louis City: Walk in the Park: Willmore Park. 1.5 miles. 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

17 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am October 26th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Tower Grove Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

2 pm October 28th St. Louis County Library Virtual Class:  Indoor Food Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

7 pm October 29th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club and Olivette Parks & Recreation event: Building Community Through Sustainability- A Grassroots Journey presented by Kate Pichon-Hellmann, Olivette Sustainability Advocates. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 2nd Heartlands Conservancy event at Waterloo, Illinois: Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

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

11 am to 3 pm November 8th Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Plant Sale & Swap. Check back for more info.

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

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.

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

white cauliflower growing in garden

Plant of the Week: Cauliflower. Start seeds indoors now for August planting or buy seedlings at August 16th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

Missouri Conservation Department pays for tree seeds

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

Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum has reopened and events resumed after clean up from the May 16th St. Louis Tornado and storms. You can support this historic and beautiful place by attending the September 13th Beer Barons Tour fundraiser. Tickets $35

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar. Start seeds indoors for August planting of Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added additional info on Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale.

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

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: July Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Prevent, protect zinnias from powdery mildew (University of Illinois Extension)

7 Native Blue Flowers for Every Garden (Wild Ones)

Pandemic boom and costly missteps led to Gardener’s Supply bankruptcy, court filings show. The employee-owned company is poised for a $9 million sale that excludes its worker stock plan and may fall short of covering its debts. (VTDigger)

The Right Way to Use Coffee Grounds to Fertilize Your Lawn and Garden. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential soil nutrient that boosts plant health. (Martha Stewart)

Illinois’ soil conservation funding stagnates amid recent high-profile dust storms (Capitol News Illinois)

Fixing Yellowstone: How an intact ecosystem set the stage for a wolf queen’s long reign. Despite being orphaned, challenged for alpha status and ultimately being killed by a rival pack, wolf 907 leaves a legacy (Idaho Capital Sun)

Scientists Name the Fish That Wears a Feather. Cherokee tribes help Western scientists recognize the Sicklefin Redhorse (Sierra Club)

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

2 pm Wednesdays, July 9th to 30th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar Forestry Stewardship Series. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
July 5th Hyde Park Neighborhood. Register
July 6th Forest Park Southeast. Register
July 12th Tower Grove East Neighborhood. Register
July 19th Old North Neighborhood. Register
July 20th Shaw Neighborhood. Register
July 27th St. Louis Place. Register

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

Register for 15 Week (August 10th to December 23rd) University of Missouri Extension Course: Missouri Master Gardener Online Core Training. $200. Register

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

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

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

4 pm Wednesday, July 2nd, Grow Native! Webinar: Growing Edible Plants for Food and Wildlife presented by Dr. Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, Lincoln University. Register

10 Seats remaining. 6 pm Wednesday, July 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Pond to Plate, Catfish Basics. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, July 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. 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 

20 Tickets remaining. 7:30 pm Friday, July 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Nature Fireworks and Nighttime Adaptations. Register

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

5:30 pm July 7th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual event: Introduction to Kayaking. 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

1-4 pm July 8th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Floriography, the Language of Flowers.  Learn about Victorian Era floriography + cut flower arrangement workshop. All materials/supplies provided. Suggested donation of $15. 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).

9 am July 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum tour: Summer Wildflower Walk with horticulturist. Suggested $5 donation. Register

10 am July 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. 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

10 Seats remaining. 6 pm July 9th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Pond to Plate, Sunfish and Bass Basics. 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

16 Seats remaining. Noon July 11th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Wild Edibles, Missouri’s Signature Root Beer Floats. Sample sassafras root beer and chanterelle ice cream. 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

10 am July 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. 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

5:30 pm July 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

25 Tickets remaining. 7:30 pm July 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature’s Night Shift Hike. 1/2 Mile loop on Hickory Ridge Short Loop, steep inclines and declines. Register

10 am July 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. Register

5 pm July 15th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Butterflies of Missouri. Register

6 pm July 15th Cleveland-Heath event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Sustainability in the Kitchen with Chef Evan Buchholz. Tickets $55.20. Register

9 am July 16th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum tour: Summer Wildflower Walk with horticulturist. Suggested $5 donation. Register

17 Seats remaining. 10 am July 16th Missouri Conservation Department workshop at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: DIY Hummingbird Feeders. 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

4 pm July 16th Grow Native! Webinar: Vitis rupestris – The Native Missouri Grape that Saved French Wine. Register

10:30 am July 18th St. Louis County Library class at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

3:30 pm July 18th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Watersnakes of Missouri. Register

5:30 pm July 18th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. 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.

