This Week in Gardening & Nature

Brightside St. Louis Daffodfils growing in garden

Plants of the Week: Daffodils and Tulips. Plant soon to enjoy next Spring. Friday, September 25th, is Deadline to order from Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Bulb Sale. 30 high quality bulbs for $18. Daffodils: Carlton, Midwest Mix. Tulips: Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin, Pink Impression. Pick Up October 9-10 at Forest Park Greenhouse. There’s a shipping option but it’s USPS.

Plan your garden with 2026 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.

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

September Gardening News (National Gardening Association)

These bulbs have evolved to avoid being eaten. You can take advantage of that (Associated Press)

How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms in Coffee Grounds (Mother Earth News)

Clove at first bite. Small clove, big impact: garlic’s culinary and health benefits. (University of Missouri Extension)

September Gardening Tips for Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns, Indoor Plants  (University of Missouri Extension)

September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Missouri River Bird Observatory Past Webinars and Virtual Nature School for Kids

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.

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. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 26th Bevo. Register
September 26th St. Louis Place. Register
September 26th Tower Grove South. Register
October 10th Benton Park West. Register
October 10th Tower Grove East. Register
October 17th Old North. Register
October 17th Benton Park. Register
October 18th Shaw. Register
October 24th Bevo. Register
October 24th St. Louis Place. Register

Volunteers Wanted. Volunteer for Tower Grove Park’s Plant It Forward Maintenance Program and take home a few thank you plants. Register

Apply for Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree: 3-gallon saplings are offered free of charge to public and nonprofit partners who plant and maintain the trees. Pick Ups in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, Republic, St. Louis County

6:45 am Walk Before You Work Club at Tower Grove Park with naturalist: September 23rd
October 14th
October 28th
November 5th
November 18th

Now thru Saturday, September 26th, Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Landscape and Nature Photography by Elizabeth White

Now thru Satruday, September 26th, Missouri Botanical Gardens sculpture exhibit- Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

October 1st Registration Opens for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

November 15th Deadline to Enter Missouri State Parks & Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Adventure & Recreation, On The Trail, Parks Less Traveled, Making Memories, Capture the Beauty 

October Applications Open for Missouri Prairie Foundation’s 2027 Prairie Garden Grant Program for gardening and conservation groups, parks, school

November 1st Registration Closes for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

Thru December 31st Missouri Botanical Gardens photography exhibit- Gardenscapes: Patterns in Bloom. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Now thru January 4, 2027, Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum: Carolina Caycedo- Growing Deep Roots

Thru March 31, 2027, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs MuseumThe Literary Garden: The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

—– GENERAL CALENDAR —–

9 Seats remaining. 9 am Monday, September 21st, Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Gardening Like a Nature Center. Register

12 Tickets remaining. 9 am Tuesday, September 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Autumnal Equinox Walk at Carondelet Park with naturalist. Register

1 pm Tuesday, September 22nd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Floriography, the Language of Flowers. $15 suggested donation. Register. This class is also offered 9 am Saturday, September 26th.

17 Tickets remaining. 6:45 am Wednesday, September 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

12 Tickets remaining. For Ages 5+. 5 pm Wednesday, September 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Community Fishing- St. Louis Species School. Register

3:30-6:30 pm Thursday, September 24th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

6 Tickets remaining. For Ages 7+. 6 pm Thursday, September 24th, Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

6 pm Thursday, September 24th, Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Vampire Scent Culture with perfumer Rubia Homa. Guests are encouraged to dress in vampire/goth attire. Garden Admission Fee applies

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

Friday, September 25th, Deadline to order from Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Bulb Sale. 30 high quality bulbs for $18. Daffodils: Carlton, Midwest Mix. Tulips: Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin, Pink Impression. Pick Up October 9-10 at Forest Park Greenhouse. There’s a shipping option but it’s USPS.

43 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 5:30-7:30 pm Friday, September 25th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Friday Night Fishing. All equipment provided. Register

Volunteers Wanted. Sasturday, September 26th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Great Mississippi River Clean Up at Alton, Illinois. Register

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, September 26th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette. Order by prior Monday for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

9 am Saturday, September 26th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Floriography, the Language of Flowers. $15 suggested donation. Register.

10 am Saturday, September 26th, St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Register

10 am Saturday, September 26th, Kemper Art Museum event: Botanical Printing. Register

7 Tickets remaining. For Ages 9+. 1:30 pm Saturday, September 26th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

2 pm Saturday, September 26th, St. Louis County Library Plant & Cuttings Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester. Register

4-7 pm Saturday, September 26th, Forest ReLeaf fundraiser: Arbormeisters 2026, ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival at Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park

7 pm Saturday, September 26th, Stargazing with St. Louis Astronomical Society at Tower Grove Park, weather permitting

18 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am Sunday, September 27th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm September 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

6 pm September 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Make Your Own Bird Suet. Register

5:30 pm October 1st Panel Discussion on Plant–Human–Land Relations at
Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

For Ages 7+. 20 Tickets remaining. 6 pm October 1st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

10 am to 3 pm October 3rd Willoughby Farm Fall Farm Day in Collinsville IL. Lots of kid activities and baby highland cows to pet. $5

10 am to 4 pm October 3rd Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s House, Garden, Business Tour and Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets $17.85-$33.85

10 Seats remaining. 1 pm October 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Planting. Register

1:30 pm October 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birding from a Distance. Register

2 pm October 5th St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch:
Garden on your Windowsill
, presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Wild Edibles- Roots & Tubers. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 5:30 pm October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fall Birding. Binoculars provided. Register

Noon October 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

9 am to 5 pm Friday-Sunday, October 9th-11th, Missouri Botanical Garden Best of Missouri Market. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, native plant sales, will be on East Lot. Vendor List. Garden Admission Fee applies.

7 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Lessons from a Life in Photography with Noppadol Paothong. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Wadlow Creek Bird and Plant Survey in Alton, Illinois. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 10 am October 10th Missouri Conservation Department Hike: Calvary Cemetery Prairie Exploration with conservation educator Mary Fuller Register

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register.

6:45 am October 14th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm October 15th University of Illinois Extension Class at Vintage Wine Bar in Waterloo, Illinois: From Hive to Honey- Taste, Learn, Enjoy. Register

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

10:30 am October 17th Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Persimmon Festival. Register for free trees

11 am and 1 pm October 17th Missouri Botanical Garden lecture-recital at Sachs Museum: Frets and Flora, Botanical Themes in Guitar Literature with classical guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm October 17th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

10 am to 2 pm October 18th Bring Conservation Home Expo & Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Park. Native plants for sale, local artists, bird & bat houses, activities for all ages, exhibits.

1:30 pm October 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Speak for the Trees- Community Advocacy for Urban Forests. Register

6 pm October 21st Wild Ones Webinar: Bats in the Backyard. Register

6-8 pm October 22nd Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Alpine Shop, Kirkwood: Happy Hour, Pint Night. $10. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

6:45 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm November 4th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Tea Talk with Amber Fouche- A Lesson in Tea Blending, Tea Benefits, and History

6:45 am November 5th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

5:15 pm Networking Reception and 6 pm lecture November 5th Missouri Botanical Garden: Lecture on Global Plant Conservation with Dr. Lucy Sutherland, Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales. Free

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm November 14th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: History and Use of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

2 pm November 15th Public Tour- Plants as Medicine at Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

6:45 am November 18th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm December 12th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: We Love Lavender! presented by St. Louis Herb Society

11 am to 4 pm January 30th, 2027, 16th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Prepackage your seeds and identify the seeds on package. Seed Swap 11 am to 12:30 pm for those who bring seeds to swap and who will receive an arm band to the Seed Room. After 12:30 pm people without an arm band may enter and select seeds from Seed Room. If you do not contribute seeds, bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear. These items will be given to a local charity.

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Spring Clinic. Register

18 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 22nd St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Scape Pesto. Register

17 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Harvesting Garlic for Garlic Aioli. Register

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native Blue Sage (Salvia azurea). Plant now for great color and pollinators next Fall. These can grow up to 6-7 feet tall in full sun. I cut them back early summer to make them more manageable. But tall they look great paired with native perennial Sunflowers and Goldenrod.

Plan your garden with 2026 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.

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

September Gardening Tips for Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns, Indoor Plants  (University of Missouri Extension)

September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Garlic Planting Video (University of Missouri Extension)

Illinois study reveals another reason to save the world’s trees (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Rare plant is documented on Newton County native prairie remnant, SW Missouri. Pinnate Dogshade (KSMU Ozark Public Radio)

The feds no longer protect endangered species habitat. States say they can’t pick up the slack. Few wildlife agencies have the authority to regulate habitat under state laws. (Stateline)

Who says a vegetable garden needs full sun? Some plants do well in shadier spots (Associated Press)

Missouri River Bird Observatory Past Webinars and Virtual Nature School for Kids

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.

