This Week in Gardening & Nature

Cannabis seedling under grow light

Plant of the Week: Cannabis. Regulations on growing for personal use in Missouri and Illinois (only for registered medical cannabis patients)

Free Garden Seeds for Bluesky Accounts (Native, nonNative, Veggies, Herbs, Fruit)

Free Heirloom Seeds (requests will open back up this month)

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Additions this week: Free Seeds for Bluesky accounts, 2026 Flyleaf Market Succulent & Tropical Sales , 2026 St. Charles County Library Plant & Seed Swaps

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

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

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

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

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

5 Houseplant New Year’s Resolutions I’m Actually Sticking to for a Healthier, More Beautiful Indoor Garden in 2026 (Homes & Gardens)

Is trouble brewing in your garden? Myths and facts about using coffee grounds in the garden. (University of Missouri Extension)

After devastating LA fires, California is drafting nation’s toughest rules for homes. In areas at risk of wildfires, homeowners would be required to clear some or all of the plants within five feet of their house (NPR)

10 tips for winter care of woody ornamentals (University of Missouri 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 —–

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
January 10th Tower Grove East. Register
January 10th Benton Park West. Register
January 17th Old North. Register
January 17th Benton Park. Register
January 18th Shaw. Register
January 24th Bevo. Register
February 1st Forest Park Southeast. Register
February 7th Hyde Park. Register
February 14th Tower Grove East. Register
February 14th Benton Park West. Register
February 15th Shaw. Register
February 17th Old North. Register
February 21st Benton Park. Register
February 28th Bevo. Register

January 1st-15th Entry period for Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (Blue Springs MO) Amazing Arthropods Photography Contest

January 15th Entry Begins for Audubon 2025 Photography & Videography Awards (photos from 2025). 2024 entry information. Some of the winners.

Now thru January 31st St. Louis City Public Library Annual Martin Luther King Food Drive

Beginning February 2nd Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree Applications Accepted. Free, 3-gallon trees and shrubs for public or nonprofit plantings in St. Louis City and County.

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 —–

7 pm Wednesday, January 7th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Zoom class: Natural Landscape Design. Register

6 pm Thursday, January 8th, St. Louis County Library event at Florissant Valley Branch: Houseplant Care. Register

6:15 pm Thursday, January 8th, Wild Ones St. Charles Area Chapter Winter Speaker Series at Spencer Road Library, St. Peters: Native Landscaping for Drought Tolerance, presented by Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home program. Register

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

8 Tickets remaining. 6:30 pm Friday, January 9th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 7:30 am Saturday, January 10th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Eagle Count for the USACE, meet at Clifton Country Inn, Godfrey, Illinois. Register

10 am Saturday, January 10th, Audubon Center at Riverlands Eagle Saturday at West Alton, Missouri. $10. Register

For ages 5-12 but family welcome. 19 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am Saturday, January 10th, Missouri Department of Conservation Conservation Kids event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Tracks in the Snow. Learn about animal tracks in the wintertime in Missouri. Register

11 am Saturday, January 10th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Intro to Winter Tree ID. Register by January 8th.

Noon to 4 pm Saturday, January 10th, Happy Trails Farm (501c3 horse rescue) Garden Vendor Fair & Seed Swap at Moose Lodge, 2521 Maryville Rd, Granite City, Illinois. Donations accepted and a lucky donor will win a pickup truck of manure.

1 pm Saturday, January 10th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Foraging 101. Register

1 pm Saturday, January 10th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Winter Hike at Broemmelsiek Park, St. Charles County. 3.3 mile loop. Register

10 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Saturday, January 10th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Kestrel Nesting Boxes. The kestrel is the only falcon on this continent to nest in cavities. Register

For kids ages 2-5. 2 pm Saturday, January 10th, St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: Cactus Makes Perfect. Includes make & take cactus puppet craft. Register

23 Seats remaining. 6 pm Saturday, January 10th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night. Register

10 am Sunday, January 11th, Audubon Center at Riverlands Swan Sunday at West Alton, Missouri

14 Seats remaining. 1 pm Sunday, January 11th, Willoughby Farm gardening class in Collinsville, Illinois: Winter Seed Starting. $15. Register

2 pm Sunday, January 11th, Wild Ones Southwest Illinois Chapter speaker series in Collinsville, Illinois: An Expert Approach to Winter Propagation. Different methods of starting native plants from seeds and hardwood cuttings. Register

9-11 am Tuesday, January 13th, University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Trees for Pollinators and Evergreen ID. $10 for access to all sessions.Register

1 pm Tuesday, January 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Pruning Trees and Shrubs. Register

6 pm Tuesday, January 13th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Intro to Winter Tree ID. Register by January 9th.

