This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo of bicolor Primrose in pot, a houseplant with mauve and white petals with gold centers

Plant of the Week: Primrose (Primula x polyantha)

Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

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

Friday, January 12th, Registration Deadline for Online Master Gardener Training via University of Missouri Extension. $200

Have you been to the Missouri Conservation Department’s Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office @ Brightside Building, Southwest Garden? Opened a year ago.

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

January Gardening Tips from University of Missouri Extension: Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Indoor Plants Lawns, More

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

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

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

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

Good Reads & Views —

Don’t throw those holiday plants away.
Orchid Care Advice from P. Allen Smith
Poinsettia Care Advice from University of Missouri Extension
Amaryllis Care Advice from University of Illinois Extension

Have you ever seen a Missouri native Orchid? (Missouri Native Plant Society)

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

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events

6:30 pm Tuesday, January 9th, Piasa Sierra Club Program  at Old Bakery Beer, Alton: Hike to the US Eastern Mountains. Register

6 pm Thursday, January 11th, First Seed St. Louis Zoom Class of 2024: Seed Starting. Register

Friday, January 12th, Registration Deadline for Online Master Gardener Training via University of Missouri Extension. $200

How well do you know Missouri wildlife? 6 pm Friday, January 12th, Missouri Conservation Department Trivia Night at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. 26 Seats remaining. Register

2 pm Saturday, January 13th, St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

11 am January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Attracting Winter Birds. Register

6 pm January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Bald Eagles in Missouri. Register

10 am January 17th Missouri Conservation Department Wildlife of Powder Valley Hike @ Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood. 30 Tickets available. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February-March Partners for Native Landscaping 2024 Spring Series Workshops

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

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

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

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

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

7 am to Noon February 14th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout, Lesson #1 and #2. 5 Seats remaining. Register

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

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference

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

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

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

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Snapdragons. White with purple edges and yellow centers.

Plant of the Week: Snapdragons

Seed St. Louis Shallot Sale. Order Online by Thursday for Saturday, October 14th Pick Up at Carriage House, 3815 Bell Ave. Shallot Grow Guide

Fall Tree Color Reports: Missouri and Illinois

Good Reads —

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

October Garden To Do List (P. Allen Smith)

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)

Order Tree Seedlings now for shipping in February from Missouri Conservation Department

Gardening and Nature Events —

Volunteers Wanted. Plant It Forward @ Tower Grove Park 9 am to Noon Tuesday, October 10th and 9 am to Noon Thursday, October 12th

10 am Tuesday, October 10th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register.

10 am Wednesday, October 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Arboretum Walking Tour. 2 Hour Horticulture guided tour. Register

4 pm Wednesday, October 11th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar- Dicamba and 2,4-D; Old Herbicides Causing New Problems. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, October 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

2 pm Thursday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis & St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Container Gardening. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis Great Fall Wrap Up Zoom Event. How best to clean up and prep your garden, what to compost, what to throw away. How to clean up the area around your garden in order to look tidy while still supporting our local bees and other insects. How to prep your soil for next spring. Register

10 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Beginner Watercolor Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Watercolor Painting: Fall Leaves and Trees. 6 Seats remaining. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am Saturday, October 14th, Forest ReLeaf Beckett Park Memorial Tree Stewardship Day, Lewis Place Neighborhood. Help honor 25 families and their loved ones lost to gun violence by caring for trees planted in their memory. Register

8:30 am Sunday, October 15th, St. Louis Audubon Society Youth & Family Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

5-7:30 pm October 16th Missouri Conservation Department Fishing Lessons 1 & 2 (gear, casting, fish handling, knot tying, baiting) at Forest Park Fish Hatchery. Gear provided. 13 Seats remaining. Register

2 pm October 17th information session at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Hotchkiss Chapel: What is Green Burial? Register

Volunteers Wanted. Plant It Forward @ Tower Grove Park 9 am to Noon October 17th, 9 am to Noon October 18th, and 9 am to Noon October 19th

3:30 pm October 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Trees- Fall Color. Find out what causes leaves to change color, which plants have the showiest color, and some great places to visit this fall. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 4 pm October 19th Missouri Conservation Conservation Kids event at Tower Grove Park: You and me under the Canopy- Sly Critters. Register

1:30 pm October 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

3 pm October 20th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birds of Missouri. Find out great places in Missouri to view Fall migration and for winter birdwatching season. Register

9 am October 21st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Where Can I? — Birdwatch. Register

10 am October 21st Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register

1 pm October 21st Missouri Prairie Foundation Members Field Trip: Bellefontaine Cemetery Fall Tree Walk

6-8 pm October 21st Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

2-5 pm October 22nd Fall Frolic at Tower Grove Park with Missouri Conservation Department. Discover all the flora and fauna that live in St. Louis region through autumn-centric activity stations and wildlife encounters.

10 am October 24th Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register

6 pm October 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Bats of Missouri. Register

4 pm October 25th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Class: Show Me Tarantulas! The Ecology of Aphonopelma hentzi in Missouri Glades. Register

9 am October 26th information session at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Hotchkiss Chapel: What is Green Burial? Register

3-6 pm October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Dutch Oven Cooking Class at Tower Grove Park. Bring law chairs. Must be at least 7 years of age. 12 Seats remaining. Register

1:30 pm October 31st Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

9 am November 1st Missouri Conservation Department Project FeederWatch Virtual Kickoff. Help Cornell Lab track birds. Register

1:30 pm November 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

7:45 am to Noon November 4th Bellefontaine Cemetery Coyote Crawl 5K and Head for the Hills 10K Run/Walk. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 4th Forest ReLeaf North Riverfront Fall Tree Planting, North Entrance @ North Riverfront Park. Register

3:30 pm November 7th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Backyard Birds, Project FeederWatch. Register

9 am to 3:30 pm November 8th Grow Native! Professionals Conference @ University of Missouri- Columbia. $20 per person for Grow Native! professional members (and their staff). Zoom option: $30 for non-members. Register

Noon to 3 pm November 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day, Lincoln County Mo. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 10 am November 16th Missouri Conservation Department Conservation Kids event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: You and me under the Canopy: Talkin’ Turkeys. Learn about some common backyard birds, then create felt ornaments to take home. Must be at least age 16. 12 Seats remaining. Register

4 pm November 16th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Backyard Bird Feeding. Register

10 am November 19th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: The Science & Art of Soapmaking. Registration Opens November 1st: Register

6 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Whacky Woodpeckers. Register

9 am December 2nd Forest ReLeaf Christy Greenway Tree Planting, Old St. Marcus Cemetery Park. Register

10 am December 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Art- Felt Bird Ornaments. Registration Opens November 1st. Register


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