10 am to 4 pm July 18th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Fungi Fair- A Mushroom Event Hosted by the Missouri Mycological Society

10 am July 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum Summer Arboretum Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. Register

10 am July 19th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual class: Monarchs and Milkweed. Register

11 am and 1 pm July 19th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Dance and Scents with performances by Amara Arts, an immersive Afro-Contemporary dance installation. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1:30 pm July 19th Grow Native! Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Natural Areas Summer Flowers Walking Tour with James Faupel, Director of Horticulture and Curator of Living Collections at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. 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

10 am July 23rd Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. Register

5:30-7 pm July 24th Seed St. Louis event for youth garden volunteers at Bell Garden: A Midsummer Night’s Drink, Garden Party for School & Youth Garden Volunteers & Teachers. Register

5:30 pm July 24th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. 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

9 am July 26th Urban Harvest STL workshop at Grandel Square Center for Urban Agriculture: Build your own Rain Barrell. $15. Register

12 Seat remaining. 10 am July 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Nature Crocheters: Dragonflies. Register

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

15 Tickets remaining. Noon July 26th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

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

2 pm & 4 pm July 27th Audubon Center at Riverlands event at West Alton, MO: Bridging Music & Nature, an afternoon of concerts by Riverbend Community Orchestra and educational activities. Register

19 Tickets remaining. 9 am July 30th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Summer Birding Hike on Broken Ridge Trail. Register

5:30 pm July 30th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

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

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

5:30 pm August 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

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

9 am August 6th Collinsville, Illinois, Willoughby Farm Teacher Workshop: Waste-Free Classrooms. Register

2 pm August 8th St. Louis County Public Library event at Clark Branch: Planter Pot Decorating. Register

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

11:30 am August 9th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Sniff ‘n Learn- Scents of Wine & Spices. 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 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.

6 pm August 14th St. Louis County Public Library event at Clark Branch: Celebrating a Century of Conservation, Shaw Nature Reserve – Past, Present, Future

Noon August 15th St. Louis County Public Library workshop at Thornhill Branch: Anthotype Making. Test out the photographic prosses of using natural plant pigments to create prints. Register

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 August 19th University of Illinois Extension Virtual Class: Crop Rotation- Building Resilient Gardens. Register

6 pm August 21st Missouri Botanical Garden Event: Ireland and Its Aromatic Heritage, Short Documentary Film & Discussion Panel. Admission Fee.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Dozens of Chamomile flowers

Plant of the Week: Chamomile– pretty, pollinator friendly, a sweet apple scent, makes a great tea.

How you can support St. Louis’ tornado relief efforts — and get help if you need it (St. Louis Public Radio)

For those with a Bluesky account, here’s an excellent thread on St. Louis Tornado Mutual Aid by Brooke Foster

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: Plant Meet Up #6 at Art Bar, Angard Arts Hotel; Highland IL 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 —

Should I Prune Tomato Plants? Are your tomato plants putting out side shoots? Learn whether you need to prune tomato plants to keep them productive. (Mother Earth News)

Major Environmental Agencies Facing Budget Cuts in FY2026 (Wild Ones)

Vegetable plot dig unearths crop of vintage bottles (BBC)

Wichita gardeners urged to grow and give to fight hunger as Plant a Row marks 25 years (Kansas State University Extension Service)

Champion Trees: A Celebration of Giants (Wild Ones)

Tribes fear consequences for Great Lakes as Trump administration fast-tracks Line 5 pipeline. Aging infrastructure poses a risk to the drinking water of tens of millions, activists and Indigenous communities say. (Gift Article, Chicago Tribune)