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. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 19th Old North. Register
September 19th St. Louis Place. Register
October 4th Forest Park Southeast. Register
October 17th Old North. Register
October 18th Shaw. Register

Friday, September 18th Deadline to complete Missouri Invasive Plant Council Survey

Volunteers Wanted. Volunteer for Tower Grove Park’s Plant It Forward Maintenance Program and take home a few thank you plants. Register

Apply for Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree: 3-gallon saplings are offered free of charge to public and nonprofit partners who plant and maintain the trees. Pick Ups in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, Republic, St. Louis County

6:45 am Walk Before You Work Club at Tower Grove Park with naturalist: September 23rd
October 14th
October 28th
November 5th
November 18th

September 25th Deadline to order from Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Bulb Sale. 30 high quality bulbs for $18. Daffodils: Carlton, Midwest Mix. Tulips: Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin, Pink Impression. Pick Up October 9-10 at Forest Park Greenhouse. There’s a shipping option but it’s USPS.

Now thru September 26th Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Landscape and Nature Photography by Elizabeth White

Now thru September 26th Missouri Botanical Gardens sculpture exhibit- Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

October 1st Registration Opens for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

November 15th Deadline to Enter Missouri State Parks & Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Adventure & Recreation, On The Trail, Parks Less Traveled, Making Memories, Capture the Beauty 

October Applications Open for Missouri Prairie Foundation’s 2027 Prairie Garden Grant Program for gardening and conservation groups, parks, school

November 1st Registration Closes for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

Thru December 31st Missouri Botanical Gardens photography exhibit- Gardenscapes: Patterns in Bloom. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Now thru January 4, 2027, Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum: Carolina Caycedo- Growing Deep Roots

Thru March 31, 2027, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs MuseumThe Literary Garden: The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

—– GENERAL CALENDAR —–

9 am Monday, September 14th, Heartlands Conservancy Clean Water, Bright Future Tour at Highland Silver Lake Watershed, Madison County IL. Register

8 Seats remaining. For ages 55+. 9 am Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Conservation Department Senior Picnic at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County. Register

1:30 pm Tuesday, September 15th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Bringing the Outside In- Overwintering Tender Perennial Plants. Register

7 pm Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers and Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Backyard Winter Bird Photography with Richard Day. Register

6 pm Wednesday, September 16th, Wild Ones Webinar: From Lawn to Meadow. Gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, weed management, plant competition, and long-term maintenance.  Register

Noon Thursday, September 17th, Deep Roots Kansas City Zoom Class: Growing Plants Sustainably. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Heartlands Conservancy Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day, Edwardsville IL. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

5-10 pm Friday, 9 am to 7 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5, pm Sunday, September 18th-20th, Greater St Louis Daffodil Society Fall Bulb Sale at Greentree Festival, Kirkwood

11 am Friday, September 18th, St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch: African Violets 101 presented by Amethyst African Violet Club. Register

8 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

10 am Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis County Library Plant, Cuttings, Seed Swap at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton. Register

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 19th, Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Go Deeper: A Community Land and Healing RetreatRegister

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Pollinator Network Pollinator Palooza at Weldon Spring Site, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be selling native plants.

11:30 to 4:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: A Creative Field Study and Natural Gesture Community Day with North St. Louis residents sharing their work with plant material, foods, herbs, and built environment of their neighborhoods and its relationship to the Mississippi River. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Lore & Legend of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

Noon to 10 pm Saturday, September 19th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club 20th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival in Alton, Illinois

11 Seat remaining. 9 am September 21st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Gardening Like a Nature Center. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 9 am September 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Autumnal Equinox Walk at Carondelet Park with naturalist. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 6:45 am September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

For Ages 5+. 12 Tickets remaining. 5 pm September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Community Fishing- St. Louis Species School. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

For Ages 7+. 13 Tickets remaining. 6 pm September 24th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

6 pm September 24th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Vampire Scent Culture with perfumer Rubia Homa. Guests are encouraged to dress in vampire/goth attire. Garden Admission Fee applies

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

44 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 5:30-7:30 pm September 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Friday Night Fishing. All equipment provided. Register

Volunteers Wanted. September 26th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Great Mississippi River Clean Up at Alton, Illinois. Register

8 am to 4 pm September 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette. Order by prior Monday for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

10 am September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Register

10 am September 26th Kemper Art Museum event: Botanical Printing. Register

3 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 11 am September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

8 Tickets remaining. For Ages 9+. 1:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

2 pm September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Cuttings Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester. Register

18 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 3:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

4-7 pm September 26th Forest ReLeaf fundraiser: Arbormeisters 2026, ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival at Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park

7 pm September 26th Stargazing with St. Louis Astronomical Society at Tower Grove Park, weather permitting

18 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am September 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm September 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

6 pm September 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Make Your Own Bird Suet. Register

5:30 pm October 1st Panel Discussion on Plant–Human–Land Relations at
Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

For Ages 7+. 20 Tickets remaining. 6 pm October 1st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

10 am to 3 pm October 3rd Willoughby Farm Fall Farm Day in Collinsville IL. Lots of kid activities and baby highland cows to pet. $5

10 am to 4 pm October 3rd Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s House, Garden, Business Tour and Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets $17.85-$33.85

10 Seats remaining. 1 pm October 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Planting. Register

1:30 pm October 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birding from a Distance. Register

2 pm October 5th St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch:
Garden on your Windowsill
, presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Wild Edibles- Roots & Tubers. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 5:30 pm October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fall Birding. Binoculars provided. Register

Noon October 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

9 am to 5 pm Friday-Sunday, October 9th-11th, Missouri Botanical Garden Best of Missouri Market. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, native plant sales, will be on East Lot. Vendor List. Garden Admission Fee applies.

7 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Lessons from a Life in Photography with Noppadol Paothong. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Wadlow Creek Bird and Plant Survey in Alton, Illinois. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 10 am October 10th Missouri Conservation Department Hike: Calvary Cemetery Prairie Exploration with conservation educator Mary Fuller Register

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register.

6:45 am October 14th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm October 15th University of Illinois Extension Class at Vintage Wine Bar in Waterloo, Illinois: From Hive to Honey- Taste, Learn, Enjoy. Register

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

10:30 am October 17th Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Persimmon Festival. Register for free trees

11 am and 1 pm October 17th Missouri Botanical Garden lecture-recital at Sachs Museum: Frets and Flora, Botanical Themes in Guitar Literature with classical guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm October 17th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

10 am to 2 pm October 18th Bring Conservation Home Expo & Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Park. Native plants for sale, local artists, bird & bat houses, activities for all ages, exhibits.

1:30 pm October 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Speak for the Trees- Community Advocacy for Urban Forests. Register

6 pm October 21st Wild Ones Webinar: Bats in the Backyard. Register

6-8 pm October 22nd Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Alpine Shop, Kirkwood: Happy Hour, Pint Night. $10. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

6:45 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm November 4th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Tea Talk with Amber Fouche- A Lesson in Tea Blending, Tea Benefits, and History

6:45 am November 5th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

5:15 pm Networking Reception and 6 pm lecture November 5th Missouri Botanical Garden: Lecture on Global Plant Conservation with Dr. Lucy Sutherland, Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales. Free

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm November 14th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: History and Use of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

2 pm November 15th Public Tour- Plants as Medicine at Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

6:45 am November 18th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm December 12th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: We Love Lavender! presented by St. Louis Herb Society

11 am to 4 pm January 30th, 2027, 16th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Prepackage your seeds and identify the seeds on package. Seed Swap 11 am to 12:30 pm for those who bring seeds to swap and who will receive an arm band to the Seed Room. After 12:30 pm people without an arm band may enter and select seeds from Seed Room. If you do not contribute seeds, bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear. These items will be given to a local charity.

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Spring Clinic. Register

18 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 22nd St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Scape Pesto. Register

17 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Harvesting Garlic for Garlic Aioli. Register

This Week in Gardening & Nature

spinach seedling under grow lights

Plant of the Week: Spinach. Getting ready to both transplant and sow some seeds in my garden this week. With the unpredictable topsy-turvy weather in Missouri, already planning on covering these during Spring hot and cold extremes.

Plan your garden with  2026 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more. This Week: Sow Indoors- tomato, tomatillo; Transplant outdoors- bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, lettuce, leeks, onions; Seed outdoors- arugula, beets, bok choy, carrots, chard, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, spinach, turnips

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Three Rivers Farm Plant Sales in Elsah IL, UCity in Bloom Sale, Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Garden Club Plant Sales in IL, Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale in Swansea IL, Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Plant Sale, St. Louis Dahlia Society Spring Tuber Exchange, more Plant/Seed Swaps at St. Louis County libraries

Sign up for Missouri Coalition for Environment Missouri Legislative Alerts

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

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

8 native St. Louis trees to plant instead of stinky, invasive Callery pears (St. Louis Public Radio)

Rethinking Horticulture with Real Ecology (Wild Ones, YouTube)

Designing Gardens for Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, YouTube)

Basics of Home Composting video (University of Illinois Extension)

Sedum: A durable, perennial pollinator. This drought-resistant succulent blooms after most garden flowers have faded. (University of Missouri Extension)

March Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

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.

