Plant of the Week: Peonies
Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Basil, Brussels Sprouts, Melons, Parsley, Squash
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar
If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Plant Sales, here’s a page for them.
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
Hey, grades 6th thru 12th Teachers. Missouri Environmental Education Association has great resources for an Invasive Species Mock Trial Unit that combines Ecology and Civic Engagement. Also see Trial of Bush Honeysuckle
Brightside St. Louis Blitz Project Registration Open (neighborhood clean up and beautification). Free Blitz Blooms available this year for your public spaces project: gomphrena, dianthus, marigolds, celosia and vinca
Good Reads —
Gardening by Month: May Tips, Tasks, Problems from Missouri Botanical Garden
Your yard can help avert the insect apocalypse. Here’s how. Welcome lacewings, sweat bees and lady beetles (back) into your life. (gifted article @ Washington Post)
State of the climate: 2024 off to a record-warm start This year is shaping up to either match or surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record. (Carbon Brief)
The Trees I’ve Loved — and Lost (Riverfront Times)
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. Check out upcoming Brightside St. Louis Neighborhood Clean Up & Beatification events. Some Blitz events offer Cardinals tickets to volunteers.
10 am every Monday St. Louis Public Library Outdoor Storytime in Forest Park, Albrecht Nature Playscape.
11 am Tuesday, April 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Wonderful Wildflower ID. Register
May 1st to August 31st Missouri Conservation Department Busch Conservation Area (St. Charles Mo) Wildlife Photography Contest. Submit photos of native Missouri wildlife, trees, or plants at Busch Conservation Area or neighboring Weldon Spring Conservation Area.
10 am Thursday, May 2nd, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register
6 pm Thursday, May 2nd, Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: School Garden Maintenance Strategies for Summer & Beyond. Register
Ages 3+. 8 Seats remaining. Children must be accompanied by adult. 6 pm Thursday, May 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department in-Person Class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. This class is required before Lesson 2. Register
9 am to 1 pm Friday, May 3rd Montgomery County IL Master Gardeners Hanging Basket Sale @ Mt. Moriah Lodge 51, Hillsboro IL
11:30 am to 4:30 pm Friday, May 3rd, 2024 to March 31st, 2025 Missouri Botanical Garden multimedia exhibit at Sachs Museum- Kernels of Culture: Maize Around the World. Garden Admission is Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Friday thru Sunday Earth Dance Organic Farm Plant Sale, Ferguson
8 am to Noon Saturday, May 4th, Edwardsville IL Garden Club Spring Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church parkign lot, 1802 Madison
8:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, May 4th, Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves
9 am to 2 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 4th-5th, Tower Grove East Community Garden Plant Sale at 3303 Sidney: veggies, annuals, perennials, hostas, ground covers
9 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 4th, Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market
10:30 am May 4th EcoTones Concert at Nee Kee Nee Stream, Tower Grove Park
10 am to 2 pm May 5th Feed the People Garden Project Plant Sale in Bevo Neighborhood.: Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers
8 am May 6th Kress Farm Garden Preserve Plant Sale in Hillsboro, Jefferson County MO. Native plants, shrubs, trees; nonnative plants, annuals, vegetable seedlings.
2 pm May 7th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Summer Crops & Cover Crops. Register
4 pm May 8th Missouri Prairie Foundation Virtual Walk on the Prairie, Spring Edition @ Pettis County. Register
8 am to 1 pm May 11th Flora Conservancy of Forest Park Plant Sale at St. Louis City Greenhouse
8 am to Noon May 11th Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale at Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, 3109 Godfrey, Godfrey IL
8 am to Noon May 11th O’Fallon Garden Club Plant Sale at 2606 Riley Paul Ct, O’Fallon, MO
9 am May 11th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale: Veggies, Herbs, Annuals $3.50 each: Basil, Egglplant, Helenium Amarum, Jalapenos, Parsley, Sweet Pepper, Tomatillo, Tomatoes. Perennials $6 each: Lavender Munstead, Mountain Mint, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Sorrel, Wild Arugula.
9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
9 am to 3 pm May 11th Franklin County Mo Master Gardeners Plant Sale at JC Penny Parking Lot, Washington MO
10 am to 2 pm May 11th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park. $8-$12 entrance fee.
10 am May 11th Companion Planting 101 Class at Heru Urban Farming, Florissant. Register
9 am to 5 pm May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden
9 am to 4 pm May 14th St. Louis Audubon and St. Louis Wild Ones Native Plant garden Tour. $20
6:30 pm May 14th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club May Speaker: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL. Register
8 am to 1 pm May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL
10 am to 3 pm May 18th Plant America Garden Expo at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St Charles MO.
7:30 pm May 18th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park
Ages 8+. 8:30 am May 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register
4 pm May 22nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: EDDMapS Training- Learning How to Document Invasive Plants. Register
8:30 am to 1 pm May 25th Macoupin County IL Master Gardener Plant Sale @ Macoupin County Historical Society, Carlinville IL
9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
1-2 pm May 25th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Planting Sunflowers 101 with Farmer Twan, St. Louis Place. Register
9 am to Noon June 1st Brightside St. Louis Urban Gardening Symposium. Native Plant & Design Experts, Workshops, Plant Sale. $10. Register
June 1st (not confirmed) Lafayette Square Neighborhood Garden Tour & Antique Fair
June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register
June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember
9 am to 5 pm 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.
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
July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County
June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.