Royal Horticultural Society ambassador for communities quits, saying he was made to feel a ‘nuisance’ (The Guardian)

‘Wildlife are in crisis’: Arkansas expert opines on proposed change to Endangered Species Act. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission vows to do what’s best for the state’s wildlife and habitats (Arkansas Advocate)

Trump administration wants to remove protections for threatened Kansas bird (Kansas Reflector)

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

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

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

5 pm Tuesday, May 20th, Wild Ones webinar for native plant newcomers: Native Plants Planted Right: A Practical Guide for Beginners on YouTube

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

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

2 pm Wednesday, 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 Wednesday, May 21st, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual event: Citizen Science- Butterfly Surveys. Register

4 pm Wednesday, 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 Thursday, 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.

Saturday, May 24th 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 Saturday, May 24th, St. Louis County event at Clark Branch: Seed & Plant Swap. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, 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 Sunday, 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 Sunday, 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 St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Reading Garden Book Walk. Get book recommendations, snacks, and library themed gifts and prizes. 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

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.

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

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

11 am to 7 pm May 31st Missouri State Parks Native Plants Weekend at Washington State Park, DeSoto, Jefferson County, Missouri

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

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.

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

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 Noon June 7th Highland Garden Club Plant Sale at Korte Rec Center, Highland, Illinois

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Collard seedlings planted in garden

Plant of the Week: Collards. Also see Collard greens lovers are using science and history to lift up the Southern staple (WBEZ Chicago)

Register for Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery (Bradford) Pear Buyback Program in 17 cities

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: Kimmswick Visitor Center’s 25th Annual Daylily Sale, more Flyleaf Market monthly pop up Succulent & Tropical Plant Sales, more St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swaps

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.

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

March is the time to plant hardy, heady, healthy cabbage and kale (University of Missouri Extension)

8 species gardening experts regret planting in their yards, so you can avoid learning the hard way. Save yourself aggravation and excess work by heeding the advice of the professionals and avoid planting these species in your garden (Homes & Gardens)

Is planting trees ‘DEI’? Trump administration cuts nationwide tree-planting effort (NPR)

The Beginner’s Guide To Vegetable Gardening In Chicago. Zone 6a (Block Club Chicago)

Spring gardening in Colorado: From sustainable lawn alternatives to pest control, how to make the most of your spring garden (Colorado Public Radio)

Iowa House advances bill to change school nutrition standards. Lawmakers decline amendments to fund Choose Iowa purchasing program for schools (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder (P. Allen Smith)

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.

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.

6:30 pm Monday, 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 Tuesday, March 25th, Grow Native! webinar: Native Cool-Season Grasses & Sedges for Landscaping, Forage, and Wildlife Benefits. Register

20 Seats remaining. 1 pm Wednesday, March 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Orienteering and GPS event at Tower Grove Park: Geocaching- Amphibian Adventure! Register

6 pm Wednesday, 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

10 am Thursday, March 27th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with horticulturist. $5 Register

1 pm Thursday, March 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Ozark’s White Oak Baskets. Learn about the trees harvested, where they grow, and how to choose one to cut; and methods of processing the wood into weaving strips. 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.

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

6 pm Thursday, March 27th, Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Container Gardening. Register

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

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

18 Seats remaining. 9 am Saturday, March 29th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Wonderful Wildflowers Hike with naturalist. Hickory Ridge Trail, 1.2 miles of paved but hilly oak-hickory forest. Register

17 Seats remaining. 11 am Saturday, March 29th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Wonderful Wildflowers Hike with naturalist. Hickory Ridge Trail, 1.2 miles of paved but hilly oak-hickory forest. Register

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

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

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

6:30 pm 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

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

6:30 pm April 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Native Plants- Missouri’s Spring Blooms (Kansas City focus). Register

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

10:30 am April 4th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Wildflower ID. 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.