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. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
April 4th Hyde Park. Register
April 5th Forest Park Southeast. Register 
April 11th Benton Park West. Register
April 11th Tower Grove East. Register
April 15th Shaw. Register
April 18th Old North. Register
April 18th Benton Park. Register
April 19th Shaw. Register

Apply now for 2026 Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree Free Trees. 3-gallon trees and shrubs for public or nonprofit plantings by neighborhood associations, schools, Scouts, churches, cities, municipalities and other community groups in St. Louis area.

It’s a new year of fun and learning at St. Louis County Parks & Rec Children’s Garden Club

Going on Now: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in April.

Now thru March 31st Sachs Butterfly House event in Chesterfield: Morpho Mania. Be surrounded by thousands of blue morpho butterflies. Fees apply

Now thru March 31st 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.

Now thru April 16th Online Presale for May 2nd Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park in Swansea, Illinois. Plant List. Trees and shrubs are by pre-order only.

Now thru April 16th. Register for April 21st Missouri Invasive Plant Council’s Callery Pear, Bradford Pear BuybackConfirmed locations: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Doniphan, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Lebanon, Liberty, Moberly, Park Hills, Parkville, Riverside, Rolla, Sikeston, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Warrensburg, and West Plains.

—– DAILY —–

Monday, March 30th, Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, April 4th, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

1 pm Monday, March 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register

6:30 pm Monday, March 30th, Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Grassland Birds with Dr. Alice Boyle of the University of Western Ontario. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, March 31st Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Mushroom Hunting. Register

9 am Wednesday, April 1st, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Flowering Tree Walk with horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, April 2nd, Heartlands Conservancy Hobson Wildlife Reserve Stewardship Day near Collinsville IL. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9-11:30 am Friday, April 3rd Tower Grove Park Arbor Day Tree Planting. Register

Noon Thursday, April 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Love Under Water. Learn about freshwater fish’s life cycles and reproduction. Register

9 am to 3 pm Friday-Saturday, April 3rd-4th Missouri Botanical Garden Arbor Day Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

8 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 4th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9-11 am Saturday, April 4th, St. Louis Dahlia Society Spring Tuber Exchange at Commerce Bank Center for Science Education, 4651 Shaw

10 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 4th, Audubon Center at Riverlands Pop Up Native Plant Sale in West Alton MO. This isn’t on website but is on FB which I do not share links to. Prices range from $3.50-$40. Cash or Check Only. Green Thumb Nursery is vendor. Questions? Contact Tom at swt12greenthumb@gmail.com

10 am Saturday, April 4th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

10 am Saturday, April 4th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Spring Ephemeral Hike at McCully Heritage Project, Kampsville, Calhoun County IL. Register

1:30 pm Saturday, April 4th, Grow Native! Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Wildwood Valley Spring Flowers Walking Tour with James Faupel, Director of Horticulture and Curator of Living Collections. Register

25 Seats remaining. 11 am Sunday, April 5th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Trout Catch and Keep. Catch your limit and learn about cleaning and cooking your fish. Ages 16-64 requires a Fishing Permit and every age needs a Trout Stamp to harvest trout. Register

April 6th Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, April 11th, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

6 pm April 6th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Weeding Without Chemicals

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 7th The Nature Institute Restoration Workday: Native Species Removal, Godfrey IL. Register

1:30 pm April 7th University of Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Growing a Butterfly Garden- Illinois Butterflies and Their Host Plants. Register

6:30 pm April 7th University of Illinois Extension event at Salt Lick Point Land &Water Reserve, Valmeyer IL: Monrow County Wildflowers Walk. Register

7 pm April 7th Missouri Botanical Garden & St. Louis County Library author event at Clark Family Branch: David George Haskell’s “How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries”

12 Tickets remaining. 9 am April 8th Tower Grove Park Class: Tree Sucker Removal Training. Register

2 pm April 8th St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Plant Initiative – Growing Equity, Resilience and Community. Register

4 pm April 8th Grow Native! Webinar: Ozark Ethnobotany with Shaw Nature Reserve. Learn about newly opened Ozark Ethnobotany Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

6 pm April 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Frogs & Toads. Register

7 pm April 8th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event at Webster University: Data Centers in our Communities- What We Know, What’s at Stake, and What We Can Do. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 9th Heartlands Conservancy Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day in Edwardsville IL. Register

For Kids Age 7 and under. 19 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am April 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Pollinator Power! Register

2 pm April 9th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch: Start Your Veggie Garden. Register

6 pm April 9th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: The Summer Vegetable Garden. Learn how to plant and maintain healthy summer crops, what pests and diseases to look out for, easy summer vegetables, and quick-growing summer cover crops for empty beds. Register

8 Seats remaining. 6 pm April 9th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. This class is required prior to other fishing classes. Register

6:15 pm April 9th Wild Ones St. Charles Chapter Speaker at Spencer Road Library, St. Peters: Native Plants- Ephemerals, Late Winter and Early Spring in the Garden.

7 pm April 9th Heartlands Conservancy Frog Walk at Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville IL. Register

April 10th thru September 26 at Missouri Botanical Garden: Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. This exhibit explores the connection between art, science, and nature through 21 intricately designed and interactive installations located throughout the Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

15 Tickets remaining. 9 am April 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Wildflower Walk with naturalist. 2-mile loop moderately steep. Register

5:30 pm April 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum event: Sips, Souls, and Strolls- Sundials and Streams. Beer, wine, light hors d’oeuvres. $15 donation suggested. Register

10 Tickets remaining. 6:45 pm April 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Queeny Park, St. Louis County: Owl Prowl. Register

8 am to 4 pm April 11th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

8 am April 11th St. Louis Audubon event at Jefferson Barracks: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

9 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles, presented by Bo Brown, foraging author and nature educator. Register

10 am April 11th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum event: Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

11 am April 11th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register.

17 Tickets remaining. 11:30 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Spring Ephemeral Hike. 1.25 miles on Hickory Ridge trail, some inclines and declines. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 12:30-3 pm April 11th Forest ReLeaf O’Fallon Park Tree Planting. Register

10 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 11th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Magical Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. Register

27 Tickets remaining. Adults. 2 pm April 11th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Flowerpot Snakes- Who’s Slithering in Your Garden? Includes make & take mini air-dry clay snake sculpture. Register

7 pm April 11st Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum and St. Louis Astronomical Society event: Star Party. Register

1-4:30 pm April 12th Missouri Coalition for the Environment hosts Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Columbia. Short films about our planet and the people working to protect it. Lineup includes Hyperscaled about the real cost of data centers and Wild Hope: Reclaiming Bear River about the  Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation purchasing their ancestral homeland. Fees.

11 Tickets remaining. 3 pm April 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Geocaching- Slither & Seek. Practice your snake ID skills. Register

April 13th Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, April 18th, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

18 Tickets remaining. 9 am April 14th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park: Kennedy Forest Boardwalk Walk with naturalist. Register

9:30 am to 4 pm April 15th Missouri Sierra Club Lobby Day at State Capitol, Jefferson City

6 pm April 15th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with HareandBearco. Floral art. Register

6 pm April 16th St. Louis County Library event at Florissant Valley Branch: Plant Swap. Register

18 Tickets remaining. 6 pm April 16th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. This class is a prerequisite for future fishing classes. Register

6 pm April 16th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Container Gardening. Register

For Kids ages 6 and older. 20 Tickets remaining. 6 pm April 17th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Box Turtle Portrait Painting. Register

7 am to 3 pm April 18th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring, near Lebanon, 3 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City.

8 am to 4 pm April 18th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 18th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

9 am to 1 pm April 18th Ellbee’s Gathering Spot 3rd Annual Plant Swap in Wentzville. Free Friendship Vine (Hyacinth Bean) seeds and drawing for Spring Baskets. Bring a Plant, Take a Plant.

10 am to 2 pm April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

10 am April 28th Seed St. Louis Spring Community Gardener Meet-Up at Wedge Community Garden, Tower Grove East. Registration implies consent for your photo to be taken for promotional use. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am April 19th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

April 20th Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, April 25th, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

Register by April 16th for April 21, 2026, Missouri Invasive Plant Council Callery Pear, Bradford Pear Buyback. Confirmed locations: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Doniphan, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Lebanon, Liberty, Moberly, Park Hills, Parkville, Riverside, Rolla, Sikeston, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Warrensburg, and West Plains.

