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

April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest

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

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

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

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

Happy 4/20 Day. Useful information on growing cannabis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

ONGOING

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

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

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

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

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

DAILY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.