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, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, misome

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

Noon 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

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

8:30 am April 7th Missouri Conservation Department at Carondelet Park: 2 Mile Hike. Register

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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

Ornamental Cabbage in snow

Plant of the Week: Ornamental Cabbage

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

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

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

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Coral Bells, Heuchera, some varieties provide great Fall and Winter leaf color

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

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

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

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

Missouri 4-H Independent members program for 8-18 years olds living some distance from a 4-H club (University of Missouri Extension)

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

When to Plant in Illinois (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

Monarch Butterfly Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection (US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Missouri Conservation Department finds likely bird flu cases among snow geese. Tests show probable infections in birds recovered in Henry and Vernon counties, prompting advisory asking for reports of dead waterfowl and warning against contact (Missouri Independent)

Supreme Court weighs limits on key federal environmental law (Colorado Newsline)

How a state sales tax helps Missouri farmers resist droughts (Columbia Missourian)

Native Plants at Noon Series on YouTube (Deep Roots Kansas City)

Container Gardening with Keystone Species. Find your Ecoregion. Missouri is a part of four regions- Southeastern Plains, Ozark Ouachita Appalachian Forest, Mississippi Alluvial, Temperate Prairies. Illinois is a part of Central Plains and Southeast Plains. (Homegrown National Park)

Fall/Winter edition of Meanderings (Heartlands Conservancy, Belleville IL)

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

8:30 am Tuesday, December 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 Tickets remaining. 6:30 pm Tuesday, December 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: The Science and Art of Soap Making Pt. 1. Register

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

4 pm Wednesday, December 18th, Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Prairie Planting Establishment & Stewardship, includes Q & A with Jerod Huebner. Register

33 Tickets remaining. 6 pm Wednesday, December 18th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Outdoor Survival- Useful Knots for the Outdoors. Register

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

3 pm Friday, December 20th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Owls of Missouri. Register

3 Seats remaining. 10 am Saturday December 21st Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: The Science and Art of Soap Making Pt. 2. Requires online #1 class. Register

1 pm Saturday, December 21st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Matinee- Flight of the Snow Geese

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am December 28th St. Louis Neighborhood Foresters Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: St. John’s Wort

June 30th Deadline to enter St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off weekly by Noon Monday-Tuesday at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

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

Food Preservation Online Course by University of Missouri Extension. This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. $30

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

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

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

Good Reads/Views —

This 101-year-old scientist may have created your new favorite tomato. Plant pathologist Mannon Gallegly developed the first blight-resistant tomato in 1963. Waiting list for his new variety is already in the thousands. Gift article (Washington Post)

Lingering effects of recent cicada emergence AND environmental benefits (University of Missouri Extension)

10 species of Heron call Missouri home (Missouri Conservationist)

Taking Plant Cuttings. You can grow new plants from cuttings off existing ones. (University of Missouri Extension)

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

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. June neighborhood clean up and beautification opportunities via Brightside St. Louis

2 pm Tuesday, June 25th, St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

9 am Wednesday, June 26th, Tower Grove Park event at Lily Pond Shelter: Water Plants of Tower Grove Park. Presented by Horticulture Supervisor, Steve Hogenmiller, and Community Engagement Manager, Tara Morton. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 26th, Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, June 27th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Sunset Stroll. Register

6 pm Thursday, June 27th, St. Louis County Library class at Grand Glaize Branch: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

3 pm Friday, June 28th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Bats of Missouri. Register

6:30 pm Friday, June 28th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

11 am and 1 pm Saturday, June 29th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Sachs Museum Performance Series- “The Sacred Crop” featuring poet Waleska Font and guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Seating first come, first served. Garden Admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1 pm Saturday, June 29th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

10 am to 3 pm June 30th Piasa Sierra Club Urban Farm Tour in Madison County IL, a self guided tour of 6 urban gardens, farms, and community gardens. Register

11 am to 4 pm June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

4 pm July 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register

2 pm July 6th St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

6:30 pm July 9th Learning About the Great River Sturgeon at Old Bakery Berr, Alton IL. Presented by Travis Moore, Fisheries Management Biologist, Missouri Conservation Department.