6:30 pm April 21st Missouri Conservation Department Webinar: Wildflower ID. Register

7 pm April 21st Missouri Conservation Department and Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am April 22nd Forest ReLeaf Morning Earth Day Potting at City Tree Farm, Scott Joplin House. Help pot up 300 baby trees. Register.

2 pm April 22nd St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Trees for Bees. Register

4 pm April 22nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Opening the Black Box: Soil Microbial Complexity Part 2 – Soil as the Final Frontier presented by Sam Lord, soil ecologist and Assistant Research Professor at the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 6 pm April 23rd Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook. Completion of Fishing Lesson 1 required. Register

6 pm April 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Learning to Hunt- Mushrooms. Register

8 am April 24th Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale

9 am to 4 pm April 24th St. Louis Community College Horticulture Program @ Meramec Plant Sale at 11333 Big Bend Road, St. Louis MO 63122, Parking Lot K. Cash and Check Only

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 24th-25th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

7 pm April 24th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

8 am to 4 pm April 25th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm Sunday, April 25th-26th UCity in Bloom Plant Sale

9 am to 3 pm April 25th-26th Sachs Butterfly House Pollinator Plant Sale in Chesterfield

9 am until Sold Out April 25th Olivette in Bloom Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson

9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, April 25th-26th, Three Rivers Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois

10 am April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Plant Swap. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 25th Audubon Center at Riverlands Native Plant Festival in West Alton MO

22 Tickets remaining. 10 am April 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Carondelet Park: Geocaching. Register

10 am April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Plant Swap. Register

Family Fun. 10 am to 1 pm April 25th Missouri Conservation Department Earth Day event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Sustainable DIY Projects Workshop. Bring a picnic lunch and recycled cardboard tubes, plastic bottles, milk cartons, aluminum cans. Register

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 25th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Strawberry Basil Mocktails & Plant Health Clinic. Register

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch: Plant Swap. Register

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

6:30 pm April 28th St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Grow Smart This Spring. Register

6:30 pm April 30th St. Louis County Library event at Prairie Commons Branch: Plant Swap. Register

May Garden Club of Lebanon, Illinois, Plant Sale.

9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 2nd-43rd, Three Rivers Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois

10 am May 2nd Seed St. Louis School Garden Workshop: Summer Maintenance for Fall Learning at Bell Community Garden. Register

10 am May 2nd Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event in Tower Grove Neighborhood: Urban Pollinator Garden Tour. Register

Noon to 3 pm May 2nd Heartlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park in Swansea, Illinois

2 pm May 2nd St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Native Wildflower Gardening. Register

May 2nd-3rd Kress Farm Garden Preserve Spring Plant Sale at Hillsboro

6 pm May 4th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Sustainability, Ecology, & Conservation efforts in St. Louis Parks.

1-4 pm May 7th-8th Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Plant Sale. Checks only.

May 8, 2026 to March 31, 2027 Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum: The Literary Garden- The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

3 pm May 8th St. Louis County Library event at Clark Family Branch: Plant Swap. Register

8 am to 1 pm May 9th Mississippi Valley Garden Club, Illinois, Plant Sale in Godfrey, Illinois

8:30 am to Noon May 9th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Club Plant Sale at First Congregational Church parking lot

May 9th Garden Club of Edwardsville, Illinois Plant Sale.

9 am May 9th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 5 pm May 9th St. Louis Hosta Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

10 am May 9th St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: Native to Missouri Plant Swap. Register

10 am May 9th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Wildflower Garden Planning

11 am May 9th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens April 11th

1:30 pm May 12th University of Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Veggie Visions- Unveiling New Flavors in 2026. Register

12 Seats remaining. 6 pm May 12th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with Erin Luna. A hands-on workshop on indigo dyeing, includes make & take tea towel. Register

2 pm May 14th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Nee Kee Nee (Osage Nation), Tower Grove Park’s East Stream

9 am to 5 pm May 16th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 1 pm May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

10 am to 2 pm May 17th Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette

May 18th Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, May 23rd, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

2 pm May 18th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch: Plant Drip Trays. Come craft custom drip trays from upcycled treasures. Register

2 pm May 19th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Pollution Solution, presented by River des Peres Watershed Coalition

2 pm May 20th St. Louis County Library Zoom Event:  Native Edible Plants for your Home Garden. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 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.

8 am to 4 pm May 23rd Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am to 5 pm May 23rd-24th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at  Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 23rd St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato Transplant Class. Register

May 25th Deadline to order native plants, shrubs, trees from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pickup Saturday, May 23rd, at Kirkwood Farmers Market

May 30th Brightside St. Louis Urban Gardening Symposium

8 am to 4 pm May 30th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am June 10th Missouri Botanical Garden Earthways Center class at Commerce Bank Education Center: Climate Change and Plants. Register

6 pm June 10th St. Louis Public Library Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made event at Carpenter Library: Urban Buds flower arranging class. Register

11 am June 13th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens May 16th

9 am to 5 pm June 20th Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 26th-27th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 5 pm June 27th Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale

June 27th-28th St. Louis Water Garden Society’s Pond-O-Rama

18 Seats remaining. 1 pm June 27th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Garden Party Strawberry & Basil Mocktails! Register

11 am July 11th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens June 13th

21 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 11th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato & Basil Health Clinic. Register

9 am to 4 pm July 18th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Funga Fair- A Mushroom Event Hosted by the Missouri Mycological Society. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, July 24th-25th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

July 25th-26th Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society Plant Sale at Jost Event Center, Overland

9 am to 5 pm August 1st-2nd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

11 am August 8th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens July 11th

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm August 8th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Garden Party Caprese Salad. Bring tomatoes & basil from your garden. Register

Noon to 5 pm August 9th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 5 pm August 15th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, August 21st-22nd, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

September 5th Garden Club of Edwardsville, Illinois Plant Sale.

9 am to 5 pm September 12th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

September 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

11 am September 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens August 15th

September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens September 12th

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Leek harvest on plywood table
chopped leeks in collander for washing

Plant of the Week: Leeks. Sow leek seeds indoors now or purchase bare roots at Seed St. Louis March 14th Sale. You can sauté and freeze leeks for use in quiche and leek soup or freeze raw for vegetable soup. They are very easy to grow. Our garden is abandoned for a monthat a time when we travel and leeks do just fine.

Plan your garden with  2026 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more. Start Indoors this week: cauliflower, chard, collards, kale, kohlrabi, parsley

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Kirkwood Market dates for Missouri Wildflowers Nursery; Mississippi Valley Garden Club, Illinois, Plant Sale in Godfrey IL

Sign up for Missouri Coalition for Environment Missouri Legislative Alerts

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

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

Winter Sowing Seeds (University of Missouri Extension)

These 5 Genius DIY Planters Started as Everyday Household Items (Martha Stewart)

What is Rapini? (Mother Earth News)

Taking Plant Cuttings (University of Missouri Extension)

How to create a calming ‘nature nook’ with indoor plants. (Associated Press)

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.

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. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
February 14th Tower Grove East. Register
February 14th Benton Park West. Register
February 15th Shaw. Register
February 21st Old North. Register
February 21st Benton Park. Register
February 28th Bevo. Register
March 1st Forest Park Southeast. Register
March 7th Hyde Park. Register
March 14th Benton Park West. Register
March 15th Shaw. Register
March 21st Old North. Register
April 4th Hyde Park. Register
April 11th Benton Park West. Register
April 18th Old North. Register
April 19th Shaw. Register

2026 Witch Hazel Hunt. Record your Witch Hazel find with Forest Releaf.

Apply now for 2026 Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree Free Trees. 3-gallon trees and shrubs for public or nonprofit plantings by neighborhood associations, schools, Scouts, churches, cities, municipalities and other community groups in St. Louis area.

