Plant of the Week: Monarda, Bee Balm, 2021 Perennial of the Year steeped in patriotism. Left Photo- Native Wild Bergamot. Right Photo: Monarda Raspberry Wine.
If you’re going to can food, do it properly, don’t endanger your health and the health of others. Educate yourself, take the 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
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
If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales & Swaps, here’s a page for them
Recently saw Malabar Spinach vining on an arbor. Might add to garden next year. More info on growing Malabar Spinach.
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
Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar
Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches
Good Reads/Views —
Gardening By Month: July Gardening Tips, Tasks, & Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)
Is this front-yard forest too tall? How a project to bring back Toronto’s oaks fell afoul of city bylaws. An urban ecosystem in Little Italy was threatened when the city delivered a citation for having vegetation over 0.85 metres. (Toronto Star)
A European wild cat was nearly extinct. Now, it’s making a comeback. The Iberian lynx is no longer classified as endangered, a group calling it the “greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation.” Gift article (Washington Post)
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 —
6 pm Tuesday, July 2nd, St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch
4 pm Wednesday, July 3rd, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register
5:30 pm Friday, July 5th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register
2 pm Saturday, July 6th, St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register
10 am July 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register
6:30 pm July 9th Learning About the Great River Sturgeon at Old Bakery Bear, 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
11 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
5:30 pm July 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. 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.
The Great State of St. Louis 