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am to 1:30 pm July 12th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: fish on the big river, help with the Bumblebee Survey in the iconic Sunflower field, then cool off indoors in the afternoon with lunch in the classroom and then an Owl Pellet Dissection activity. Register

6 pm July 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 1. Learn about native vs. invasive crayfish and trap setting. Register

9 am July 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 2. Learn about trap recovery and some citizen science. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

5 pm July 17th Seed St. Louis event at Bell Garden: Summer School Gardener Meet-Up and Natural Art Class. Register

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

6 pm July 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Common Caterpillars of Missouri. Register

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

1:30 pm July 23rd University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

6 pm July 29th St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” Register

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

11 am and 1 pm August 10th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Sachs Museum Performance Series- “A Corn-Fed Musical Comedy Performance” by Opera Bell Band. Seating first come, first served. Garden Admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

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

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

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

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

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

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

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

photo of purple liatris

Plant of the Week: Liatris, Gayfeathers

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off weekly by Noon Monday-Tuesday at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

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

Thursday, June 20th, Deadline for your community organization to apply for Brightside St. Louis Neighbors Naturescaping Program to beautify a public or not-for-profit space, restore Missouri native plant communities, attract beneficial wildlife (butterflies, bees, birds), reduce stormwater runoff and protect drinking water

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

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

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

Good Reads/Views —

Oral History Project Preserves Black and Indigenous Food Traditions. The Heirloom Gardens Project records the stories of elders and honors both long-held expertise and culturally meaningful foods. (Civil Eats)

This word was rejected by geologists. But it’s already taken over the world. Yet for many activists, artists, and academics outside of geology, the Anthropocene, or “Age of Humans,” is here to stay. Gift article (Washington Post)

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Noon Monday, June 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds. Register

9 am to 5 pm Wednesday, June 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden Juneteenth at the Garden: Ethiopian Book Binding presentation, Pot-A-Plant, “In the Garden with Dr. Carver,” more. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Thursday, June 20th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Water for the Garden. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 7 Seats remaining. 10:30 am Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Twinkle Firefly. Register

For Kids 7-14 years. 2 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Explore the science of plants with guided, hands-on activities and experiments. Register

5:30-7:30 Thursday, June 20th, Feed the People Garden Project event at 3964 Walsh, Bevo Neghborhood: Queers in the Garden.. No gardening experience necessary. Stop by for community building, learning garden skills, harvesting food, have fun.

6 pm Thursday, June 20th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Vermicomposting, aka Worm Composting. $12. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Harvesting & Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

7 pm Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds Part 2. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, June 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Beer Barons 2024: Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter III. $30. Register

3 Ticckets remaining. 7:30 pm Friday, Junes 21st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area, St. Louiis County: Summer Solstice Walk to the Confluence. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 22nd, Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

9 am to to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23, St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama Tour

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, June 22nd, University of Missouri Extension Butterfly Festival at Jefferson Farm & Garden, Columbia MO

1 pm Saturday, June 22nd, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading– Chicken Tending 101

5 Seats remaining. 8 pm Saturday, June 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am to 1 pm June 23rd Piasa Sierra Club event at La Vista Park, Godfrey, IL: Pollinator Party. Register

2 pm June 25th St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

9 am June 26th Tower Grove Park event at Lily Pond Shelter: Water Plants of Tower Grove Park. Presented by Horticulture Supervisor, Steve Hogenmiller, and Community Engagement Manager, Tara Morton. Register

2 pm June 26th Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

5:30 pm June 27th Belleftonaine Cemetery event: Sunset Stroll. Register

6:30 June 28th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

4 pm July 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register

2 pm July 6th St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

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

1 pm June 29th St. Louis City Publiuc Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

7 Tickets remaining. 10 am to 2 pm July 20th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Tower Grove Park: learn tree ID and put new skills to the test on a tree ID geocaching adventure. After lunch, learn about native plants and insects and do a flower pounding craft. Register