It’s a new year of fun and learning at St. Louis County Parks & Rec Children’s Garden Club

Register for February 25th-April 1st Forest ReLeaf’s 6-week TreeKeepers Introductory Tree Care Course at Scott Joplin House

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

9 am to 4 pm March 1st-31st Sachs Butterfly House event in Chesterfield: Morpho Mania. Be surrounded by thousands of blue morpho butterflies. Fees apply

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 —–

9-11 am Tuesday, February 10th, University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Changing Climate and Historic Pests. $10 for access to all sessions. Register

1-4 pm Tuesday, February 10th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class:  Winter Tree and Shrub ID. $15 donation suggested. Register

1:30 pm Tuesday, February 10th, University of Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Creating Simply Lovely Nature Art. Learn how to create a nature-inspired living heart craft with freshly cut willow. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, February 10th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Speaker Series in Alton, Illinois: Archaeology and Conservation. Register

24 Seats remaining. 9:30 am Wednesday, February 11th, Tower Grove Park event: Monarchs and Friends

6 pm Wednesday, February 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Zoom Class:  Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardeners. Register

6 pm Wednesday, February 11th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Birdwatching- Introduction and Benefits presented by Sarah Kendrick, Ornithologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, February 12th, Heartlands Conservancy Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day at Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

6:15 pm Thursday, February 12th, Wild Ones St. Charles Area Chapter Winter Speaker Series at Spencer Road Library, St. Peters: Not Like a Haircut- Pruning to Promote Health, Vigor, and Appearance. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, February 13th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Service Day at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Register

28 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am Friday, February 14th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Great Backyard Bird Count. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 9 am Saturday, February 14th, Missouri Conservation Department event in West Alton, Missouri: Dresser Island Hike. Register

9 am to Noon Saturday, February 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class:  Winter Tree and Shrub ID. $15 donation suggested. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, February 14th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Belleview Farm Work Day in Wildwood. Register

11 am February 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register

4 Seats remaining. Couples event. Must be at least 21 years of age. 4 pm February 14th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Art in the Park- Love Birds. BYOB & snacks. Learn about animal courtship + create a diptych pair of love birds. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am February 16th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Presidents Day Service Project in Alton, Illinois: Litter Pick Up at Wadlow Town Center’s Bicycle and Walking Trail. Register

6:30 pm February 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Amphibians, presented by Waylon Hiler, Missouri Valley College. Register 

9-11 am February 17th University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Tree Care After Planting and Tree Responses to Cultural Practices. $10 for access to all sessions. Register

6:30 pm February 17th Missouri Conservation Department Webinar: Owls of Missouri. Register

6:30 pm February 17th Missouri Conservation Department Webinar: Sap to Syrup. Register

10:30 am February 19th Missouri Conservation Department Webinar: Owls of Missouri. Register

Volunteers Want. 9 am February 20th Heartlands Conservancy Exploration Garden Stewardship Day at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois. Register

29 Tickets remaining. 9:30 am February 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Insect Hotels

9 am February 26th Heartlands Conservancy Bluebird Monitoring Training Session- Zoom or at office in Belleville, Illinois. Register

7 pm February 26th Missouri Conservation Department Upgrading Your Urban Oasis Virtual Series: Planning and Designing Native Plant Spaces. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, February 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.

2 pm February 27th Bowood Farms Design a Flower Garden from Seed Workshop. $35. Register

7 pm February 27th Missouri Conservation Department An Evening with Raptors at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Register

9 am to Noon February 28th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser

32 Tickets remaining. 10 am to Noon February 28th Missouri Conservation Department Eagle Watching at the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Register

1 pm February 28th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature Art- Soaps & Salves. Learn how to utilize native plants in soothing soaps and salves. Explore traditional uses, craft your own botanical creations, learn how to make your very own natural soap. Register

16 Tickets remaining. For ages 7 an older. 10 am to Noon March 1st Missouri Conservation Department Learn to Fish Class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout. Learn all about trout species, habitat, history, fishing, try your hand at catching a Rainbow Trout. Ages 16-64 needs a fishing permit. Register

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

6:30 pm March 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Turtle Ecology & Conservation with Alex Heeb of the Turtle Conservation Group. Register

1:30 pm March 3rd, University of Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Pruning Young Shade Trees. Register

8 am to 4 pm March 4th University of Illinois 2026 Gateway Green Conference in Collinsville. $85. Register

6 pm March 4th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Introduction into Sustainability

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

23 Seats remaining. 10:30 am March 7th Seed St. Louis class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: How to Grow Native Food Crops. Register

11 am to 2 pm March 7th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Seed Swap. Register

Noon March 7th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library:  A Chick Chat with Second-Hen’d

1 pm March 7th St. Louis Public Library Women’s History Month event at Walnut Park Library: Rooted in Change: Women, Sustainability & the Future of Farming with Maddie Earnest, Local Harvest Grocery. Register

7 pm March 7th  St. Louis Astronomical Society Star Party at Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum. Register

11 Tickets remaining. For ages 7 an older. 10 am to Noon March 8th Missouri Conservation Department Learn to Fish Class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout. Learn all about trout species, habitat, history, fishing, try your hand at catching a Rainbow Trout. Ages 16-64 needs a fishing permit. Register

1 pm March 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Natural Landscape Design. $15 suggested donation. Register

4-6 pm March 11th North County Agricultural Education Center gardening class in St. Louis County: Greenhouse Systems Management Workshop. Register

6 pm March 11th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library:  Bees, Pollinators and Native Plants

6 pm March 11th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with Klondike Bison & Bee. Field to fork bison. Registration opens January 3rd.

6:15 pm March 12th Wild Ones St. Charles Area Chapter Winter Speaker Series at Spencer Road Library, St. Peters: Nature at Night, presented by photographer Dan Zarlenga. Register

9 am March 14th Seed St. Louis March Sale at Carriage House: seed potatoes, onion sets, bare-root leeks, mushroom spawn, bare-root strawberry plants, bare-root asparagus plants, water chestnuts, and Korean taro root. Get in line early for best selection. Bring a box lid for your purchases.

9 am March 14th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Natural Landscape Design. $15 suggested donation. Register

11 am March 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens February 14th

21 Seats remaining. 1 pm March 14th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato History. Register

1:30 pm March 14th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour. Register

6:30 pm March 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri’s Crayfish with Dr. Cheyenne Stratton of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Register

1 pm March 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Spring Floriography, the Language of Flowers. $15 suggested donation. Register

9 am March 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Bulb Walk with Horticulturist. $5 suggested donation. Register

4-6 pm March 18th North County Agricultural Education Center gardening class in St. Louis County: Herb Gardening and Utilization Workshop. Register

9 am March 21st Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Spring Floriography, the Language of Flowers. $15 suggested donation. Register

1 pm March 21st St. Louis Public Library gardening class at Central Library: Get Up and Grow Herbs, presented by The St. Louis Herb Society. Register (it’s on Herb Society website but not Library calendar yet)

1 pm March 21st St. Louis Public Library event at Walnut Park Library: History of the Weldon Spring Site- Environmental Awareness for the Future. Register

9 am March 25th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Bulb Walk with Horticulturist. $5 suggested donation. Register

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: PFAS the Forever Chemical

7 pm March 26th Missouri Conservation Department Upgrading Your Urban Oasis Virtual Series: Living with Wildlife in Your Garden. Register

7:30 am to Noon, March 27th Grow Native! Southwest Illinois Workshop at Lewis & Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Purposeful Prairie Plantings. $25 members, $15 Students, $30 nonmembers includes breakfast buffet. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, March 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.

7:45 am to Noon March 28th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fox Trot 5K & Kit Crawl 10K Run/Walk fundraiser. Fees to Register.

9 am March 28th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House

11 am March 28th Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Garden-Based Learning Integration at Your School or Youth Program. Register

15 Seats remaining. 1 pm March 28th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Strawberry and Basil Planting. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am March 29th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6:30 pm March 30th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Grassland Birds with Dr. Alice Boyle of the University of Western Ontario. Register

6:30 pm March 31st Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Mushroom Hunting. Register

April Seven Pines Garden Club Plant Sale

April UCity in Bloom Plant Sale

8 am to 4 pm April 4th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

6 pm April 6th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Weeding Without Chemicals

8 am to 4 pm April 11th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles, presented by Bo Brown, foraging author and nature educator. Register

11 am April 11th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens March 14th

1-4:30 pm April 14th Missouri Coalition for the Environment hosts Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Columbia. Short films about our planet and the people working to protect it. Fees. Film lineup to be released March 15th.

6 pm April 15th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with HareandBearco. Floral art. Register

8 am to 4 pm April 18th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am April 18th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

1 pm April 18th St. Louis Public Library gardening class at Central Library: Pest Control with Herbs, presented by The St. Louis Herb Society. Register (it’s on Herb Society website but not Library calendar yet)

Volunteers wanted. 9 am April 19th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

April 21, 2026, Missouri Invasive Plant Council Callery Pear, Bradford Pear Buyback. Info on 2025 event. No link yet for 2026. Confirmed locations: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Doniphan, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Lebanon, Liberty, Moberly, Park Hills, Parkville, Riverside, Rolla, Sikeston, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Warrensburg, and West Plains.

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, April 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.

7 pm April 24th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

27 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 25th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Strawberry Basil Mocktails & Plant Health Clinic. Register

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

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

May Garden Club of Lebanon, Illinois, Plant Sale. 2025 Info
May Garden Club of Edwardsville, Illinois Plant Sale. 2025 Info
May Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Plant Sale

May 2nd-3rd Kress Farm Garden Preserve Spring Plant Sale at Hillsboro

6 pm May 4th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Sustainability, Ecology, & Conservation efforts in St. Louis Parks.