6:30 pm Tuesday, January 13th, Piasa Pallisades Sierra Club Speaker Series at Old Bakery Beer in Alton, Illinois: Data Centers in our Communities. Register

Noon January 14th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Tapping into Maple Season. Learn how to select the correct Maple Tree, correct tapping techniques, and when to tap. Register

4 pm January 14th Grow Native! Webinar: Let’s Talk Trees. Topics: general tree health; treating pests & diseases; the right tree with the right place; proper watering, soil considerations, pruning, mulching; finding and using difficult-to-source and rarely used native species. Register

10 am January 16th Bowood Farm Class: Seed Starting Tips. $5. Register

18 Tickets remaining. 2:30 pm January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Hike: A Winter Walk in Tower Grove Park. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am January 17th Heartlands Conservancy event in Waterloo, Illinois: Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Stewardship Day. Register

10 am January 17th Audubon Center at Riverlands Eagle Saturday at West Alton, Missouri. $10. Register

10m am to 2 pm January 18th Audubon Center at Riverlands Family Sunday Funday at West Alton, Missouri. Beginners Bird Hike, Marko Polo Live Music, face painting, crafts

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am January 19th Piasa Pallisades Sierra Club MLK, Jr. Day of Service: litter clean up in Hellrung Park and neighborhood, Alton, Illinois. Register

11 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm January 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Scene Investigation. Discover how conservation agents and biologists use evidence to solve wildlife violations. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 1 pm January 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Eagle Explorations. Register

6:30 pm January 19th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Box-nesting Birds. Register

9-11 am January 20th University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Forest Health Updates and Fungal Mutualists. $10 for access to all sessions. Register

10 am January 20th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Dresser Island Conservation Area, West Alton MO.  Very flat 5.8-mile loop. Register

Noon January 20th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Bald Eagles in Missouri. Register

2 pm January 21st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

6 pm January 21st Wild Ones webinar: Intergenerational Care for Land and Community- A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plants, and Esther Bonney, Nurture Natives founder. Register

11 am January 22nd Missouri Conservation Department nature art class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Black Walnut Ink & Junk Journaling. Register

6 pm January 22nd Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Best Crops for School Gardens & Orchards. Register

7 pm January 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Native Plants, Upgrading Your Urban Oasis Virtual Series: Landscape Prep and Winter Seed Sowing. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am January 23rd Heartlands Conservancy Stewardship Day at Brushy Creek, Collinsville, Illinois. Tree care. Register

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

6 pm January 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Creature Feature Virtual Class:  Blue Jays. Register

10 am January 24th Audubon Center at Riverlands Eagle Saturday at West Alton, Missouri. $10. Register

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. Label seeds. If you do not have seeds to swap, donate non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kid’s socks and underwear for charity. This is a FB event that someone sent me information on but I don’t share FB links.

Noon January 24th The Nature Institute class in Godfrey, Illinois: Winter Tree Identification. $5 for nonmembers. Register

10 am January 24th Audubon Center at Riverlands Symposium Sunday at West Alton, Missouri: Birds of the Confluence, History & Art of Carving Duck Decoys, Gull Identification. Free but Register

For 3rd-8th grade kids. 10 am January 26th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: All about Eagles with the World Bird Sanctuary. Register

9-11 am January 27th University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Construction and Urban Soils. $10 for access to all sessions. Register

For 3rd-8th grade kids. 10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: All about Eagles with the World Bird Sanctuary. Register

4 pm January 28th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Wiski/Oski (River Cane), A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

6 pm January 29th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Grow Your Own Vegetable Seedlings. The basics of starting seeds, what supplies you will need, and general tips and tricks. Register

6 pm January 29th Missouri Conservation Department webinar:  Winter Bird ID. Register

9 am January 30th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Winter Tree ID Workshop. Register

For kids ages 2-5. 2 pm January 30th St. Louis County Library event at Parkview Branch: Cactus Makes Perfect. Includes make & take cactus puppet craft. Register

10 am January 31st Audubon Center at Riverlands Eagle Saturday at West Alton, Missouri. $10. Register

January 31st Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves Wild Things 2026 Conference in O’Fallon, Illinois, one of the largest conservation gatherings in the Midwest, a celebration of nature, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, birding, botanizing, networking, and discovery. Fees but scholarship may be available.

9 am to 5 pm January 31st-February 1st Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis 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.

2 pm January 31st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

6 pm February 1st The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. $5 for nonmembers. Register

6:30 pm February 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Aquatic Invertebrates. Register

9-11 am February 3rd University of Illinois Extension Tree Care Webinar Series: Chainsaw Safety and Pruning Young Trees. $10 for access to all sessions. Register

9 am February 4th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Winter Shrub Walk with horticulturist. $5 donation suggested. Register

6:30 pm February 4th St. Louis County Library class at Grant’s View Branch: Gardening 101- Spring Colors. Register

8 am February 7th St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

10 am February 7th Bowood Farms Seed Starting Workshop. $35. Register

1 pm February 7th Missouri Conservation Department craft class at Tower Grove Park: Nature Art, Needle Felt Beavers. Register

9-11 am 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 February 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Horticulture Class:  Winter Tree and Shrub ID. $15 donation suggested. Register

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

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

6:15 pm 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

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

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

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

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

For Kids ages 2-7. 5:30 February 19th Missouri Conservation Department Conservation Kids event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Critter Comparisons. Register

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

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

11 am to 2 pm 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

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: Potatoes, Onions, Strawberries, Asparagus

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

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

6:30 pm March 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri Fish. Register

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

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.

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

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

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. Register

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

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

6 pm April 15th St. Louis Public Library Sustainability Series at Carpenter Library: Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with HareandBearco. Floral art. Registration opens February 7th.

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

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

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

28 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

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 Mississippi Valley Garden Club, Illinois, Plant Sale in Godfrey. 2025 Info
May Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Plant Sale

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.

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.

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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.

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

29 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.

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

26 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

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

Plant of the Week: Primrose (Primula x polyantha)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

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

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

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

Good Reads & Views —

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

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

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

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February-March Partners for Native Landscaping 2024 Spring Series Workshops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference

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

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

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

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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