6 pm July 29th St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” Register

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

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

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

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

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

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

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

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

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

June 20th Deadline for your community organization to apply for Brightside St. Louis Neighbors Naturescaping Program to beautify a public or not-for-profit space, restore Missouri native plant communities, attract beneficial wildlife (butterflies, bees, birds), reduce stormwater runoff and protect drinking water

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

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

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

Good Reads/Views —

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

(YouTube) Native Species Spotlight: Dragonflies. How to attract Dragonflies: Install a water feature at least 2 ft deep, Add submerged plant, emergent plants & floating plants to aid dragonflies throughout their life cycle, Include native plants such as water lilies & irises. (Wild Ones)

University of Missouri launches 5 year climate-smart farming projects with $25M in Federal funds (Columbia Missourian)

Mo communities divided over spreading meatpacking sludge. “Turner is a member of a local activist group, Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution, or CRAP, which filed a lawsuit that prevented Denali from filling the lagoon.” (Columbia Missourian, Missouri Independent)

Retired Missouri conservation director plans to enjoy the areas she oversaw (St. Louis Public Radio)

Tornadoes shifting east in the U.S., study finds, putting more people at risk. Researchers have pointed to parts of the Deep South and Tennessee Valley as being the modern-day Tornado Alley. Gift article. (Washington Post)

(YouTube) Missouri Botanical Garden Corpse Flower Cam

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

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 —

Day Trip for Lavender: It’s You Pick season at Missouri’s largest lavender farm- Battlefield Lavender in Centralia, Boone County

1:30 pm Tuesday University of Illinois Extension Online Class: Understanding and Supporting Lady Beetles in Illinois. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Tuesday, June 11th, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Chats for Change at MCE office, University City. Sounds like a happy hour for environmentalists and conservationists. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, June 11th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club June Speaker at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Our  Wetlands Cooperative in Metroeast presented by Dr. Jenny Mullikin, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. Register

For Ages 4-12. 2 pm Wednesday, June 12th, St. Louis County Library event at Samuel C. Sachs Branch: Garden Adventure- decorate a pot and plant a flower or vegetable to take home. Register

2:30 pm Wednesday, June 12th, St. Louis County Library class at Florissant Valley Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

5:30 pm Wednesday, June 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register.

6 pm Thursday, June 13th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading– Composting 101

2 pm Friday, June 13th, St. Louis County Library class at Thornhill Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

6:30 pm Friday, June 14th, event at The Garden Shop on Hampton: Sip & Soil, an evening of painting, planting, cocktail making. $35. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 15th, Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Saturday, June 15th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

10 am and 11:30 am Saturday, June 15th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Sentimental Symbols of the Garden Tour. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

7:30 pm Saturday, June 15th, St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

Noon June 17th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds. Register

9 am to 5 pm June 19th Missouri Botanical Garden Juneteenth at the Garden: Ethiopian Book Binding presentation, Pot-A-Plant, “In the Garden with Dr. Carver,” more. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am June 20th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Water for the Garden. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 10:30 am June 20th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Twinkle Firefly. Register

For Kids 7-14 years. 2 pm June 20th St. Louis County Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Explore the science of plants with guided, hands-on activities and experiments. Register

6 pm June 20th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Vermicomposting, aka Worm Composting. $12. Register

6:30 pm June 20th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Harvesting & Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

7 pm June 20th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds Part 2. Register

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

9 am to to 5 pm June 22-23 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama Tour

10 am to 3 pm June 22nd University of Missouri Extension Butterfly Festival at Jefferson Farm & Garden, Columbia MO

1 pm June 22nd St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading– Chicken Tending 101

12 Seats remaining. 8 pm June 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am to 1 pm June 23rd Piasa Sierra Club event at La Vista Park, Godfrey, IL: Pollinator Party. Register

2 pm June 25th St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

6:30 June 28th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

2 pm July 6th St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

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

1 pm June 29th St. Louis City Publiuc Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

7 Tickets remaining. 10 am to 2 pm July 20th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Tower Grove Park: learn tree ID and put new skills to the test on a tree ID geocaching adventure. After lunch, learn about native plants and insects and do a flower pounding craft. Register

6 pm July 29th St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” Register

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

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

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

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

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

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

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

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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