May 8, 2026 to March 31, 2027 Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum: The Literary Garden- The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

8 am to Noon May 9th Mississippi Valley Garden Club, Illinois, Plant Sale in Godfrey, Illinois

9 am May 9th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 5 pm May 9th St. Louis Hosta Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

10 am May 9th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Wildflower Garden Planning

11 am May 9th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens April 11th

6 pm May 12th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with Erin Luna. A hands-on workshop on indigo dyeing, includes make & take tea towel. Registration opens March 6th.

2 pm May 14th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Nee Kee Nee (Osage Nation), Tower Grove Park’s East Stream

9 am to 5 pm May 16th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 1 pm May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

1 pm May 16th St. Louis Public Library gardening class at Central Library: Cooking with Herbs, presented by The St. Louis Herb Society. Register (it’s on Herb Society website but not Library calendar yet)

10 am to 2 pm May 17th Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette

2 pm May 19th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Buder Library: Pollution Solution, presented by River des Peres Watershed Coalition

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 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.

8 am to 4 pm May 23rd Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

9 am to 5 pm May 23rd-24th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at  Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

25 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 23rd St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato Transplant Class. Register

May 30th Brightside St. Louis Urban Gardening Symposium

8 am to 4 pm May 30th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order five days in advance for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

June Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale

9 am June 10th Missouri Botanical Garden Earthways Center class at Commerce Bank Education Center: Climate Change and Plants. Register

6 pm June 10th St. Louis Public Library Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made event at Carpenter Library: Urban Buds flower arranging class. Register

11 am June 13th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens May 16th

9 am to 5 pm June 20th Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 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.

June 27th-28th St. Louis Water Garden Society’s Pond-O-Rama

26 Seats remaining. 1 pm June 27th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Garden Party Strawberry & Basil Mocktails! Register

11 am July 11th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens June 13th

27 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 11th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato & Basil Health Clinic. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, July 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.

July 25th-26th Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society Plant Sale at Jost Event Center, Overland

9 am to 5 pm August 1st-2nd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

11 am August 8th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens July 11th

24 Seats remaining. 1 pm August 8th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Garden Party Caprese Salad. Bring tomatoes & basil from your garden. Register

Noon to 5 pm August 9th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 5 pm August 15th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, August 21st-22nd, 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 5 pm September 12th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

September 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

11 am September 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens August 15th

September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 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.

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens September 12th

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 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.

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 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.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, 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 Decemner 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Blue Sage

Plant of the Week: Native Blue Sage. This will grow tall and even taller if competing with Sunflowers, Goldenrod, or other tall plants. The good news is that you can prune it back to four feet or more/less over the summer and it will still look great come Fall.

The last #GardenSunday on Bluesky is August 31st due to inability to draft posts (please don’t suggest adding another app to make Bluesky work better) and dwindling active accounts from St. Louis area. I appreciate everyone who participated in Garden Sunday for 181 weeks on Twitter and then 40 weeks on Bluesky. We had a good run. It was a lot of fun and I learned much from and was inspired by so many gardeners and nature lovers. St. Louis Area Plant and Seeds Sales and Swaps and This Week in Gardening & Nature will continue on this blog and links posted to Bluesky. Should Bluesky make changes, such as ability to draft posts, would consider bringing back Garden Sunday.

MU Extension wants your input on Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Tickborne disease can cause allergies to red meat; new survey seeks input to guide education, resources on emerging health issue. Take the survey even if you have not been affected.

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. No additions this week, only clean up.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Increase flower power by dividing overgrown perennials (University of Missouri Extension)

‘It’s like when you see the tsunami coming in’: Agricultural economists are sounding the alarm about produce prices doubling (Fortune)

Bring your annuals back to life with these tips (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

The joys of mullet gardening: neat and tidy, messy and wild(life). Inspired by the Eighties hairdo, this gardening trend is a great way to organise your plot and help wildlife. (The Times, London)

August Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Running dry on data: Missouri drought hard to measure (KBIA Radio)

Gardening’s hidden benefits: How digging in the dirt could bolster mental wellbeing (Associated Press)

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 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.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
September 6th Hyde Park. Register
September 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
September 13th Tower Grove East. Register
September 13th Benton Park West. Register
September 20th Old North. Register
September 20th Benton Park. Register
September 21st Shaw. Register
September 27th Bevo. Register

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.

Sunday, August 31st, Deadline to submit entries for Missouri River Birds Observatory 10th Annual Bird Photography Contest. Prizes $100 to $1000. $25 Entry Fee per photo.

Monday, September 1st, Deadline to enter 12th Annual Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest. Categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places, People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors

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

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

—– DAILY —–

Tuesday, 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.

6:30 pm Tuesday, September 2nd, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at January-Wabash Park, Ferguson: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

9 am Wednesday, September 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Tour – Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

10 am Wednesday, September 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

Noon Thursday, September 4th, Deep Roots Kansas City Webinar: Urban Green Rooftop Garden: Growing Season. Register

Just a two hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City. 4-7 pm Thursday, September 4th, University of Missouri Extension event at Jefferson Farm, Columbia: Tomato Festival

For Kids ages 7+ years. 22 Tickets remaining. 5 pm Thursday, September 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Monarch Caterpillar Bracelets. Register

3 pm Friday, September 5th, Missouri Conservation Zoom Class: Missouri Black Bears. Register

8 am to Noon Saturday, September 6th, Fox Park Garden Tour. Free. Register

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, September 6th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Invasive Species Workshop. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

9:30 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 6th, Film Screening Day for “Big Medicine: York Outdoors,” a documentary on York, an enslaved servant of William Clark, at Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Madison County, Illinois

10 am Saturday, September 6th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

3 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Saturday, September 6th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Leaf ID and Leaf Prints, canvas tote bag craft. Register

6:30 pm Sunday, September 7th, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at Fairground Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

9 am September 9th The Nature Institute hiking event at Godfrey, Illinois: Roaming Naturalists, Native Fall Fruits Hike. Register

1-4 pm September 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Oak Trees. $15 Donation suggested. Register

6 pm September 9th University of Missouri Extension Virtual Class: Cover Crops & Soil Health for Vegetable Gardens. $10. Register

6 pm September 9th The Nature Institute class at Godfrey, Illinois: Plant Identification Workshop. Learn basic plant anatomy, field guide instruction, Illinois wildflower identification. $25 fee includes copy of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Register

9 am September 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Tour – Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

4 pm September 10th Missouri Prairie Foundation Wetlands Webinar Series: Wiski/Oski (River Cane)- A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am September 11th Heartlands Conservancy event at Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville, IL: Monarch Tagging and Stewardship Day presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

3-5 pm September 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mums the Word, Fall Garden Gathering

Only a two hour drive from St. Louis 4:30-7 pm September 11th Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s Ferntastic Fair in Jefferson City. Explore native ferns. Register by September 10th to receive a potted fern.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am September 12th Heartlands Conservancy event at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, IL: Monarch Tagging and Stewardship Day. Register

5 pm September 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

9 am to Noon September 13th St. Charles Mo Master Gardeners event in St. Peters: In The Garden 2025, Fall Session-  Planting Garlic, Prepping & Planting Fall & Spring Bulbs, Fall Lawn Renovation and Maintenance. $20. Register

9 am to 1 pm September 13th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

2:30 pm September 13th The Nature Institute hike in Godfrey, Illinois: Bird Hike with educators from Audubon Center at Riverlands. $5. Register

9:30 am to 12:30 pm September 14th St. Louis Native Plant Swap’s Fall Swap at 722 Delchester Ln, KirkwoodOnly native plants/cuttings/seeds. Write name on plants. Prefer bare roots to avoid spreading jumpworms. This is a FB event that someone sent me information on but I don’t share FB links.

1 1/2 hours from St. Louis. 11 am to 2 pm September 14th Join Missouri Prairie Foundation and Missouri Conservation Department for Monarch Tagging at Edgar Prairie, near Rolla. Register

1-4 pm September 14th Oratorio STL Workshop at St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Courtyard Urbanism: Building Cities for Families. Register

6:30 pm September 14th St. Louis Shakespeare Festival event at  Love Bank, Cherokee Street: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Free

10 am September 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. Register

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

6 pm September 18th Wild Ones Webinar: EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis. Register

3:30 pm September 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Seed Sowing Basics. Register

10 am September 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Trolley Tour with Horticulturist. $5 Donation suggested. Register

10 am to 1 pm September 20th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am to Noon September 20th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Annual Meeting & Awards Bruncheon at SqWires. Free MCE members; $45 for non-members. Register/Join

1:30 pm September 20th Join Grow Native! for a Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Wildwood Valley Walking Tour with James Faupel,  Director of Horticulture and Curator of Living Collections. 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

7 Tickets available. 8:30 am September 28th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Tower Grove Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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 CountyEvent isn’t under their calendar, scroll down link for the event flyer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a dozen turnips with green tops on wood kitchen table

Plant of the Week: Turnips. Swap out potatoes for turnips and make Turnips Au Gratin. Sauté the greens for quiche.

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more. Start seeds indoors for August planting of lettuce and parsley. Sow Fall carrots outdoors. Transplant Fall Broccoli, Cabbage.

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: presale info for Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Sale; Fall native plant sale by Missouri Wildflowers Nursery at Kirkwood Farmers Market; Missouri Prairie Foundation native plant sale in Godfrey IL; Missouri Pollinator Network Pollinator Palooza;

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.

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

This Gardening Mistake Might Be the Reason Hummingbirds Aren’t Visiting Your Yard (Good Housekeeping)

Nick Offerman Is Sounding the Alarm: America’s National Parks Are Under Attack (The Daily Show)

Missouri Prairie Journal, Summer 2025 Edition (Missouri Prairie Foundation)

Breakthrough discovery shows that moths listen to plants — and avoid the noisy ones (CNN)

‘Intrinsically connected’: how human neurodiversity could help save nature. Biodiversity is linked to people’s diversity, and nature lends itself to people who are different, says author Joe Harkness (The Guardian)

Mastercard’s biggest U.S. data center is in Missouri — it will soon be powered by solar (St. Louis Public Radio)

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

See a gillion sunflowers at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area

Going on now 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.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
August 2nd Hyde Park. Register
August 3rd Forest Park Southeast. Register
August 9th Benton Park West. Register
August 9th Tower Grove East. Register
August 16th Old North. Register
August 17th Shaw. Register

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

Now thru July 31st Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Naturalist Intern Nila Milo’s “Fawning for Missouri’s Flora & Fauna”

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

August 29th Deadline to submit entries for Wild Ones Photo Contest. Categories: Living Things,  Home Landscapes, Signs of Spring, Events

Now thru August 31st St. Louis Public Library Art Exhibit at Buder Library: Carolyn LewisEmpowering Our Community, Fifty Empowerment Birds created using fabric, dried paint palettes, and dictionary pages from the 1940’s.

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 for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program. Open to schools, nature centesr, 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’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

9 am to 4 pm Sunday, July 27th, Shaw Cactus & Succulent Sale at Jost Event Center, St. Louis County

2 pm & 4 pm Sunday, 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

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

4 pm Wednesday, July 30th, Grow Native! Webinar: Lessons Learned at Primrose Prairie. Register

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

6:30 pm Wednesday, July 30th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club hike in Oakville MO: Cliff Cave Park Evening Hike. 3-4 mile hike on the bluffs above Mississippi River. Register

3 Seats remaining. For ages 0-7 years. 10:30 am Thursday, July 31st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids- You and Me under the Canopy- Summer Sensations. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, August 2nd, Heartlands Conservancy Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day, Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, 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 Saturday, August 2nd, St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

5:30 pm Saturday, 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 5th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflowers Market online pre-sale begins for September 5th event at Gray Summit, Franklin County MO

9 am August 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Summer Wildflower Walk with Horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

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

10 am August 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 donation suggested. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 7th Heartlands Conservancy Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day in Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

August 7th Deadline to register for Missouri Prairie Foundation Annual Dinner and Silent Auction at Columbia MO. Tickets are $75 each for Missouri Prairie Foundation and Grow Native! Professional members, $85 for the general public. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 8th Heartlands Conservancy Exploration Garden Stewardship Day at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois. Register

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

5:30 pm August 8th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

8 am August 9th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Tree Identification. Register

10 am August 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5 Donation suggested. 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.

7:30 pm August 9th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Nature’s Night Shift Hike. Hickory Ridge Short Loop, 1/2 mile trail with steep inclines and declines. Register

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.

1-4 pm August 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class: Home Landscape Design and Practices for the Fall/Winter Season. $15 Donation suggested. Register

9 am August 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Summer Wildflower Walk with Horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

4 pm August 13th Grow Native! Webinar: Dispelling Myths of Native Gardening. Register

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 process of using natural plant pigments to create prints. Register

9 pm August 15th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflowers Market online pre-sale ends for September 5th event at Gray Summit, Franklin County MO.

5:30 pm August 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

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

9 am August 16th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Bike Ride, Edwardsville, Illinois: Madison County Transit Trail Bike Ride. Nine miles in two hours. Register

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.

10:30 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Workshop at Bell Community Garden: Using the Garden to Teach. Register

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

18 Seats remaining. 2 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Make & Take Cyanotype Tote Bag after 1/3 mile hike to gather materials. Register

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

6:30 pm August 21st Heartlands Conservancy Bike Ride on St. Clair County Transit District Trails, approximately 16 miles. Register

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.

10 am August 22nd Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Specialty Crops/Native Plants Program at Jefferson City MO: Introduction to Missouri Fern Identification and Ecology Workshop. $25 includes lunch. Register

Heads up for Tower Grove Park users. 10 am to 8 pm August 23rd-24th Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 23rd Heartlands Conservancy Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day at Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

4 Tickets remaining. 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

1 pm August 23rd St. Louis County Public Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Dig In & Learn- A Day in the Garden with Seed St. Louis. Register

August 26th Deadline to order native plants from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up August 30th at Kirkwood Farmers Market. You may also purchase from what they bring.

7 pm August 28th join Piasa Palisades Sierra Club at Illinois Commerce Commission Public Forum on Ameren Gas Rate Hike at East St Louis, IL.

8 am to 4 pm August 30th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling native plants at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order in advance for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

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.

8 am to Noon September 6th Fox Park Garden Tour. Free. 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.

9:30 am to 3 pm September 6th Film Screening Day for “Big Medicine: York Outdoors,” a documentary on York, an enslaved servant of William Clark, at Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Madison County, Illinois

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

1-4 pm September 14th Oratorio STL Workshop at St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Courtyard Urbanism: Building Cities for Families. Register

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.

10 am to 3 pm 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. Sorry for no link. If you know of a link that isn’t Facebook or Instagram (I don’t share either), please let me know.

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

18 Tickets available. 8:30 am September 28th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Tower Grove Park: Beginner Bird Walk. 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

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

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

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

Plant of the Week: Carrots. Reminder, if you want Fall carrots, sow them this week.

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar. Start seeds indoors for August planting of lettuce and parsley. Sow Fall carrots. Transplant Fall Broccoli, Cabbage.

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. Order form now up for Brightside St. Louis Tulip and Daffodil Bulb 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 —

Why landscape fabric is often a bad idea for your garden (Associated Press)

Statue of professional female gardener unveiled (BBC)

New land grant research detects dicamba damage from the sky (University of Illinois Extension)

Grow Where You Are: Native Garden Designs That Bring Habitat Home (Wild Ones)

When your garden becomes a drive-thru for wildlife. Intervene by putting up roadblocks (University of Missouri Extension)

Significant losses of Missouri’s top cash crops possible after confirmation of incurable diseases. Missouri’s soybeans and corn make the state over $5 billion every year. Two new diseases could lead to massive losses. (KSDK St. Louis)

A plan to shoot 450,000 owls — to save a different owl — could be in jeopardy (Los Angeles Times)

Pocketknife Safety for Kids (Missouri Conservation Department)

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
July 27th St. Louis Place. Register
August 2nd Hyde Park. Register
August 3rd Forest Park Southeast. Register
August 9th Benton Park West. Register
August 9th Tower Grove East. Register
August 16th Old North. Register
August 17th Shaw. Register

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

Now thru July 31st Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Naturalist Intern Nila Milo’s “Fawning for Missouri’s Flora & Fauna”

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

Now thru August 31st St. Louis Public Library Art Exhibit at Buder Library: Carolyn LewisEmpowering Our Community, Fifty Empowerment Birds created using fabric, dried paint palettes, and dictionary pages from the 1940’s.

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

9 am to Noon Monday, July 21st, Sunflower+ Project 2025 Blooms Day Celebration in Old North Neighborhood

3 pm Tuesday, July 22nd, St. Louis County Public Library workshop at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

6 pm Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, July 23rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. Register

5:30-7 pm Thursday, 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 Thursday, July 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, July 24th, Heartlands Conservancy Bike Ride on St. Clair County Transit District trails in Swansea, Illinois. 16 miles. 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.

1 pm Friday, July 25th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Black Bears of Missouri. Register

2 pm Friday, July 25th, St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Food Preservation 101- Canning presented by University of Missouri Extension

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, July 26th, Heartlands Conservancy Stewardship Day at Brushy Lake, Collinsville, Illinois. Register

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

Saturday, July 26th, Missouri Conservation Department classes at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. 5 Tickets remaining for 9:30 am class. Register. 4 Tickets remaining for Noon class. Register

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

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

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

Suitable for Ages 7 and up. Noon Sunday, July 27th, Willoughby Farm Class in Collinsville, Illinois: Farm Animal Care. $15 Resident; $18 Nonresident. Register

2 pm & 4 pm Sunday, 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

10 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

4 Seat remaining. 10:30 am July 31st Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids- You and Me under the Canopy- Summer Sensations. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 2nd Heartlands Conservancy Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day, Edwardsville, Illinois. Register

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

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 8th Heartlands Conservancy Exploration Garden Stewardship Day at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois. Register

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

2 Seats remaining. Noon August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Missouri’s Signature Root Beer Floats, sample floats made of sassafras root beer and chanterelle ice cream. Register

8 am August 9th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Tree Identification. 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.

7:30 pm August 9th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Nature’s Night Shift Hike. Hickory Ridge Short Loop, 1/2 mile trail with steep inclines and declines. Register

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 August 16th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Bike Ride, Edwardsville, Illinois: Madison County Transit Trail Bike Ride. Nine miles in two hours. Register

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.

10:30 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Workshop at Bell Community Garden: Using the Garden to Teach. Register

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

18 Seats remaining. 2 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Make & Take Cyanotype Tote Bag after 1/3 mile hike to gather materials. 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.

Heads up for Tower Grove Park users. 10 am to 8 pm August 23rd-24th Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park

6 Tickets remaining. 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

1 pm August 23rd St. Louis County Public Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Dig In & Learn- A Day in the Garden with Seed St. Louis. 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.

8 aqm to Noon September 6th Fox Park Garden Tour. Free. 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.

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

1-4 pm September 16th Oratorio STL Workshop at St. Francis de Sales Oratory: Courtyard Urbanism: Building Cities for Families. Register

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.

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

18 Tickets available. 8:30 am September 28th St. Louis Audubon Society event at Tower Grove Park: Beginner Bird Walk. 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

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

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

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

Leek harvest with green tops and roots lying on plywood table in carport

Plant of the Week: Leeks. Gardeners who planted in Spring are harvesting now thru July. When you see $7.89 a pound leeks at the grocery in December, remind yourself to get some seeds and start leeks indoors in January.

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. Last week in June, 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. Additions this week: preview link for Brightside St. Louis Tulip & Daffodil Sale, Missouri Conservation Department Annual Tree 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 —

Highway enbankment becomes hub for city gardening, future growth in St. Louis. A forgotten stretch of highway in St. Louis is now a living classroom where native plants, bees and big ideas are growing side by side. (KSDK)

Managing pests in the garden (University of Illinois Extension)

What is a Pollinator Lawn? (Wild Ones)

Are your flowers Pretty or Poison? Hemlock or Queen Anne’s Lace? (University of Missouri Extension)

Climate change cuts global crop yields, even when farmers adapt (University of Illinois Extension)

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

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
June 28th Bevo Neighborhoood. Register
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

9 am to 5 pm Sunday, June 22nd, Day 2 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets Tickets $25

2 pm Monday, June 23rd, St. Louis County Library class at Cliff Cave Branch: Four Seasons Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

5:30 pm Monday, June 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Wildlife Identification. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm Tuesday, 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

10 am Wednesday, June 25th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arborteum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 Donation suggested. Register

4 pm Wednesday, June 25th, Grow Native! webinar: Master Class- Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

For Kids ages 7-14 years. 2 pm Thursday, June 26th, St. Louis County Public Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Plants. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, June 26th, Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing, Kings Oak Neighborhood

5:30 pm Thursday, June 26th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll. $5 Donation suggested. Register

6 pm Thursday, June 26th, Seed St. Louis class at Bell Garden, 3871 Bell Ave: Intro to Growing Herbs. Register

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.

For Kids ages 5-8 years. 9 am Friday, June 27th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Guided Hike & Nature Art. Register 

For Kids ages 9 years and older. Noon Friday, June 27th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Guided Hike & Nature Art. Register 

Noon Friday, June 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Gardening For Wildlife. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 27th, 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 

7 pm Friday, June 27th, St. Louis Wildlife Project event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Five Year Findings. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, June 28th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Monroe County, Illinois: Trout Hollow Stewardship Day. Register

Saturday, June 28th, Family Fun Day at O’Fallon Park. 9 am to Noon Park Clean Up. 10 am to 2 pm Interactive Educational Activities

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 28th, Kimmswick Visitor Center 25th Annual Daylily Sale. 35 Minute drive from St. Louis. Go early for best selection.

10 am Saturday, June 28th, Riverbend Flower Farm workshop at Theodora Farms, Godfrey, Illinois: Floral Workshop. $30 Register

10 am Saturday, June 28th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Companion Planting with Natives. Register

11 am Saturday, 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

11:30 am to 4:30 pm Saturday, June 28th, Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Sniff ‘n Learn- Perfumers Spotlight. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 29th, Grow Native! 25th Anniversary Event in Brentwood: Native Home Garden Tour. Register

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

Family Fun. 6 pm July 1st St. Louis County Public Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Garden Party. Register

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

5:30 pm 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 

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

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

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

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

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

10:30 am July 18th St. Louis County Library class at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. 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 Boatnical Garden event: Fungi Fair- A Mushroom Event Hosted by the Missouri Mycological Society

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 PreparednessCamping 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

Scarlett Heaven, a red peony with yellow center

Plant of the Week: Peonies. Shown is Scarlet Heaven.

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: more St. Louis County Library Plant Swaps, Ste Genevieve Master Gardeners Garden Tour & 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 —

Why “Sharp Sand” Is the Secret to a Successful Garden, According to Horticulturists. This coarse, gritty sand improves drainage, fights root rot, and makes soil easier to dig—here’s how to use it right. (Real Simple)

The Joy of Native Plant Gardening. Planting native flora in your yard (as opposed to grass) offers a water-saving landscape and haven for pollinators. It can also provide peace and wonder. (Mountain Journal)

Aphids plaguing UK gardens in warm spring weather, says Royal Horticultural Society. Sap-sucking insects top list of queries to gardening charity after causing significant harm to plants (The Guardian)

Missouri is still illegally denying food assistance despite court order (Missouri Independent)

Butterflies of Missouri. Introduction to Butterflies (Washington University)

What Trump’s cuts to federal climate research could mean for Illinois. State climate scientists, lawmakers seek local solutions to address climate change (Capitol News Illinois)

Report: April storms that caused “generational” flooding made 40% more likely by climate change (Arkansas Advocate)

Bike buses get St. Louis kids to school—no school bus driver needed. Nonprofit St. Louis BWorks is organizing people-powered bike buses to get kids to and from six different schools this year. (St. Louis Magazine)

DOGE cuts take almost $500K from St. Louis nonprofit that teaches kids about nature (St. Louis Public Radio)

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

DAILY

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

1-4 pm Tuesday, May 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery in person horticulture class: Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardeners. $15 suggested donation. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, May 13th, Piasa Pallisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Speaker Series- Future of the Power Grid presented by Dr. Nicholas Johnson, Principia College. Learn about Illinois proposed Clean & Reliable Grid Affordability Act. Register

9 am Wednesday, May 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Arboretum Tour- Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with horticulturist. $5 suggested donation. Register

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

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

6 pm Thursday, May 15th, Edwardsville Public Library class: Composting 101

6:30 pm Thursday, May 15th, Heartland Conservancy event: Third Thursday Cycling Series, Illinois.  16 miles on St. Clair County Transit District trails

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

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, May 16th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Stewardship Day. Register

10 am Friday, May 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Springtime History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide. Register

3:30 pm Friday, 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 Saturday, 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.

Only an hour drive from St. Louis. 9 am Saturday, May 17th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Carlyle Lake, Clinton County IL: Birding Walk. Register

Only an hour drive from St. Louis. 9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 17th-18th, Ste Genevieve Master Gardeners & University of Missouri Extension event: Garden Walk & Plant Sale. Visit private, historic gardens. Tickets to Walk $10 at event- cash, check, Venmo

Saturday, May 17th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tours with Master Guide. $5 suggested donation. Register for 10 am Tour. Register for 1:30 pm Tour.

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 17th, Garden America Plant Expo at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles MO. Wild Ones St. Charles Chapter will be selling native plants.

2 Seats remaining. 6 pm May 19th St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: DIY Spice Blends. Register

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

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

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

6 pm 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.

9 Tickets remaining. May 23rd 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 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.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am 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 May 24th Missouri Conservation Department & River City Outdoors class at Tower Grove Park: Outdoor PreparednessCamping 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 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

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

8:30 am to Noon 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

9 am to Noon May 31st Grow Native! 25th Anniversary Event: Greenscape Gardens Open House, Ballwin

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.

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 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.

10 am to 5 pm June 7th-8th Lafayette Square House & Garden Tour. Ticket info pending

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, registration opens May 17th

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.